UAL early retirement option

[GoABX]

Does United offer its pilots a lump-sum early retirement option?

Recently, there has been a rush of Delta guys going early to get the higher calculation and avoid the possible BK. With the recent pensions issues has there been a spike of UAL guys hitting the exits?

 

[Mach 80]

I asked a UAL guy why we didn't hear of UAL guys taking lump sums as the Delta guys are doing. He said the reason few, if any, UAL guys were taking lump sums was that Delta had a completely different formula in their pension plan. I got lost in the details but the short story was that UAL's formula ended up not having much for someone to take out in lump sum and the lump sum was so pathetic that you might as well ride things out.

 

[MW44]

Ual has an A and B plan. The B plan is similar to a 401k type lump sum while the A plan is a pension. The pension can only be partially cashed out during an early retirement. Basically someone nearing retirement at Ual could save between 200 and 300 grand from their pension (A plan) if it was later terminated by taking an early out. Their monthly pension benefit would then be slightly reduced to offset the money they took in a lump sum. A recent article stated that about 64 Ual retirees currently make more than 150k per year from their A plan and quite a few are making more than 100k. They all stand to lose a lot of money if it's terminated.