If I were you I'd go to law school get your degree get hired by an airline, proceed to take everything from the pilot's that we and your father enjoy(ed). That plan would have more vertical movement than where we sit today. Once you get to mid-level management. Then, you can tell those who care to correct your grammar that they don't mean squat. You see, there is a group everywhere you go that enjoy kicking a new guy and forget where they came from. Good Luck, no sarcasm intended. This job is not what it used to be for us or those before us. I'm afraid to say it will probably get worse. Our unions tell us they are working to make improvements, maybe. The problem is the Railway Labor Act (RLA) has removed all of the teeth of our bite. The last strike by a major airline lasted one day when it was cancelled by presidential order. Our union loves the RLA, without it we don't need them. You get a far better shake in the courts than by any arbitrator. It's almost impossible to get to court in our business because of the RLA and the company’s ability to pre-empt.

Don't Disagree with you on most of your points but.....facts are facts

American Pilots in 1997 They were also APA not ALPA see a Trend?
UPS Pilot sympathy Strike in 1997. (Symapthy with Teamsters)
NWA Pilot Strike In 1998. ALPA
Comm Air Pilots in 2001. ALPA
Polar Pilot strike in 2005 ALPA
Spirit Pilot Strike in 2010. ALPA

J.C. guys, cut the kid some slack! Every one of us was in his position at one time or another. If flying for United is his passion let him follow it. I've been here 14 years and yes, it has certainly had it sucky times (like the last 10 yrs!). But like this fellow, I too was an airline kid. It's kinda in your blood. Dad was a Braniff pilot off and on for over 20 years. I say off and on because he was laid off 4 separate times. Hell I bet this kid understands how crap works better than some of you. So you know what? Save the negative crap for your current "co-workers". Good luck kid.

Lol, wow. Strange post. Filled with factual errors. Where do you get your facts?

Reality check?
 

Just because my Dad was an auto worker for Chysler in the '60s doesn't mean I would be be packing my bags for Detroit right now.

If he STILL was working there and I was too stupid to figure out on my own it wasn't a good plan to follow in his footsteps, I'd hope he would have the decency to kick my @ss.

It DOESN'T mean ****.... you might want to read what you write as well.

Here go a few answers: First... don't get caught up in the "ever since I was a child it was my dream to fly for _______ Airlines." Interview with everyone, then take the offer from what you think is the best company based on their financial outlook. In all likelihood, you'll then spend the rest of your career realizing you made the wrong decision.

Second... you most definitely won't be considered a scab if you go to UAL under the circumstances you describe and won't be looked down upon any more than some of the jackasses at UAL and CAL already look down on each other. In some respects, you might generally be treated better because you'll be starting with a clean slate. Remember, there'll be furloughed UAL pilots who bypass recall being inserted above you for some time after you're hired. Probably not a huge deal because many of those bypassing probably won't come back and it'll be less than a year's worth of seniority, but it's still worth considering.

No, I re-read everything; thank you! Used in this context, "don't" works just as well. I would use it again and will! Thanks mr. grammar!

Redeye, I guess I should stand corrected on one of those facts. I did say "major". I was referring to the AA strike that was cancelled by the President some years back, If that was not the 1997 strike I'll stand corrected. As for NWA you are correct! I did not consider UPS a "major" airline in 1997, not to say their pilots were not of "major" caliber, they were and are. The rest of the airlines you quote I would not consider to be "majors" either (again, no reflecton on the pilots, just the airline size). To counter the ALPA trend reference, I would bring up TWA pilots DFR complaint, UALs retired suit, CAL retired pilots that were told by CAL and ALPA they were cleared to go to court to contest the System Boards rejection of their claim only to be told by the 5th circuit, CAL and ALPA had no right to infer that recourse because it was not legal.
These are just my opinions, not to be construed as fact, but I always have an open mind. ( not to be construed as being blonde)

Lighten Up Francis!!