Winning a lucrative promotion to captain might seem like an easy choice for an airline pilot. But at United Airlines, members of the pilots’ labour union engaged in drawn-out contract talks say the higher pay and status that come with the rank are not worth the personal cost.

Captains share cockpits with first officers, the second-in-command pilots who assist them with navigation and scheduling. But more first officers are reluctant to become captains because it could require longer flying assignments on short notice and more hours on call, union officials say.

“The pandemic changed the way a lot of workers feel about work-life balance, and it certainly took place with our pilot group,” said Garth Thompson, a captain and chair of the United unit of the Air Line Pilots Association union. “It’s going to start snowballing and affect the company’s pretty aggressive growth plans.”