Originally Posted by hokiefan

Looking for info on CAL -- and I apologize in advance for the broad/crystal ball questions. I am a new hire looking for info . . .


EWR is the first place new hires go but what is the timeline to get to IAH? What about CLE?

You will go to EWR hands down. It took my 2 months to get to IAH after EWR. It was offered to me out of training. We were one of the last classes that they did this with in Nov. Classes behind me still got to IAH about the same time due to the system bid that came out in Jan. Next system bid is June. CLE is really senior and I hear about 1 year or more.

How quickly will CAL be in a position to hire again? Is the airline posturing for contract negotiations or is CAL really that strapped that furloughs will become a reality?

The hiring will resume in late fall if we don't merge, gas prices come down by the summer's end, and we still take delivery of planes. CAL has 3 billion in cash reserves but they do not want to touch this at all. The focus was on the next contract but the merger stuff may jump back from the back burner to the front plate. Furloughs may happen if oil never stops climbing and a lot of people stop flying. When this happens, everyone will be hurting in the industry.

What is required to commute (i.e. how should a guy plan to commute . . . 1 back-up, 2, 3?). What if there is a double commute (i.e. a connection in CLE is required to make it to EWR)? Does the pilot need to plan for multiple back-ups for each leg?

I did the 2 leg commute to EWR and it was not bad but not fun either. What really ends up happening is that you will commute up the day before and go home the day after. You are expected to give yourself about 2 or 3 trips to get to work. Depending on where you live, you may learn of how to jumpseat on other carriers or go different routes to avoid the masses at IAH or CLE going to EWR.

If DAL/NWA occurs, how far behind will the CAL/UAL merger follow? Will that affect the bases (i.e. would they close CLE and go solely out of ORD)?

I would expect it to be on the coat tails of DL/NW. Too much to speculate about right now. Half the stuff on these boards are wrong or not worth the rhetoric. Just like my opinion, take it all with a grain of salt.

Finally, what does an average month of reserve look like? In other words, is it 4 days on, three days off or is it more unpredictable? What times during the day do the reserve slots begin (i.e. can a pilot commute in the same day as the reserve begins)?
You will be able to bid for how you want your reserve schedule to look like and when you want them to begin. You could have 6 on 2 off or 4 on 4 off but not for the whole the month. You can request to have certain reserve days start on call at certain times but skds can change this on you. I bid 4 day blocks and start around 8-10 am. It works for me to have 2 flights to catch before my time starts. However I, almost all the time, pick up a trip to cover my reserve days so I don't sit in a crashpad or hotel. I would rather fly.

I was there not long ago and empathize with you. I was prior military so I was clueless on a lot of this stuff. PM me if you have further questions and welcome aboard. Depsite what you read sometimes, it is a great place to work.

Again, apologize for the broad-based/crystal ball type questions but this will help with some upcoming decisions.