MCFlyer

Once United starts hiring off the streets, what is anyone's best guess at the upgrade time..? Based off of the last decade or so of no new hires, it seems like it may be a great place to get on at the beginning of the hiring wave and be in a pretty good position a decade or so later. Any inputs on projected company health and QOL at United would also be great!

Thanks for any input!

MCFlyer

cadetdrivr

It's anybody's guess what UAL, not to mention the rest of the industry, will look like in 10 years. Just look at the last 10 as an example....prior to 9/11 UAL was in a huge hiring mode with fast upgrades, ect., and we currently have pilots hired in '99 on furlough (not counting the CAL "offer.")

That said, the combined company will have around 400-500 retirements per year (give or take) for the next 20+ years so if UAL remains at least the same size you are correct, it could be a great time to get hired on the front side of the wave.

In terms of quality of life, both pre-merger companies are currently working under concessionary contracts but a new "joint" contract is deep into negotiations. Once the new contract is approved there should be much more clarity in regard to pay, retirement, and working conditions as pilots have earned large improvements in all areas.

NFLUALNFL

Thank you for your service. Unfortunately, any answers to all of your very relevant questions would just be guesses on anyone's part. Your idea that you would be at the front of a hiring wave is correct, but there are 1437 furloughed former UA pilots still furloughed. Between 200-300 of them have taken jobs former CO. We don't yet have; (1) a joint contract & (2) an integrated seniority list. The UA furloughs will all be ahead of any new hire wherever they wind up. So the flow to the right seat, much less the left seat is difficult to predict. It's very likely that the company will need to hire this fall. They have deluded themselves about manpower for too long and the summer could result in huge manpower shortages. The only truth is that retirements will start on 13 Dec 12 (Congrats Ed) and not stop. Everyone will be hiring and with your experience, you should be in a good position. Good luck.

CHAIRMAN

Well as a furloughed guy who was near the bottom and assume that is where I will be when I get recalled. If everyone comes back, no growth and base on retirements I will hit the 50% mark on the combined list in 2026....

Chairman

SNA320

Ok being the eternal optimist, here is my .02cents worth...

When I was hired in '99 UAL was approximately the same size UCAL is today. Retirements at the time numbered approximately 350 per year. Keep in mind UAL was at the end of a growth mode but there were 3 year Captains on the property and anyone who had been at UAL for around 4 years could hold a Captain slot on a 737, 300, U30(Shuttle), 727 or A320.

Things are a bit different today but with the upcoming retirement numbers equaling about 400+ per year, I would estimate the upgrade time to come down to about the 5-6 year mark for anyone on the property right now. Those of us furloughed can add a year or two to that number depending on your position on the furlough list (and final SLI position.)

If you throw in big improvements in the work rules things may look even brighter. There were many rumors about CAL adopting UAL work rules alone requiring about 500 extra pilots to properly staff the operation. Those numbers seem a bit high but nonetheless the new contract WILL be manpower positive as the rumors state that UAL's work rules are used as a baseline.

SNA320

Ottolillienthal

I understand that the senior pilots coalition is pushing for age 70 retirement now.

I predict ALPA will support it.

I also predict this will be the end of ALPA if that happens.

Upgrades are on hold until age 70 happens! You need to add another 5 years on top of the five years you already waited....Thanks John Prater.........way to go!

horrido27

^
Where do you come up with this crap?

Motch

ewrbasedpilot

Give thanks where it is due..............GWB SIGNED the legislation, NOT John Prater. GWB wanted it so it was going to be made into law REGARDLESS of what Prater/ALPA wanted. Do you seriously think Prater could have swayed GWB to NOT sign this? Not hardly...........so why throw away money asking for something when you KNOW for a FACT that you're going to lose? Pretty foolish in my eyes.....................

gettinbumped

Prater ran for MC on the Age 65 platform. He was no innocent bystander. Don't fall for the crap about "we knew we were going to lose so we changed our position". Name ONE other issue where ALPA changed course JUST because they knew they were going to be on the losing side. It doesn't work that way. Prater stacked his Blue Ribbon Death Panel and they took their surveys, skewed the results, and tried to placate the majorty of ALPA pilots who didn't want the age to change. Sure, we WERE going to lose, but ALPA National under Prater was very much for Age 65 from the beginning.

Rmbrand

This following link will show a image of table showing next pilot added to UAL/CAL seniority list as percentage down the seniority list. (ie 2014 column 2 = Feb 1, 2014 pilot will be 97% down list or 3% of list below pilot) These numbers are based on only age 65 retirements.


http://www.n-visionsoftware.com/images/Combined Monthly Percentage.gif

Bob Brand