Nobody knows but if you’re not working at spirit or junior it would be better to go to AA or Delta if you live in one of those bases

 

I agree. I think they stay a base, at least for a while, maybe a long time. Just have no idea how big or small they become.

 

United has listed MIA/FLL as a future pilot base along with PHX, SAN, SEA and BOS. They also had LAS and MCO on the list which were just opened as 737 bases. LAS still has 17 unfilled CA positions, even after 2 bids. They will likely be 737 bases but its probably BOS will be Airbus since they want to fly the 50 A-321-XLR planes to Europe, and EWR can’t handle that many additional flights.

They said not to expect another new pilot base for 18 months but those cities had the highest number of flights that were not currently pilots bases.

 

In the process of trying to gauge a jump to United from a LCC. Was wondering what those who have made the jump what your reason for leaving was and how you like the decision to do so along with QOL and overall happiness with the decision to go.

 

Where do you see that UAL has those bases listed as future bases? Never heard anything about that?

 

Honestly wouldn’t plan on any of that until it’s announced officially. MCO was right around the corner at UAL for something like 23 years before it finally got announced.

 

Exactly, I’m not holding my breath.

 

Those were bases which have a large # of current United pilots living currently. United was doing a study to see if those places would be worth opening pilot bases. They only opened MCO and LAS, and couldn't fill LAS, so this experiment isn't exactly a perfect one. I wouldn't "expect" any pilot bases at any of those places. To put things in perspective, I've been here 15 years and the FL base has been rumored since I was hired. It just now opened with 100 CAs and 100 FOs, so...

 

If I was a young fella, with little time at Spirit I think I'd jump at the chance to go to UAL/AA, but for the older people with some seniority, I dunno. The big unknown is obviously the merger but Everything that makes Spirit great is all up in the air and will most likely be crushed by JetBlue (Who despite what everyone says is run just as poorly if not worse than us) I have a few friends at the local airport that are Narrowbody CAs at UAL and AA (AA guy is 20 ish years), UAL guy is only 6-ish years but every time we try to schedule some kind of group flying trip, or camping trip, or $200 hamburger lunch Those two ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING (the UAL 737 CA blocks like 90hrs a month on RSV, lol) and have very little, if any ability to change their schedule (so it seems). It's incredibly depressing, they are ALWAYS WORKING, (I can understand not minding if you are 25, but when you start having a family, your priorities will change) I really wish we had competent management because as a 10+year CA this place is awesome (not perfect by any stretch) Sure everyday is a cluster while you wait 45 mins for a gate, or a gate agent is getting pummeled by an angry customer but not being enslaved to your schedule and not having to block 90hrs a month is pretty important (for a middle aged Dad of 4 anyway, lol). Anyway, I'm really hoping UAL & AA get some pretty big QOL things in their contract so we can hopefully keep ours.

 

^^^ times infinity. Sucks losing good fo’s, and I don’t blame them for wanting to leave!

Getting a decent schedule and not being told I need to block a certain amount of hours= priceless!!

#familyfirst