Originally Posted by
Macdacpilot
This should keep your spirits up:
Yes, assume a start in EWR for everybody, for awhile. However, here's my A-320 new hire case as an example (this is the good part).
I just finished my first and only three days of reserve in EWR...my only three days...ever.
I start in SFO next month (days off until then). I live in Sacramento, so it is a drive-able commute, albeit a nasty one at times as it took 4 hours to get home tonight from OET class due to the ridiculous Friday afternoon traffic.
The key here was that a vacancy bid came open while I was in the indoc class and I was awarded the lateral from EWR to SFO. It had an effective date of 1 April, but pilot planning moved the date up 1 month to 2 March. Pretty darn awesome...no complaints here.
Welcome to UAL and the Airbus from a long term Airbus guy. Don't sweat that drive to SMF at its worst. As you pass the 3 hour mark getting home on a bad day, a commuter somewhere has been waiting around even longer....only to get bumped and stuck for the night anyway. I speak from personal experience. You sir, are in fine shape. Enjoy!