They told us we won the lottery when we were hired.

They did, indeed. I saw the short film in Sociology Class in high school:

The Lottery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And we were told we would be captains in five years. We were, at Express, after choosing flowback rather than furlough. Not that I didn't appreciate that.

I was too. I left for EWR and a nice line 6 months ago...best decsion I could've made.

Good ole' Nancy and her minions kept telling us how lucky and privileged we were to have been "chosen" by her. I kept throwing up a little in the back of my mouth.

I can still taste it.

Say what you want about Nancy, who passed away 4 years ago. However, there are many former EAL pilots that are grateful to her and her minions for giving them a second chance at UAL. DAL and their minions certainly didn't give them a second look.

I can guaranty Nancy had little to no input on that decision. I would bet it was 99.9% ALPA, and they had to fight to get it.

I am glad they did.

I used to think the HR stuff was a bunch of BS. Working at 3 different airlines in the last 7 years changed my mind.

In hindsight, Nancy and her HR nazis did a great job, at least in my opinion. Their arrogance, however, was breathtaking.

It's your inalienable right to gripe. Bear in mind though that there are pilots here, hired during the Clinton administration, who currently are not lineholders; even in the right seat of the lowest paying airplanes and not all by choice.

I hope your luck and timing in this wonderful industry is better than ours.

Semper Fi.

What fleet and base are those guys in? I have friends hired in the late 90's L-UAL side that had a really rough past 15 years but are currently within the top 10-20 on the 737 out West.