I understand that you're probably some 20-something that got caught up in the wave and think that skill had anything to do with getting to a legacy in 2023, but the choices to stay or go are so varied among person to person. What worked out great for you evidently didn't seem great to the many FOs/CAs who stayed, and badgering on about it here in a thread related to contract negotiations at a time that most legacies are at least temporarily reducing or slowing hiring is bordering on insulting. Does that make you feel better about yourself? Does that give you some sort of nipple-rubbing ego boost?

Come off it, leave these people alone.

Not to mention, acting as if it's super one-sided shows ignorance to the history of the industry. Mergers, acquisitions, and bankruptcies are major parts of this career, and while UA is doing well right now (and admittedly, even a place I'd like to end up) that does not mean that you won't find yourself slinging gear for some current-day 3 year F9 FO in the future.

 

First of all, the smart time to go to United would have been years (like a decade) ago, not at the end of a big wave followed by a slow down.

Secondly, when I roll into my domicile after an easy 20 minute drive to do a day turn and be back home in time to pick my kids up from school, my quality of life is dramatically better than all the united/delta guys I ride the bus with going to commute to start a 4 day. The amount of time I spend with my family is significantly higher than all of those guys. Do they make more money? Yes, absolutely. But my wife and kids love my schedule. That's worth something isn't it? Plus I don't have to commute to Newwark to fly a sh|t box 737 on a 4 day trip slinging gear for a cocky douche on Christmas morning.

That's why I didn't leave for United in 2023.

 

I left for United in 2023 and I fly exclusively turns (last overnight was a year ago, excluding recurrent). That's the beauty of a big airline; something for everyone. If it makes you feel better about staying at F9, thats fine, but the sort of schedule you describe is (or was) easily obtainable at a legacy

 

Yeah, but to make sure we are comparing apples to apples…are you doing that as a captain or FO? I know that makes a huge difference for a lot of us. Hi credit turns at captain pay at F9 makes for a very nice paycheck and/or quality of life.

 

Just to clarify:

United Airlines 8th-year 737 First Officer earns $255.47/hour with an 18% DC.

Frontier 8th-year Captain earns $242.59/hour with a 15% DC.

That means if you’re looking for a raise, you can get one by going to a legacy as a First Officer and swinging gear for the next decade. Factor in profit sharing, and Frontier Captains are making over 10% less than legacy FOs.

 

*checks math* 2023 was 2 years ago. Aero is almost certainly a 12 yr captain. Just clarifying.

 

Oh, my bad guess we can’t use 737 rates.

United A321NEO 12-year First Officer $276.56

Frontier 12-year Captain: $270.07

So yeah, if we’re comparing apples to apples, a legacy FO still makes more than a Frontier Captain.

 

I am glad you got this schedule, I also had that schedule until I upgraded, now I am flying the crappier trips, but my friend has been at Delta as long as I have been at F9 and he is no where near that kind of schedule, he usually does 2 or 3 days, occasionally 4 days. Turns for the 320 in ATL for instance, go extremely senior for FOs and CAs alike.

What you got, was good timing. Everyone else who chooses to leave now or soon will be stuck at the bottom with terrible progression and stagnant seniority in 5 or so years when the huge retirements stop.

For instance (I know its just a tool and not 100% accurate) but widget seniority said if I got hired on at Delta now, I would see 99% seniority on the CA side of a 330 the last 2 years of my career which is in 34 years... ATL 320 CA would be 5 years.

United and AA are different too depending on a lot of stuff.

I am a CA on a bus in the base I want to live right now and I have 36 years left to go in my career. I couldn't imagine trading what I have now for anything else.

 

Does this mean that Aero can go over at 12th year FO pay on the 321 NEO and get turns as a new hire? And, would he also have the same movement in seniority that happened for a 22-23 hire?

 

As tranquility mentioned you’re not being honest with reality. Regardless what if he is just working for fun? What if we all aren’t the bread winners in our family?