At this point, I'd be happy to be just to be on property. I just got the call cancelling my training date in April. March 31st is the last class. HR said "about 40" of us are being told to knock it off. I thought that number would be more since a couple guys/gals have posted about getting August classes.

Funny thing is; they just called Tuesday to move my class date up. Guess it takes a while to turn the big boat. Hopefull, it'll swing back by the fall for all of us.

-SN

 

There may be some in the 31 March class that decide to take a pass. I hope that if so, they offer those slots up to poolees.

 

Just my humble two cents,

I don't think we've seen the worst of it yet. My gut feeling based on nothing factual except tea leaves and the Farmer's Almanac makes me worry that recessionary pressures on travel, higher than normal airfares, and exponentially higher energy costs will soften the travel market during the end of the 2nd Qtr and throughout the 3rd Qtr. The significance of this is that most passenger airlines re-fill their war-chest with cash to endure the long, lean Winter season. I hope to report later in the Summer that my tea leaves were wrong.

FF

 

New rumor at UAL is that guys/gals hired but not starting class will be put in a one year "pool"... once hiring resumes they get first dibs. I don't think that anyone who turns down a class (like March) will be given that same deal... probably one time offer. Hopefully this will all clear up in October once Summer Flying is done.

 

Ugleeual (and all),

I can confirm what you wrote (from the perspective of a UAL wannabe).

I'm one of "the unfortunates" who had a class date with UAL that was cancelled. I was told that my interview results (and job offer) would remain valid for one year based on the interview date.

I was also told when training begins again "we will contact you for a class date and arrange for a phone 'interview' to confirm your status". Not sure what the 'phone interview' meant but I was too busy picking my jaw off the floor from the previous bad news.

I'm jumping into this profession after 20 years of Mil flying. I'm starting to think I like the stability of having people shoot at me versus the unknowns of the airline industry (kidding, sort of).

Again, good luck all, I hope things improve.

My best,
Tumbleweed
"Afterburner is a great substitute for poor headwork"

 

ITW,
Had a squadronmate hired by UAL Nov 92 who got iced (cyclical industry) and told same one year story. Unfortunately a routine UAL and DAL familiar. Good news, they started him after the 12 month point (they said OK and took all folks like him (and you)) would get class dates. He took a non aviation job and stayed flying in the Navy reserves. He finally started and is still at UAL. Best of luck.

 

It seems like it's going to get worse before it gets better

If history is any lesson, the treatment of furloughees after 2001 left something to be desired. Our "No Furlough Clause" and it's associated grevience were negotiated away with no benefit to the furloughed pilots. During the concession process, the active pilots accepted huge increases in working hours and reductions in work rules which extended the furloughed pilots time on the street by years. In the end, a large bond payout was negotiated for the benefit of all UAL pilots for the termination of the pension plan. The MEC purposely excluded all the furloughed pilots from the process, thus increasing the payout to the active pilots.

Join at your own risk.

 

"I was also told when training begins again "we will contact you for a class date and arrange for a phone 'interview' to confirm your status". Not sure what the 'phone interview' meant but I was too busy picking my jaw off the floor from the previous bad news.

I'm jumping into this profession after 20 years of Mil flying. I'm starting to think I like the stability of having people shoot at me versus the unknowns of the airline industry (kidding, sort of)."

Again, good luck all, I hope things improve.

THis is not the first time UAL (or any of the majors) have gone through this mess... its the industry... and will be this way forever. Stay in for another year if you can... then start up when they call you.

 

FliFast - switch from tea to guava juice » the world looks much rosier then...

Just my humble €2 which equals $29 American pesos a.k.a. dollars…

 

Love that quote - it's so true that there will always be people who want to take a shot at you - both literally and figuratively.

Good luck,

Jet