Airline Pilot Central Forums - Summer 2017 Pool

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- - Summer 2017 Pool (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/united/104539-summer-2017-pool.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets (Post 2437465)

I do think he is doing a good job. He doesn't seem to be bowing down to the investors and he is upping mainline flying on RJ routes. He is opening up new routes both domestically and internationally. I like that UA is finally competing again and not running and hiding. The airline seems to have new life breathed into it and other than a few of the constantly unhappy *cough 757Driver cough* we seem to be turning a corner in customer service.

I do think that he is going to ask for concessions when the contract comes due and I will tell him to pack sand, but we all already know that is going to happen. It is going to be a fight and Im ready for it. Just because I think he is running a good airline doesn't mean Im going to let him walk all over during negotiations.

Im not sure how much time you have left 757Driver, so you may be playing the short game. I understand your frustration at seeing aircraft deliveries pushed out, it prevents you from moving up the food chain. I get it. However I have a long time left and I like the way the long game is playing out. Buying 61 old generation 737-700 when we really need a 100 seater is pointless. Why make a 20 year investment at teh end of an aircrafts shelf life? Burning more gas on a heavier plane just because they were cheap? I have no idea what the break even is between a $20mil NG and a new -7max or 319NEO or NSNB but why break even when you can make a profit? The long game with aircraft orders and replacement strategies looks really solid to me. Its not rose colored glasses I have on, its written down and in action. I get that things can change but until they do Im happy.

More 50 seaters are gong away next year and a ton went away this year the Air Wisconsin RJs are not a significant add, I don't consider being flat a loss for us. Some of the routes we are now flying, especially out of ORD, would never survive without a 50 seater and Im even shocked they can support that much. It appears the 50 seaters are transitioning to the markets they should be in.

We replaced the 747s with 777-300s and ordered 4 more for next year so we didn't need the A350. We have now defined that mission as a replacement for 777-200s. Makes sense. I can't even list the amount of NEW and I mean entirely NEW, to either airline, routes we have started thanks to the 787. All 30 of them have been for growth and new opportunities, Many have been announced under Kirby.

We shut down hiring for 5 months :eek:. 5 months and the sky is falling? That is an insignificant blip on the radar of a 30 year career. We will hire again so Im not sure what the panic is. Who cares if they hire 1200 a year or 1 a year, as long as were not throwing people out the back I'm happy. My seniority will come soon enough Iv got time to wait. Kirby is completely changing the operation of United it takes time, there will be some stumbles but overall the trajectory is positive. Again if you are in the short game this looks like a **** sandwich but the long game looks good.

Don't mistake my positive outlook for weakness, I just see the future different than you and I like what I see, is that ok with you? Can I have an opinion or do I need to run it by you first to make sure I interject the proper amount of cynicism?

By the way ever single SkyWest pilot I have flown with and spoken too has been top notch.....:D. I also think we should get a 100 seater even though the pay rate blows and fix it in 2019

Although I disagree with your optimism, excellent, well thought out reply. I found one flaw though, we have more 50 seaters right now than we did last year and I have no clue as to why?

What MOP said...

Also, our stock is down because we are adding capacity. Investors hate that. Finally, we are completing and adding routes like crazy. That's a strategy I haven't seen since I got here. I think Kirby is doing a good job. He's doing exactly what he should be doing, competing and trying to get United back to the powerhouse it should be. Of course he will try to get the best deal for the company on the next pilot contract. His job is to do the best thing for the company, not us. I'm ok with that.

On another interesting note, Kirby was heard saying that we swapped the A50-1000 for the 900 because those planes/delivery spots will be easier to sell. We still have options for something like 75 more 787's. I bet we end up getting more 787's and the 777-8 in the future to keep the number of fleet types down.

We are also going to need more 777 FO's in SFO. The CA/FO ratios are light on FO's for the flying they are doing. I think training capacity and not wanting to shock the system are why they didn't put out more bids for that BES now. The big bid for summer '18 flying should have lots of 737 CA/FO bids along with more SFO 777 and DCA 787 FO's.

I thought new hire classes are shut down for 9 months at a minimum? 2 May thru Feb at the earliest (somebody memtioned March on one of these threads)

Plan:

- Hire some, not all, gullible pilots who may not easily recognize our mis-steps

- Cancel and push back some A/C orders

- Plant the seed for managements desire to have scope relief

- Tell the pilots the airline is growing but still stop hiring for a while and hope they don't stop relying on false hope.

- Once the pilots start recognizing it announce a new route or two in order to get them wet again and to get them to overlook that we're still not hiring and overlook that aircraft deferrals usually don't come to fruition

- If they squawk about getting a substantially lower PS check, or no check at all, tell them times are tough

- The above happens at the beginning of contract negotiations. Hey, we can turn this thing around with 70 seat relief.

Let's all sing: WE'RE #3, WE'RE #3, WE'RE #3!!!

At #3 it's still a good job. I'm just not gonna buy BS when I see or hear it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 89Pistons (Post 2437519)

- If they squawk about getting a substantially lower PS check, or no check at all, tell them times are tough

Isn’t not getting a PS check the definition of hard times?:rolleyes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherpster (Post 2437515)

I thought new hire classes are shut down for 9 months at a minimum? 2 May thru Feb at the earliest (somebody memtioned March on one of these threads)

Maybe maybe not. There is a bid open now with unfilled vacancies. If the company wants to fill the slots they will need a class before Jan 1.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets (Post 2437536)

Isn’t not getting a PS check the definition of hard times?:rolleyes:

Exactly how long have you been here?? This is not a rhetorical question.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 89Pistons (Post 2437539)

Exactly how long have you been here?? This is not a rhetorical question.

5 Years. How about you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets (Post 2437542)

5 Years. How about you?

I'm coming up on 18 years here (two furloughs mixed in). I was going to guess around 5. Nothing wrong with that. I'm not trying to dampen your enthusiasm purposely. You're just missing some of the signs that many on this thread have seen more than a few times. When things go south, and they definitely will in this cyclical business, it's easier to deal with the games that are played when you see it coming.