Agreed.

I also think what the company is banking on, quite literally, is all the new hires since the last contract. They have not been through a full contractual process and have no idea what the level of acrimony can be from the companies side. I don't believe for a moment that Scott did this out of the goodness of his United Next campaign. I think they are counting on the new hires being happy with a 5% in the now. Stay the course.

There are more chess moves to be made. ALPA is still playing checkers.

100% agreed. Clearly many people on this thread were not here for Smisek and other previous CEO’s. SK has a job to do as CEO and make the company run well, but I would take him over any former United CEO (or any other current airline CEO for that matter).

Today was one of the most pleasant days since I’ve been at United. 5% raise given 6 months early. Then I come on APC and people seemed ****ed and irritated.

Inflation is ~14% since the contract became amendable in Jan 2020. This covers the first 5% of that inflation. That’s what they mean by down payment. Nothing nefarious. And we get it early while negotiating the rest of the contract. Big win for us.

Many pilots don’t understand the time value of money, and it really shows. I would much rather have a raise today and start negotiating the next raise, rather than drag it out for years and years just so the next raise percentage is slightly “higher”.

section 25-A

Amendable date was January 31st 2019.

inflation since then is 17%

other forum having the same conversation by a few crazies…

Uh oh, gonna have to side with the outrage crowd on this point. If you weren’t here for COVID, we took concessions that allowed the company to remain structured for the very successful recovery they’ve had. The 5% was our payback for their ability to make fast $$$ as travel demand rebounded. It was not then, nor should it now be considered as reconciliation for inflation- that’s what our Section 6 negotiations are for.

Many were against the LOA & believed it was naive to think our promised raise wouldn’t just get absorbed by our next contract- which is exactly what they tried to do with TUMI. At any rate, it’s up to us to hold them to their end of the deal. Any TA should completely exceed inflation on DOS without relying upon this 5%. It may seem like a minor distinction but it’s important to understand what it is & what it isn’t.

"Scott"? Are you two buds? Why do you refer to the CEO of United Airlines by his first name?

Why is UAL Alpa accepting contract improvements without a contract? Should stay status quo. Why give away leverage? The company needs to raise rates to attract pilots and that leverage should be used to get an industry leading contract. This is short sighted IMO.

Alpa has no control. It was signed during Covid.


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I am happy we are getting the 5% a handful of months early. I realize this isn't part of negotiations, but it de-couple's the pay raise from any potential thought that it's related to our TA. I think most pilots see it this way.

I'm not going to throw the 5% in anyone's face or resent anyone that we got this now.
I also realize that mgt doesn't make these moves out of the "kindness" of their heart. It's a business decision plain and simple.

We will never know the true motives behind the "contractually early" pay bump.
I respect the sentiment, and it doesn't fall on deaf ears.
Management sees that the proverbial pot is beginning to boil over with "info picketing" and LCA and instructor potential for attrition. The holidays have the potential for the best holiday season in UAL history for profit. This 5% is a "hedge" , rather than a down payment on that IMO.

This will save them some attrition from newhires (who might leave and go somewhere else) and it will save them from some semblance of unrest. Some pilots won't show for info picketing. Some LCAs and instructors will hold on a few more months.

Another gain for management is it is a quick dagger to twist in SWA, DL, and AA management's side. It creates more unrest at those carriers that are already in mediation and already sending out strike votes and already turned down a TA (AA).
It puts UAL pilots a smidge over those pilot groups (still doesn't make up for regional pay bumps or match Alaska), but this is a gain from the COVID LOA, not section 6 (doesn't matter if they try and relate section 6 to this pay raise or not)

This could be another catalyst to cause one of our competitor to show their hand (SWA or DL). We've seen UAL and AAs hand. We both folded on section 6 for now. But we upped the ante for the next hand.
DL and AA are still holding their cards and their poker faces and we haven't seen their cards in a number of hands. Our management just called both of them and asked them to show their cards. I know DL pilots and SWA pilots won't like that UAL pilots are getting paid 5% more than them... Will those carrier management teams throw in a 5% call to their pilots before Christmas? I actually think there's a good chance u might see that too.
Will they show their hand and produce a TA themselves?

You mean why is ALPA accepting a previously negotiated LOA payment early? Lol

The nerve!!!

It’s yet to be seen if ALPA has any ability to do anything post recall. I think the company knows ALPA is making all the proper moves to be a complete ****show if all the rhetoric and bravado on this forum is to be believed.

I’ll take 5% now thank you.