UA verse AA
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,213
$50 a week?? that is bad, sorry. Is LTD that bad also? Is medical insurance premiums high also?
I know that 2 flight thing would add hours to my inbound commute to ewr or Iad. The AA commute clause of 1 flight will make things much easier for me. Plus reserving it in advance would be nice.
We really highjacked that Marines thread., sorry.
I know that 2 flight thing would add hours to my inbound commute to ewr or Iad. The AA commute clause of 1 flight will make things much easier for me. Plus reserving it in advance would be nice.
We really highjacked that Marines thread., sorry.
Living in base? You leave your house at 1500. Priceless value.
All nighter? Home mid morning, sleep to lunch. Wake up hungover and think ‘this is what the guys flying to Europe do every trip .” :-/
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2016
Posts: 269
At AA we can drop trips for no credit. If there is enough coverage on a day you can just drop it otherwise you can try to drop to another pilot. The company can’t stop you from dropping to other pilots. I have good luck dropping Two day trips. Trying to drop a three day red eye trip worth 11 hours or so is hard. Very few want to pick up a red eye. Many try to drop all trips then fly when they want. There are ways to make huge bucks (over $400K/yr. narrow body Captain) if you figure the system out.
I’m pretty junior and was able to trade a red eye over Thanksgiving. My trip over Christmas is green (droppable) right now. It seems like there are so many reserves on the holidays that we line holders can drop those trips. I’m sure it depends on base and equipment.
You have a great decision to make. Good luck.
I’m pretty junior and was able to trade a red eye over Thanksgiving. My trip over Christmas is green (droppable) right now. It seems like there are so many reserves on the holidays that we line holders can drop those trips. I’m sure it depends on base and equipment.
You have a great decision to make. Good luck.
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2013
Posts: 200
Anyone getting hired at UAL/AA/DAL/FDX today under the age of 40 is in for a stellar career. Contracts/benefits/seniority progression are all becoming very similar. If you can get on at the place that had a base where you live/want to live... then it's just gravy.
#24
Line Holder
Joined APC: Nov 2006
Position: trying to survive
Posts: 91
This surprises me, considering Delta doesn’t have Domestic crew meals or middle seat deadhead pay and American doesn’t have a minimum calendar day pay, meaning there are 3 day trips that pay 10 hours and 4 days that pay less than 20. Seems like you’d have to work quite a few more days to make the same money at AA. Does AA have Domestic crew meals (not that they’re anything to write home about). There must be other aspects of UAs contract that fall far behind the others. ALPA put something out at one point with overall contract values that I thought had DL/UA pretty much tied and AA right behind. But of course, that was total monetary value.
#26
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Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 854
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2016
Position: 6th place
Posts: 1,826
You’re right, AA’s jumpseat policy is first come first serve. If someone books ahead of you they have the primary and you’re the alternate. But you find that out 8 days ahead of time as opposed to the UA system where a senior pilot can bump you up to 15 mins before departure.
I know which method I prefer.
#28
I am retiring in March, terminal leave in February. Pentagon staffer. Out of the cockpit the last 2 years. Originally thought I would have to go the regional route but I obviously didn't need to.
All good advice. I will reevaluate in January. I really wouldn't want to travel out to the West coast to work. Why is commuting on United worse than commuting on American? I don't understand the airport standby comment either. Is that "ready reserve" sitting around? Why wouldn't American have the same thing?
Back to one of the initial questions. Are travel benefits basically the same? I have a daughter attending school in Texas and a son attending school in New York.
V/R
All good advice. I will reevaluate in January. I really wouldn't want to travel out to the West coast to work. Why is commuting on United worse than commuting on American? I don't understand the airport standby comment either. Is that "ready reserve" sitting around? Why wouldn't American have the same thing?
Back to one of the initial questions. Are travel benefits basically the same? I have a daughter attending school in Texas and a son attending school in New York.
V/R
Don’t commute unless you don’t have a choice or for only a short period... your options and QoL will be mo beta.
#30
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Joined APC: Sep 2016
Posts: 400
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