Rehire after turning down a class?
 

Hey everyone,

I was lucky enough to be offered a class with United in 2018. After a lot of tough decision making, I ended up taking an offer with another airline. I notified the pilot hiring manager (S.S.) of my decision to withdraw from my class offer with a very respectful letter, more than two weeks prior to my class date.

Unfortunately that was probably not a good decision, as my current airline is now facing some serious issues. Do I stand a chance at ever getting an interview at United again? I understand if I don’t, I’m just trying to figure out my options for the future. Thanks!

Chance? Yes

Good chance? No

Are the responses that you get here, from people you don’t know, going to affect your follow-on actions?

Feel free to PM me if you don’t want your details public...
I was former “major cargo airline” (some would still call it their “dream job”) before l left come to UAL. I’ve spoken to well over 10+ dudes/dudettes in the past 1 1/2 years since I left. Two, I know left there to come here... others (because they have told me) are kicking themselves....either because they passed on a class or didn’t make the hogan/interview a priority.

We’ll never know if leaving one place for another is the right choice until we retire, they say....but I can attest that I’ve been waaayyy better off and my family has been happier as a whole, for us and for me and my overall well being because I left brand X(mostly because night hub turns - literally kill you while you are still a walking zombie). And that’s before we get into all the the upcoming opportunities that UAL has to offer (same as pre 9-11 I hear) but this is truly a different time within aviation but also at UAL.

Good luck either way.

I respectfully turned down an offer to interview when the economy was in free-fall and we could all see the writing on the wall. I was very fortunate to be offered another interview and was hired...

Seven years later.

American will be fine. I don't think their issues are "serious" enough to warrant leaving

You could always just reapply and see what happens.

Ah, I was thinking FedEx...something like a 40% stock dip in a year?

And I know several that have either left here or turned down a class here to go Purple.

Apply. We need good pilots. A computer spits out the invite. Just have a reasonable why when asked why you chose the other airline and how that was a wrong choice. What have you got to lose by applying?

I find it laughable how thin skinned pilots are. A small time of stock downturn or market pressure and their knees start to shake. This industry will have ups and downs so suck it up butter cups. Every airline will go through ups and downs.

It could be spun into a great interview positive, "I thought the grass was greener, how wrong I was, United is the best. Won’t make that mistake again." IOW, a character plus—willing to listen to input, admit error, change course, i.e., CRM.