Originally Posted by
gettinbumped
You don't think there are enough CAL pilots in DEN, ORD, and SFO to staff a 737 domicile?
Not currently in the left seat of the 737. In SFO, I doubt there are enough in either seat.
I've read a bunch of folks that are quite excited about it.
Some are, but many aren't. Depends on where you live. Denver commuters tend to be very senior and I don't know how many would bid the 737 just to avoid commuting.
Isn't LAX one of the most senior bases out there now?
Yes, but that's driven as much by size as location.
I was under the impression that there would be NO problem staffing those new bases.
Actually, an important part of the TPA extension is the mitigation of hardship on pilots involuntarily displaced out of EWR and IAH. The union has a better idea than I do, but I'd bet money some guys on the 737 in IAH and possibly EWR will be moving backwards regarding their relative seniority in BES. It's not just about how many pilots commute, but also what seat they're currently in. I'd bet most current DEN commuters are 756 or 777 captains who might not bid the 737, most out of ORD are currently FOs, and hardly anybody commutes from SFO. That doesn't help out non-commuting 737 captains like myself.
If your QOL in base goes down, then I truly feel for you. No sarcasm. This really stinks, as base seniority is pretty much KEY to life.
I truly appreciate the sentiment, but no need to feel sorry for me. I've never been furloughed or even displaced and I'm a lineholding captain despite the fact I've got less than 15 years at the company. My ride has been better than most and I know it. However, I live in a high cost area with what I would consider to be lousy weather, across the country from any immediate family for one reason... so I don't have to commute. As I said before, the last time the company did this in 2008, they cut 737 staffing in EWR by 60% and the QOL of pilots on the 737 suffered predictably. Maybe I'm wrong and we won't know until they actually staff the bases, but I think there's a good chance many of us will be adversely affected by this. The notion that this is something universally good for CAL pilots is a sentiment most of us probably don't agree with.