Originally Posted by
heading180
With an interview with ASA in the future, and the possibility of being placed into a ERJ pool with xj, Just wondering about a few things...
Days off on reserve?
Min days off in a row guaranteed?
Flight benefits? -- Totally free for immediate family similar to DL's?
I know it sounds picky considering I haven't even been offered a job yet, but I currently have another career path going and am only considering going back to flying if certain conditions exist. The most important.. QOL. I am furloughed Comair so I am familiar with the basics of regional flying, I just wondered about the "good stuff". What is the "good stuff" about xj?
To answer the guy's original question, reserve rules are as mentioned previously. Your largest block of reserve days off are "immovable" or you can designate another block of days off as immovable.
Flight benefits are changing. Right now CAL and UAL are in the process of combining their flight benefits and figuring out where we fit in the grand scheme of the "new" United Express system. I'm not sure how things will shake out for us exactly. As of January we have access to CAL's old benefits and the benefits of other United Express carriers. CAL charges $12.50 per person per segment for domestic coach but you get 12 (i think?) free passes per year. Right now, it sounds like UAL is a flat $50 per person per year for unlimited travel. There are other charges of course, depending on class of travel and international.
Bottom line is this, life isn't too bad here at XJT, especially as a lineholder. Our trip trading, hard lines/no PBS (for now) and vacation rules are some of the best out there as far as scheduling. The transition between months, as mentioned, is very weak and its very easy to get screwed. Reserve has been rough for most in recent memory due to our understaffing by that clown Handley who was brought in just to cut costs and sell us to someone. This is something ASA has committed to fixing in merger. All of our bases are being realigned with the "New United" system so staffing levels are changing across the board with ORD growing quickly while EWR, IAH and CLE shrink. I don't think anyone really knows how things will shake out.
You mentioned that you are locked in to Florida and from what I hear, that commute is going to suck no matter what, even if down the road, you are able to get ATL. Hope this helps with your decision.