Originally Posted by
pilot64golfer
I keep hearing this but I don't recall anyone actually saying this.
It's been said on this very forum, but I admittedly used it as hyperbole knowing the keyboard commandos saying it were using it likewise.
UAL has had a EWR base for over 40 years. We called it "JFK" but we covered all the bases in the area. We've flown 747, 777, DC-10, 727, 737, Airbus 320/319, 757 and 767 out of that base. Even on the merger date we had a base there, flying 757/767 and Airbus 320.
Also, UAL had 100 firm orders for the guppy to replace the 757s, so why would we not want to fly an airplane that was ordered for us to fly? We started getting guppies over a year ago (pre-SLI) and I don't ever recall anyone stating that we didn't want to fly an airplane we were getting or being based in NY.
Saying a 777 or 747 is a better job than guppy is not the same thing as "no one wants to fly the guppy". Clearly 747 and 777 is a better job considering no one under 2,000 on the seniority list is flying as a 777 or 747 Captain, but there are guys under 8,000 as guppy Captains.
How big was the UAL NYC domicile at the time of the merger? What percentage of NYC CA and WB FO bids are now going to LUAL pilots?
This "we don't want to fly the guppy" is something I've only ever heard CAL pilots state, usually ones that are on the guppy and having more pilots move in on top of them.
See the first paragraph. Give yourself extra credit for the passive-aggressive jab.
Maybe if the junior pilots that bid off hadn't left for other bases, there wouldn't have been positions open for other pilots to bid in.
If you're really interested, you can check the last year's worth of vacancy bids to check the validity in that statement. Regardless, I don't think you'll ever admit to the possibility the merger has been hard for pilots on both sides.