I get it but it’s not how I choose to see thing. I don’t want to walk down the street expecting to get jumped at every alley I come up to. There will always be something ugly on the horizon so why dread every day until it gets here? If you want to find something ugly in everything I assure you you can.

Just because I haven’t been at UA as long as the 10000 pilots ahead of me doesn’t mean I don’t know how to play the game. A lot of regional pilots have been going through contract negotiations that where horrible and contentious, including our ComAir friends with battle stars on their wings.

Your choice but don't walk down the street acting and expecting good things to happen in those alleys.

Been here over 20, lived through things going North, South, North, South, then North. That said, I'm happier with the company's direction now than at most other times of my tenure. Honestly, the ESOP years were just false promise as well. For the first time since Greenwald, we have guys actually trying to compete rather than make the shareholders or Debtors in Possession happy. Jmo, time will tell.

30+ for me and I've seen most if not all of it. MOP's Billy Mumphrey type of unbridled enthusiasm is predictable at <5 years but take it from the rest of us, there usually is a villain lurking around most every corner.

Kirby's here for one reason, to line his pockets as well as others, (see Altimeter and PAR) and that's it. Do you not remember who insisted Oscar bring Kirby on-board? I do not share your rosy optimism and when hiring barely keeps up with retirements during a supposed "expansion" phase, somethings definitely amiss.

I encourage you to keep up your Unicorns and Rainbows perspective but remember, Sic transit gloria mundi.

Everyone knows managements tune. All the new pilots coming from other airlines have heard management's bs for years. No one is dumb enough to believe everything the company says and no one is allowing 70 seat scope. The only people that may do that are a few selfish senior guys trying to do a cash grab. Even the new military pilots know scope relaxation means furlough. I don't know why people always assume new pilots don't understand this. I suppose it's good review from time to time in case someone slips through the cracks.

Also, our pilots aren't being gullible, they're just not looking at the world like its raining all the time. Perhaps your message to not trust management is valuable to some Marvin who comes here and actually believes everything the company says. I just don't think there are very many people who do.

Your closing quote is actually quite good, the takeaway being enjoy life, live well, and worry less about the material world.. A good message for everyone :).

Hiring or not we're still shedding 20-25 pilots a month off the top so either we shrink or deal with a tough summer next year.

Judging from the original point of this thread, the truth and insight is important for those who may be "holding out" for a UAL class date that does or doesn't start in the next 1-6 months.
Not pilots who have already hitched their horse to the UAL wagon.

Point taken. To get back on the thread topic, I think the wheels would fall off if we didn't hire 400 pilots for next summer. Maybe 250 pilots still looking to come back from furlough some time before the end of '19. I can't imagine more than 100-150 trying to come back in the first half of next year.

The hiring team just had a big pow wow last week at TK, only hiring 450 for 2018.