Originally Posted by
FTFF
Ok, compared to my friends at UAL, DAL, and AA my QOL at UPS is equal or better, and FX has a better contract than we do so not sure where you're getting that belief. The majority of flying isn't domestic back side of the clock at either company, and correct me if I'm wrong but UAL and AA aren't exactly known for having stellar employee-management relations. Have you looked at the health benefits packages offered by FX & 5X? Retirement benefits? Vacation? Anyway, the OP is on the job hunt-just reminding him there are more options than just the big 3 and trying to offer accurate info at the same time.
Originally Posted by
Hacker15e
"Majority" is a correct, but subtle, term. Your implication above is that it means "nearly all the flying" is at night, when the truth is that only about half of it is.
At FX, don't forget that the same jets that are hub-turning around a midnight sort in Memphis are also hub-turning in the morning and afternoon around a noon sort in Memphis.
Additionally, there are a good chunk of jets that are doing single-departure international globetrotting, too.
So, there are plenty of opportunities for pilots throughout the seniority list to *not* do back-side-of-the-clock flying, and a good number who have the seniority to do exclusively day flying.
Let's talk about majority. Half of all flying is back side of the clock. OK if that's how you want to put it fine. I'll dig and find it somewhere, but if back side is flying between 1 and 4 AM body clock Legacy carriers have less than 5% of their flying in this time. When I fly Tokyo I fly 14 hours and land at 3AM. That's one of the worst. You guys sit around for half your career (15 years or more) waiting to take off at midnight. Worst yet Fed Ex starts trips all over their system so you have to dead head offline every where.
Your job is a nightmare. I NEVER EVER even considered working for a cargo carrier and I would NEVER EVER recommend that job to a newbie.
It'll never happen, but I'd love to see average age of death for cargo pilots.