Oh, and BTW soakingpilot, the Aug bid pack contained 71 lines and the Sep bid pack contained 62 lines. Just to give you an idea how big (or small) the ORD base is.

 

I would expect reserve in Chicago to be 6 months at a bare minimum. There hasn't been any upgrade vacancies since April, I believe, and until there are more, they really aren't sending anyone to ORD. I haven't found any week to be "typical" on reserve in ORD. I would say in general you probably get used less than you would if you were in DEN. Sometimes you'll go two weeks without getting called, and then the next week or two you'll get used every day. I've learned to not be surprised either way.

You'll certainly fly red eyes on reserve. There are some pairings that include two-leg red eye duty periods and to say that those are challenging for your body would be an understatement.

Overall, I find the work environment to be good. As a general rule, nearly every pilot I've flown with has been very easy to get along with. I've been on property about 6 months and haven't had any serious issues with a hotel, although I haven't even come close to seeing them all.

 

You'll get some perspective on this matter if you listen to the podcast the MEC put out in the last week or so.

The management types who are working the ramp (carrying bags, pushing wheel chairs and fetching strollers) made a big deal about having had training, and are covered by Frontier's insurance while working the ramp. Management has had to come out with explicit instructions for the pilots - don't carry bags / push wheelchairs. It's not the job you're insured for.

If you feel your nature won't allow you to keep your labor to the position you were hired to perform, keep in mind that your injury wouldn't be covered as an OJI; you're on your own insurance if you get hurt. If you break something, we once had a well intentioned Captain operate the jetbridge to allow passengers to disembark, (what could go wrong?), you could find yourself out of a job.

Keep in mind, none of the rampers or flight attendants are going to come cut your grass, drive you to the doctor's or make your mortgage payments when you get hurt doing THEIR JOBS.

 

The most Junior Relief Line holder for Sept is a Jan 2016 hire. You can significantly improve your line through open time swaps.

 

It's also in my nature to help out. But this ^^^ is absolutely true.
Please, stop doing rampers' jobs if you like your own job!

 

Are most new hires getting based in Den?

 

Essentially, yes.

 

Are they still wanting to grow MCO to 150 crews? How many are there currently?

 

Took the words right out of my mouth. I can see Biffle looking out at the ramp seeing the strollers carried up the stairs, "These guys will do ANYTHING for $37 an hour!"
This has been coming since Siegel canned our ground staff and Indigo cutting costs to the bone. Helping out, while well-intentioned, only prevents this airline from investing in proper ground support. They've had it coming.

 

Couldn't agree more. If baffles me to see people doing things to help the company out when they (Indigo) are doing everything possible to screw us over every single chance they get.