flyemb

As a corporate pilot with jet PIC time, I am hoping to get on with United. Here are some basic questions as I have no airline experience...

1. Would it be possible to get Chicago right off the bat since that is their headquarters? If not, where would I likely end up?

2. How long can I expect it to take before getting off reserve?

3. I have a youngster at home...if I commute will I have any family life or at the start while on reserve and commuting do you spend all your time off traveling back and forth to work?

4. How many days are you typically on vs off? (For a commuter where on is sitting at an airport away from family waiting on a call)

Thanks!

rickair7777

Not a UAL type but I'm awake for some reason so here's some general airline answers...

Has nothing to do with being HQ, and everything to do with how desirable the base is to other pilots. Usually large east coast bases are most junior, then midwest, then mountain west, with west coast being most senior (in somne cases the mountain bases can be more senior). Smaller niche bases may have their own thing going on, so this thumb rule may not apply in all cases. Since ORD is commutable from the west coast, there may be west coast commuters headed there as well.

Typically, this would depend on the nature of the commute. A difficult, multi-leg commute would see you spending your days off commuting...ie arrive home the day after work, do laundry, go to bed, leave again in the am. This assumes days off in two-day blocks which is typical, with some three day blocks.

Off 11-12 days is typical, although there may also be some long-call days where you could sit reserve at home if the flight schedule to domicile is robust enough.

teedog

It might be a bit before you would hold ORD after the SLI ORD might be a junior base don't know and nobody does! as far as a life yes you will have one but not as much as you are probably used to now. you will only get 12 days off a month and you will be flying pretty much every day on reserve.

If hired the aircraft you would end up on would be the a320,737 or 757 most likely out of IAH of EWR.

ZapBrannigan

What are the chances of a corporate guy with no internals getting a call?

flyemb

Thank you very much for the info. I really appreciate it!!

flybynuts

Checkout the United/Cal merger thread. A lot to be had there.

ShyGuy

A friend of mine went to a United job fair. Ex-military, RJ guy with TPIC, about 9 years at a regional. Told by the recruiter to keep up the face time, and his chances are getting better. WT EFF? How much face time does United want? You apply online, you go to a job fair. At that point, there should be a definite yes or no for interview. None of this come back at another job fair BS. That crap is expensive.

aldonite7667

He got his answer. They were trying to be nice.

Pancake

Every one of my friends that attended WAI (including myself) is still hoping for a call from United. Every one of my friends in class at United has never attended a job fair.

Grumble

Same.

Shyguy, does your buddy have some kind of skeleton in his closet?