akulahunter

What are the first few years like as a Junior FO at a major airline? I know that each airline is different and can vary greatly, but as a whole...

How long are you on reserve? and
Are there a lot of 'forced' domicile changes (i.e. non-voluntary)?

Just trying to see what life would be like after the regionals...

viper548

I've been at US Airways for 3 months. I've been on line for a month. I commute from the west coast to PHL to sit short call reserve. Because of how long my commute is, I have to fly in the day prior. Short call reserves aren't getting used much, so I spend a lot of time in the crashpad. Luckily, the chief pilots want us to fly 2 trips a month, so scheduling will pull trips from line holders to make that happen, so two 4 day trips and 2 weeks of reserve in the crashpad.
I'm in the E-190. Movement is fast. I could hold a long call reserve line for NOV and should be able to hold a line in Jan or Feb. guys that got the Airbus aren't moving up as fast. My plane only has one base, but I don't think anyone is getting involuntarily moved between bases.

KiloAlpha

I've been at US Air for over 1.5 years. I live within 100 miles of my base and intentionally bid reserve; I could hold a secondary. Reserve time varies widely based on domicile and airplane.

I work 5-9 days per month, 4-6 nights per month away from home, making $84/hour ($104 in a few months) + 16% company contribution to my 401k. I average 70% of weekends off and I frequently go 7+ days without being called to work.

I would speculate that involuntary base displacements are much less common than regionals; especially Republic (former employer). Seasonal displacements off equipment (330,76) are common.

OnCenterline

I've been with UA for a little more than a year. I'm not typical, since I'm based in Guam (which is senior; I was lucky to get it), but guys in my class in EWR are already in the top 62% on the 737, and I'd be top 42% in the 320. From what I can see on the computer, typical reserves in the summer flew 60-70 hours, but most of those hours are accumulated on long legs (trans cons, etc), so you aren't flying that much, and it's dropped off a bit now that the summer schedule is over.

First year pay is approaching $70, second year is $101 ($104 in January), third year $122, plus 16% into retirement, and ton of opportunities to make money. 737 FO's here at the 5-7 year mark can hustle and make $200K; 737 captains routinely top $300K if they are lineholders living in base and working the system. Living in base is key, though.

New hires are going to the 320/737, with a few to the 757.

Displacements are a possibility right now because the company is in the process of realigning staffing after the SLI. It's a multi-bid process that will go through next summer, but after that, things will be much more predictable.

Base trades are easy, and there are plenty of trips in open time (in the US) to modify your schedule.

This is light years ahead of anything you will experience at a regional. It was one thing for me to hear about it while working for regionals, it was something else to live it.

akulahunter

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the information! Now to go do my penance....

Redstone256

What is SLI?

full of luv

Seniority. List. Integration

He's referring to the Ual/cal integration which takes time to fully pan out after you get the list.

Mike5250

Interested to learn more about the life/schedule, sent you a PM.