So I couldn’t find a discussion on this recently. I know the bus is way more comfortable but United’s are quite old. If you had the choice of either during the class drop which one would you pick? I’d like to be Houston based eventually. I would ask about the 756 but I’m guessing those go pretty senior in the class drops...if available at all.

The quickest way to IAH is the 737. You will not be able to hold the 756 in IAH for 4-5 years as it stands now.

The last A320 pilot in IAH that was awarded it is currently 11,400 out of 12,400.

The last 737 pilot in IAH that was awarded it is currently 12,100 out of 12,400.

The last 756 pilot in IAH that was awarded it is currently 11,000 out of 12,400.

Who cares how old they are, we have old 737s also. Take the Bus if you want a better office. Take the 737 if you want more variety. Seniority is *about the same on the bottom of either. For example I’m more senior on the 737 in SFO by 10%, more senior on the Bus in EWR by 15%, and basically a wash in LAX or ORD. Houston is probably faster on the 737 ( I can’t hold it on the Airbus) and the 737 will be the growing feet in the coming years. Depends on what you want.

Thanks for the updated base stats. Appreciated

Same question but Denver. I understand roughly 2 yrs to hold either way, but any big differences in flying (schedules, types of trips, etc) or long term outlook?

[QUOTE=MasterOfPuppets;2509413]The quickest way to IAH is the 737.


Exactly what he said. Pick the plane for the optimum QOL.

The biggest difference between the 320 and 737 is stage length and cities. They are not even comparable. If you want to hit the major cities and have longer stage lengths (less legs/day) bid the 737 If you want to visit the smaller towns and have shorter stage length (more legs/day) bid the 320. This is true for all the bases.

we have 100 737 MAX's showing up starting in APR so the 737 will be the growth aircraft for now. We still have 14 319s coming from China so there is growth but its slow and spread out.

EWR 737 is the best paying, lots of trips to trade for sr manning etc, one of the best $$ fleets if you want to work and earn some qwan.

I agonized over this question for months because I recently took a 320 captain bid in EWR. I disagree with the above but obviously I am biased. It is true the 737 has a larger fleet and will likely increase in the next 5 years more than the Airbus fleet, but for a junior person I believe the next 2 years will hold opportunities to move up to 756 or 777 so the question becomes where do you want to spend your first 2 junior years. The difference in flying for the bottom 30% between Airbus and 737 is trivial. When you get senior it is true the 737 has more one leg trips, but even then it depends on the base and I really can't speak about IAH 320 flying. I can tell you one quick anecdote that just happened . . . I was in Denver training on this past Sunday and was at the bar drinking with a IAH 320 FO. He switched from 737 to 320 about a year ago and his comment was, and I quote "best move I ever made". Why you ask? The technological differences and the actual hands on flying differences are huge. The 737 is noisy and cramped and uses old technology with switches galore all run manually and all the size of a battleship gun. The bus is highly automated, and relatively easy to fly and to land. That difference doesn't seem like much until you're trying to land a 737-900 in LGA on a snowy night at midnight.

So to summarize:

1) for a new hire movement opportunities will be huge over the next 2 years no matter where you are

2) the 737 and 320 trips are very equal on the bottom of seniority

3) the 737 uses old technology and the 320 uses relatively new technology so the actual trip to trip and emergency checklist workload is WAY higher for a 737 FO

4) the 737 cockpit is cramped and noisy, the 320 cockpit is spacious and slightly less noisy

5) you'll be much happier landing a 320 on a short field in bad weather than you will a 737-900

6) this I'm basing on friends that were 320 FO's and are now 737 captains: but I have been told that training on the 320 is WAY more friendly and gentlemanly.


But like I said I am VERY biased

161 MAXs. 61 737-9 and 100 737-10.