I would guess that it is.... I thought I read somewhere that there are people who are going from interview to class in 2 months. We had large unplanned classes over the summer and they’ve added classes all the way out until February. Good times!

Hypothetical question here:

Lets say you get hired and are in the Nov or Dec class, but you get a sizeable retention bonus (like 30-50% of your salary), if you stay at your current company through the end of the year. Would you push back your class to the Jan one? Is there a number that makes it worth it to delay class, or is it a big mistake to wait?

As of right now, it probably doesn’t make much difference, but remember seniority is everything in this job... In my regional days I flew with a guy once who told me a story about how delaying his new hire class by a couple months, he just barely missed the fast upgrade and it cost him 6 more years in the right seat and thousands of dillars in earnings.... It’s hard to put a dollar figure on it and of course nobody has a crystal ball but just food for thought.

almost always, at every airline not just united, a big mistake to wait. One class date can/has caused people to have vastly different careers, furloughed 3 times or just above the water line and not furloughed. Is even $50,000 worth the risk over a 20-40 year, multi million dollar career at a major? Are you willing to take the risk that nothing happens in the world that causes united to cancel any new hire classes, or to have those be the last ones for a year and miss the boat completely? seniority is EVERYTHING in the airlines

A January hire will also wait an extra year to get profit sharing (after first full year on property, which will be 2020 PS, paid out in 2021) that a December hire will not (2019 being first full year). Probably won’t offset all of your bonus, but will take a bite out of it.

Also to echo the post above about being above the waterline...guys hired a few classes before mine spent nearly zero time on reserve in my BES. I was a year exactly on reserve.

Edited;

Galaxy5 beat me to the PS issue

As mentioned, seniority is everything.

But think about this in the hypothetical delaying a class date by a month or 2 and that bonus as far as money goes;

Taking the earlier class puts you 1-2 months closer to year 2 pay, ~140/hr.

I could wrong on this as I can't remember, lets say you delay till after Jan 1. Unless something has changed, you WON'T get a profit share check from 2019.

We ALL KNOW PS isn't a guaranty, but also weigh that against the bonus at your current job combined with possibly a couple months sooner at year 2, a DC contribution, etc.

Also remember that is probably 2 less months you will be at the top pay band at UA before you retire. What is two months at the top pay band worth now? $50,000? Might want to just get over here ASAP.

I’ve got a buddy who got his CJO yesterday and they told him to expect a November class.

And dont forget vacation days lost

Gonna be the contrarian here... sort of

What’s the bonus, ballpark? 50 or 75k, or more like 20? What is it after tax? I’ve seen a few spots of seniority make a heck of a difference - furlough is the obvious one - but usually once you settle into the middle of the list in a base people overhype the importance of a couple of numbers difference. For example once you can hold a solid line, bidding technique can give one a lot of virtual seniority. But if your goal early on is to bid over to a tough to get aircraft of base, it can matter a lot.

People mentioned a few things you’d lose - like a year of profit sharing, perhaps 100 seniority numbers or so.

If you’ve got serious cash coming your way and plan a long career here maybe roll the dice - time value of money and all that. Otherwise I’d agree with everyone else here, take that first possible class!!