cactiboss

Einstein, why wouldn't they just give up their west number and stay east if they are so much better off?

LittleBoyBlew

For the same reason one sits at a blackjack table with a wad of cash on hand....

CanoePilot

This may have already been answered but when do find out how many took recall and when do they get placed back on the active west seniority list?

lolwut

I don't have a fish in this tank, but I'm confused.

Why should west pilots be allowed to stay east if they want? They're operating on a separate contract and seniority list, which includes recall rights and duration.

This seems like a "have your cake and eat it too" scenario.

texaspilot76

Question: If you are a new hire and get a choice between east or West, and the merger is not completed, what are the pros and cons between both choices? I hear the west contract is better, but you will move up quicker on the east. Just curious what some of you think.

trent890

The number of furloughed pilots that would be offered recall to PHX was published by the company as being 66 pilots. 35 of those pilots are generally the more senior furloughed pilots and get first shot at a voluntary recall to PHX in seniority order. The company had indicated that it was looking to place 5 recall pilots into every upcoming indoc class, so at this point this is more of a "gradual" recall, rather than finding out all at once how many pilots are accepting recall. The recalled pilots should be placed on the active West seniority list as soon as they report to their assigned indoc class. As you can see from the following post, for the 9/16 indoc class, this is already occurring:

Once the group of 35 have all been offered a class date, then they will probably offer the PHX positions voluntarily to the 18 pre-merger West pilots who are working on the East, as well as any of the 13 third-listers who worked in the West prior to being furloughed in 2008. Anyone from these groups of 18/13 who voluntarily returns to PHX is actively flying now and would not require a return to indoc. So the company would place any of these pilots on the active West seniority list in whichever bid month that their return to PHX becomes effective.

When there is no longer anyone in the groups of 35/18/13 that accepts a voluntary recall to PHX, then I believe it is the company's intention to go through the groups of 18/35 pilots in inverse seniority order for the involuntary or "forced" recall to PHX. Any of the 18 West pilots currently flying on the East will be able to stay on the East, but will lose the advantages of their prior service with America West, such that the company would adjust their date of hire to treat them as a 2011 new-hire. After this, the 35 West pilots who did not accept voluntary recall will be required to return to PHX in inverse seniority order, or have their name permanently removed from the seniority list. It is my understanding that the 13 third-list pilots will not be required to return to PHX, and may choose to stay working on the East while maintaining their original 2008 date of hire because they were hired by US Airways and placed on the West by the company more than a couple of years post-merger.

FreighterGuyNow

That is currently not an option (East or West) for a new hire.

The West is simply offering recalls to their 66 furloughs.

Perhaps in the future new hires will have an option but, again, not today.

texaspilot76

Thanks for the update, but, back to the original question, what are the pros and cons of choosing east vs west as a new hire?

R57 relay

For the short term I think you have already hit the main ones. Better contract vs. more rapid movement. The west doesn't have many retirements coming and I just had a 9 year west F/O on my jumpseat that was on reserve. Then you have to weigh which base you want to be in because if we don't merge it will probably be another year or two until we are combined. Even if we settled things tomorrow, the TA allows the company 12 months to use the combined SLI.

Like freighter said, I don't think new hires will have a choice for a while, they are going east.

Another comment. If someone take a job at US they need to accept the east contract and the fact that they will be working on it for a couple more years, at least.

flybywire44

The East contract is really not that bad if you're on reserve.

Yes, Delta and United pay more, but US Airways short call reserves don't work—they fly 35-42 hours a month.

If you need more money get a second job, because you're going to have plenty of time on your hands.

Otherwise, It takes about 2.5 years to hold an a321 line in PHL.