Advice on Applying to UAL
 

Hello All,

I've been applying to United since 2006 when they opened the hiring window and have been continuously updating ever since.

I'm currently at just over 7,000TT and over 2,500 jet PIC. Seven type ratings including some in Boeing's, international experience, etc.

I did have two failed checkrides when I was in high school in addition to one failed -121 CQ ride. They're long stories but I own them and I've learned from them. I have a varied work history: corporate pilot, regional airlines, charter, international expat, cargo... mostly due to the fickle nature of the industry and it's economic ups and downs.

I come from a United Airlines family. My father is a retired UAL pilot.
From my youngest age the only thing I've ever wanted to do was be a United pilot. It was a vision that motivated me into the career from the earliest age. Started learning to fly in High School; chose the college I attended based on if it would help me get to UAL; applied to the regional I did because I wanted to fly United's passengers and contribute to United.
It may be a bit strange to some but I have loved United for what they've done for me and my family. All I ever wanted was to be part of it and give back. I'm the guy with stacks of old Hemisphere's magazines, old timetables on the bookshelves, history books on UAL, framed United aircraft photos, etc.

Well; still nothing from UAL and I've attended multiple job fairs, have 10+ internal recommendations, legacy, flown in their regional system in the past, etc. I know that I am not the only person who has given it everything they've got to not get a call. I don't believe I am any better than the next applicant trying to get on. Just trying to paint the picture of who I am and how this has driven me.

My real dilemma is this:

I have an offer from another major airline which I am absolutely humbled by and thankful for. I am extremely appreciative of the confidence they've shown in me by offering me such an amazing opportunity. But in my heart, it's not United and it just doesn't feel right.

I feel like I am at a cross road. Take the opportunity, dive in and never look back or keep holding out/updating to United?

I figured you guys already working there could give me some perspective. Your thoughts?

Thanks in advance for taking the time to reply. I look forward to reading your advice.

Take the offer, keep updating UA and hope

GF

Take the opportunity that you have because you have nothing from United, yet! You can keep on updating your application to United. Nothing says that you still can't interview and get hired by United.

Take offer and don't look back.

Take the offer and don't look back unless UAL calls <12 months after you start. Even then, bailing to UAL would be very risky and cost you big $$$. Right now they are done interviewing applicants until this fall. Earliest you could possibly be on property is early 2018.

^^^THIS^^^ UAL will come around... and at that time you can decide what to do.

Agree with all the above.

I had a "goal" airline due to family history...almost all my letters of rec were from guys there.

Never even got a phone call

Thought I had no chance at UA...next thing you know, I was hired.

The old axiom "What's the best airline?" "The one that hires you" comes to mind.

Bird in the hand. Go.

Ual isn't running classes right now, even if they call tomorrow it could be a looong wait

Here's a little truism about airline job offers. Take the one you've got. A seniority number is worth 10,000 times the job offer you desire but don't have.

Here is another strange little thing that happened to me and I've seen happen to others. My number one airline choice used to be Alaska Airlines. I applied for years and never heard a word, not a peeep. Within three months of being hired by UAL I got interview invites from Alaska, American and Fed Ex. All airlines that I had not heard the first thing from previously. When it rains it pours.

Take the job offer UNLESS it's one of the low rent LCC's and is not really a life style or career improvement. Then you'll need to seriously weigh your options.

Absolutely take the new gig , that will toss your resume in a entirely separate stack , you could get called asap .

Or not , then you have the current gig to have .

Congrats on the new gig

Ps I hope you make it to your goal

the decision to switch majors of course is a hard if/when the opportunity comes up. However, if your "dream airline" has a domicile you want to live at for the rest of your career then it would be a pretty easy decision to switch IMO. Any opportunity not to commute definitely should be high on a list of pro/con decisions.

Your dad should be able to tell you that there's no way to tell who will be the right choice.

To dog hump Airhoss's point, the job offer in hand is worth infinitely more than the one you're hoping for. For Gods sake take it!

Take the offer. Better to be at Delta or American waiting on United to call. Eventually you might be happy enough to stay.

Take the offer you got. I long wanted only AA cause from earliest days cause of fam connection. Applied in August '01. They cashed the $100 app fee check on 9/12/01. Never looked back and have zero regrets.

Hey Gullwing,

What are you, nuts? Take the job offer! What on earth would make you not take it? Awaiting a call from United? Perhaps you think that after 11 YEARS of trying to get on there, that they will finally take pity on you and invite you in for an interview. Even if they did, you might not make it past their process. Frankly, it doesn't appear that they're interested in you. Don't feel sorry for yourself. It's not you! It's the system. Take the offer! Do well at your new airline. Put United out of your mind... then, if they call, you can come back here and ask people you don't know, what they think you should do. I mean really, unless you're independently wealthy, and don't need to work to eat, you might just chill out until you get that call from United. Common sense would tell you that a bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush. Best of luck with whatever you choose, but choose wisely.

Why did you even apply and interview elsewhere if you weren't going to take the job?
Everyone here is telling you to take the job, and I agree... but if you don't want it, don't take it, you shouldn't even have interviewed. Some of us are trying our a$$es off for calls. I appreciate you are humbled, but you clearly don't want it.

A few of caveats to that:

1) If your dream domicile has over a million people and your future airline has 25% or greater market share, consider making the move. If not, remember Cleveland, Dallas (Delta), Memphis, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Seattle, etc. were all crew bases majors either shut down or are currently starving out.

2) If you're at Alaska, American, Delta, or Southwest I'd think really hard before leaving for UAL once you're off first year pay.

3) I don't know when your dad retired, but UAL pilots in particular should understand you're just an employee/necessary expense and nothing more. Flying airliners isn't a higher calling and there's no loyalty. If necessary, they will put you on the street or declare bankruptcy. Make it a business decision on your end, because whomever you go to work for certainly understands that it is for them.

4) I've seen it work both ways. I've saw a pilot leave Alaska for American in '93 to be instantly furloughed for three years. I saw pilots leave US Air in '99 and TWA in 2000 for American, which both worked out. I guess the lesson there is if your carrier is financially stable, stay, if not, go.

When you say "major airline" is that another legacy airline or a LCC? Spirit, JetBlue, Virgin America, and some large regionals are major airlines but offer different careers vs the legacies. Depending on the airline it might change the advice being given. I understand the need to be vague due to privacy issues but maybe just list airlines similar to the one that hired you.

Getting past the hiring board with multiple failures at a legacy isn't easy and is far from guaranteed. Failures happen but this is a competitive environment. The LCC's tend to be more forgiving than the big 3, big cargo, or Southwest/Alaska. I have a feeling that while you are right in the thick of what they have hired (TT wise) this past year the failures are keeping them from calling. If you have a job offer from another legacy in hand you just won the lottery.

Good god take the offer!!!!! You're emotionally attached to an airline you don't even work for and that's not good.

And no airline from 30 years ago even exists today really. Any airline our father flew for regardless of the name is not the airline flying today culturally, work rules, pay, pensions all different.

I can't believe people put this type of post on a board.

Continental called me first, and despite having to commute to EWR, it was the greatest move I ever made, any other legacy and I would have been far behind where I am now. Continental was a great Company and United is now a great place to work, but Dear Lord grab whatever offer you have, get a seniority number and don't ever look back.

Here's some advice not offered here yet:

Transfer your current offer to me.

In exchange, I'll withdraw my UA app, reducing your competition by 1.

It's a win-win!

Now that's funny fight there!!

:D:D

Transferable only 1 time ... to highest bidder . Just think of this was possible what people would pay.. interesting thought