Just got my final recall at United for a 7/9/07 class.
3/20/00 hire.
Don't know what to do. I'd like to get to UPS in a couple of years and go to Anchorage. My PIC turbine would be cut off if I go back to UA (barely 1000 TPIC by 7/9/07. Pay and QOL would also decline at UA for the short term (at least). It also seems to me that by staying at JB and hoping for UPS that maybe I'm putting all my eggs into one basket. Guess I'd be doing the same if I went back to UA and hope I'd survive the next downturn/merger/acquisition, etc...
Benefits of going back include ALPA's aeromedical, job protection and collective bargaining. Also the ability to upgrade equipment (and pay) is better (long term) at United.
Commute as of now is much easier at JB than it would be at UA, unless we move to, say DEN. All my trips right now are commutable on both ends. At UA, trips would be commutable on one end only (for at least the short term).
Sure wish I could "ride it out" like our military brethren or the Delta guys are able to do.
Would like to hear some input from United and non-United folks.
Good luck to all with their decision.
GP