Originally Posted by ShyGuy

Have you been through a merger before? Nothing is happening quick. 12-18 months just to close the deal. Then negotiate a new contract. Then negotiate towards a SLI, which will in the end be sent to arbitrators, and have to await their decision. 2026 would be the earliest we see a SLI. Separate lists until then. If you're holding WB CA in 2026, then take it when that opportunity comes. It could very well be 2027 before the SLI comes out.

As for the first guy, I think you're jumping the gun with a foregone conclusion. If you want to move to mainland and don't mind giving up sub 2 yrs at HAL, then have at it. But are you really leaving because of this annoucement? When it comes to the big 3 carriers with the amount of hiring they've done in the past 10 yrs, if you are 40 or older, you're on the back of the curve.

Originally Posted by Vernon Demerest

I think the thing to consider for anyone thinking of leaving a Hawaiian/Alaska/Southwest/Jetblue (all carriers where I believe you can have a stable, lucrative career) for United (Delta/American) is what do you want out of an airline career? If you are in your 20s-30s, you might want choice/variety. What is important to you today may not be in 10 years. United is like five airlines in one. You have the East Coast North/South trips on the 737 that offer great day trips or wonderful layovers. The 757/767 community in EWR has a great QOL with very diverse flying (especially in the Summer). We have the big hubs in the center of the country (ORD/IAH/DEN) with varied fleets and good commute opportunities. Out West you simply cannot beat the Pacific flying we do on the 777/787 for long haul but if that’s not your thing the airbus and 737 does some very nice flying out of SFO(SJC as a co terminal) and LAX (BUR/SNA/ONT) along with some small domicile flying bases like LAS, CLE, TPA/MCO, all of these being little flying clubs where you pretty much know all the other pilots. Don’t even get me started on GUM…! You can change it all up every few years and literally see the world on our dime. Much of this applies (with equipment and regional differences) to both AMR and DAL.
If you are in your 40-50s, stability and earnings efficiency (QOL) might be more important. That’s where I can completely understand one with 5-7 years in staying put however at present, someone with this kind of tenure can basically start at UAL with a captain award in new hire indoctrination and plan on transitioning to the left seat of chosen aircraft within the first year. That’s something that will probably be somewhat temporary (next 2 years). It’s a great time to be a pilot, young or old. Those that are currently at carriers they are worried about with regards to stability, I think the opportunity has never been better than RIGHT NOW to start working on hiring on with us (UAL) while we are still in the early stages of what most of us see as the long overdue growth strategy referred to as United Next. We need experienced 121 pilots to fly these newly delivered narrow body aircraft and the opportunity to be a captain so early on in your tenure at UAL is unprecedented.