Why is this industry norm? Hats off to those who can blithely say, "Oh well" and get over it. On the other hand, if someone's position didn't change much and he/she tells others who suffered a large setback to "get over it", then that rings a little hollow.
I still feel the fact that United had been stagnant for the last decade, and appeared that it would continue to be stagnant for the foreseeable future, should have been more of a factor in the integration process. I was at an airline with movement. United wasn't moving. I go from being around 55th percentile last month at Continental to the 69th percentile on the ISL this month. (Pardon me if I'm mistaken, I'm assuming the ISL as published is current and has deleted names of people that have retired, and that therefore, it is reasonable to compare where I was percentage wise last month with where this list puts me today). It will take me almost 6 1/2 years, until January 2020 (based on retirements) to reach the 50th percentile on the combined list.
Feels like quite a step backwards. Perhaps I don't have the big picture. I felt like we brought a growing airline to the table and pushing my potential for a left seat job back 6 years seems like a large concession. Certainly not the "1 or 2 percentage points" mantra I was hearing on these boards.
I have to go hug my blankie now.