Because there’s 15,000 other applicants with PIC 121 time, check airman, Chief pilot, and Military fixed wing heavy time that are all before me.

And you don't think that over the course of 5 years in a regional you couldn't organically develop a competitive work history?

True. I do. However it’s a nice early interview that’s for sure. Then if you don’t get hired you’re just right where you started back on the street for street interview

From my experience, it’s thrilling to be able to walk into a United interview with minimum experience. A TBNT doesn’t mean that the program itself is misguiding. I blame myself for not selling myself enough or not scoring well on the Hogan. Either way it’s faster progression to mainline than what AA WO offers, granted you still pass the final review board. I wouldn’t come here just for that but just like a flow in a sense as insurance.

You're only "on the street" if you quit XJT. Once you're in XJT, that's it unless you quit.

Flow is far superior to Aviate. No comparison really. Being hired with a flow is basically a guarantee but Aviate is simply a shot at an interview. You're not even guaranteed an interview with Aviate.

This.

And with Flow airlines, you can still interview and get hired before the flow. If you screw up that interview and don't get hired before, you still flow when your time comes.

You bring up a lot of good points. My perspective is that yes, legacy interviews are very difficult to get. I came to ExpressJet thinking it would be at least 5 years before I had that opportunity. I never counted the CPP as a reason to come to ExpressJet nor did I ever expect anything from it. However I have since been blessed with the opportunity to interview with United less than a year after coming to ExpressJet and I have been fortunate enough to be accepted into the Aviate program. I see it only as opportunity.

What I would never have done if was not successful at the interview would be to bad mouth United or ExpressJet because of it. I would have been disappointed, sure. But the last thing I would do would be to go around acting as if just because I work for ExpressJet I am somehow entitled to work for United someday. It would have been no different to me than if I had been turned down by Delta.

I also believe that the entitled attitude is the reason many are not successful in their Aviate interviews. Those who have that attitude let it show in the interview in one way or another and are denied because of it. Then because of that same attitude they spew negativity and discontent because they were denied something that they were after all entitled to. It’s as if someone stole from them.

Does that mean that United should give in and hire these people? Obviously not. Should you listen to them and adopt their attitude about the program? Or should you look at it for what it is, an opportunity? Whether you want the opportunity or not is up to you. If you feel that accumulation of hours at a regional with a certain logo on the side is all you need to do to get a job at a legacy airline making hundreds of thousands of dollars per year then you are also in luck. You can go to work for an AA WO and do just that.

Make the decision that is best for you and live with it.

All of the communication I’ve seen is that you are welcome to apply OTS if you do not succeed through Aviate. Why I’ve also seen is that if you apply OTS while in Aviate or without attempting Aviate that’s no good.

what makes aviate better for someone who is young? The fact that there is the opportunity to get to a major in under 3 years. If you don’t get the interview or get the TBNT nothing stopping you from packing up and moving to a flow airline if that’s your desire. I think a 3-6 month gamble at an aviate airline is worth it for shaving 5 years off career progression. 3 years vs 8 years. Crappy thing will be getting rejected at final review. Either way I would say for someone starting out aviate>flow>endeavor interview program. Aviate will be the fastest and you will know early on with about 90% certainty of your future. Flow takes 8+ years. And the endeavor interview you have to wait several years just to get to the interview.