Originally Posted by 11atsomto

Your decision involves risk. How much risk are you willing to tolerate? It's tough but that's why you get paid the Big bucks.
I don't mean to be DOOMSDAY like with my correction above, nor do I forecast furloughs with the amount of retirements at UAL....however it is a possibility albeit in my opinion very remote.
I also do not advocate one or the other. That really is a YOU decision.
I'm not sure I totally understand your logic of 4 or 5 months later of a class date makes it a definitive No Go. Sure 4 months of people under you versus above you is huge.....but the differences of a career at SW and UAL remain the same.
I was in a similar situation as you (4.5 years at JB)....I will offer this piece of sobering advice: Giving up that amount of seniority is going to involve several if not many things getting worse before they get better.
Do not expect to see an improvement for a while.
For me, my first year at UAL, generally speaking I had fewer days off, was working more (legs per day), and all for a 48% discount in my labour for doing the same job. (NB FO)
I wasn't expecting it to be better right away....so I am not disappointed. It's the long GAME...remember that.