UAL Travel Benefits

1) Effective Nov 1, 2007, all economy free (both domestic & int'l). (Use to be all free, then after bankruptcy they implemented service charges, now doing away with them again)
2) You list for your flights via the internet (which shows you the loads and how many seats are open), and check in online up to 24hours prior or at the airport.
3) Stand by list is based on Date of Hire in the following order:
a) Employee, Spouse, Domestic Partner, Employee's Children, Employee travlling with the prior listed plus one "buddy pass".
b) Employee's Parents travelling by themseleves or with one "buddy pass"
c) All buddy passes, and employee/spouse/parent/domestic partner/employee's child travelling together with two or more buddy passes.

4) You get 24 "one-way" buddy passes for anyone you wish to use (you are charged...via payroll deduction....example Orlando to Chicago is around $40.00)

5) Employee, Spouse, Domestic Partner, Parents, Employee's Children get 100% unlimited travel anywhere on any United Airlines or United Express flights.

6) Each quarter you get "incentive passes" based on operational performance to use for free (still stand-by status) in First or Business Class flights on any domestic or international flights system wide. They are only good for two years and only those listed in number 5 can use them.

7) Your passes are effective when you finish training.

 

If newhires really wanted higher payscales then Horizon air would be the 'place to go.' They are by far the highest. Instead, there is an influx towards places like SKYW, Mesa, and others with quick upgrades. Most want the quick upgrade so that they can advance their careers to the next level (FedEx, SWA, legacy carrier). Do you REALLY think people would go to AE and sit as an FO for 8years if they had unlimited free travel and started pay at $40k???

 

Flyby hit the nail on the head. Everyone thinks as a regional as a stepping stone to the majors. So why not make that stepping the stone the front door.

 

Flyby1206, I agree with you 100%, but for AE to charge you to fly, and you can goto SKYW, Mesa, etc....for your quick upgrade, and not "pay" to goto work, you need to make sure to deduct those commuting costs from your annual AE salary to see how much you really make, when comparing who you are going to apply with....

 

Do you guys expect the upgrade times for AE to still be 8 years for someone hired today? Do you expect the upgrade times for someone at Sky West to still be only 2 years for some hired today?

 

No and No. But ask me if they will go up or down and I have no answer. We are all just rolling the dice, its just a matter of who craps out and who hits it big.

 

Who cares. We could have the exact same contract as Swywest and our upgrade would still be 8 years. Eagle needs alternative solutions. Managment needs to think outside the box and thats why I feel the merger could be a possibilty. Am I convinced it will? No. Am I hopeful? Yes, I have invested 6 years of my life here and this would give me a reason to stay. I and several other Eagle pilots have emailed managment with our frustrations. All of the emails have discussed a merger or a flow through that actually works. Our email campaign has just begun and its picking up steam. I am hopeful that Eagle managment will hear the message loud and clear and start thinking outside of the box. All of your solutions are a band aid to a gushing wound.

 

I'd tell you to go where, 1)If possible you won't have to commute, 2)Offers good pay rates from year 2 and above (in case you get stuck like if another 9/11 were to hit), 3)A Company that has a good contract/work rules/duty times, etc.....

 

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss a Horizon-type payscale and QOL as a major attraction. If I could've had that and live in base I'd be at Eagle now. I'm only one person, but I know others that feel the same way. People don't leave Horizon for a reason. Though not my original career goal, what's so bad about living in your hometown base, working 12-14 days per month and making $100K?

 

Anyone who still sees a regional as a stepping stone to the majors hasnt been in the business over the past 7 years. The regional route is a stepping stone TODAY because CAL, DAL, NWA, SWA, et al are hiring. What about the situation not too long ago when the doors at all but SWA were bolted tight?

Anyone who goes to a regional today with the hopes of it being a quick stop on the way to a major should hope for the best but prepare for the worst. I think more pilots are doing just that these days and want to see a reasonable compenation level IF they do end up stuck there in the right seat for 2, 4, or 6 years.

A combined seniority list may be a big draw for the SJS crowd, but I think a lot of folks who have been though the latest downturn are going to think that $36/hour is $36/hour no matter who signs the check.

I think it is a positive sign though if AMR does recognize that something needs to be done.