The challenge
As a Diamond Sponsor at the Women in Aviation International (WAI) 2025 Conference, United Airlines aimed to recruit top-tier pilot candidates from a highly competitive talent pool. But the overwhelming response at their booth created unexpected challenges:
- Long, unmanageable lines. Physical lines stretched for hours, disrupting foot traffic and neighboring exhibitor booths.
- Poor attendee experience. Candidates waited up to two hours, some skipping lunch to avoid losing their spot or leaving out of frustration.
- Lack of visibility. United’s recruitment team had no way of knowing how many qualified leads were walking away due to excessive wait times.
- Disorganization. Staff resorted to bringing out chairs for attendees, creating a cluttered and unprofessional environment on the show floor.
The solution
To solve these issues, United Airlines implemented NextMe’s modern virtual waitlist - an intuitive solution designed specifically for experiential marketing, brand activations, trade shows and more. Here’s how NextMe transformed the experience:
- QR code-based virtual check-in. Attendees joined the waitlist instantly via QR codes, freeing them to explore the expo until it was their turn.
- Real-time status updates. Candidates received live updates on their wait time and position in line, reducing uncertainty and frustration.
- Branded virtual waiting room. While waiting, attendees were immersed in United’s branded digital experience, featuring job openings, company culture highlights and a FAQs page to help guests manage their commute time back to their meet and greet.
- Optimized staff workflow. Recruiters met with candidates at a steady, manageable pace.
The results
NextMe helped United Airlines deliver a premium recruiting experience that stood out on the busy WAI show floor:
- 95% attendee retention. The vast majority of attendees stuck around during peak 2-hour wait times.
- Over 4 minutes spent browsing the virtual waiting room. Attendees spent an average of over 4 minutes browsing United’s virtual waiting room content while they waited.
- Improved booth flow, eliminating crowding and congestion. Event areas remained organized and comfortable, even during peak periods.
- Better lead intelligence. With NextMe, United captured more qualified applicants and reduced the number of missed engagement opportunities.
Takeaways
Top-tier sponsors like United Airlines are expected to deliver polished, high-impact brand experiences at large-scale recruitment expos and trade shows. With NextMe, United elevated its talent acquisition strategy, improved event operations, and increased candidate satisfaction—all without the burden of managing physical lines.
If your brand is sponsoring and managing a high-traffic booth at an upcoming job fair, career expo, or trade show, let’s talk about how NextMe can help you attract and convert more qualified leads - without the chaos.
