How long is it to hold a line on the 320 in SFO for someone hired today, assuming the current growth/hiring continues? I'd much rather have the 737, however with my age I think I'll be stuck on the 320.

Few months

”stuck on the 320”. First world problems

For anyone going through BI recently:

What is the dress code for BI these days?
Suit Day 1, then slacks and a polo for the rest?

Yes that’s pretty close. Business casual. Button down shirt and slacks.

If you really want extra brownie points, and to show them how well you’ll fit in with our pilot group, opt for the cargo shorts/Hawaiian shirt/white new balance look. Throw in a cell phone holster too for good measure.

Welcome to United! We’re really glad you’re here.

Yeah, it's about as big of a first world problem I can have. I didn't mean for it to come off negative like that. I actually really like the bus as I'm a current NK pilot. I'll be commuting at first so I mostly want to know if I need a crash pad or can I get by on some hotels. It'd be easy to do that especially if reserve is only 2 months like some people have said on various FB groups.

Class offer BI for late October !! See you there !!

When did you interview? When was your CJO?

Would that also be the case for a new hire, B737 in LAX?

Really depends on the base & fleet you end up with, & the commuting options from your home. If there is a lot of flying in your seat, you may be able to aggressively pick up reserve trips to where minimal hotel stays will cover you for the month. You’ll get familiar with how it works once you get online, but commuting to reserve without full-time accommodations in base can work under the right circumstances.

Probably get that in class

I have neither a crystal ball nor a United seniority number. SFO 320 is the most junior base and equipment in the system and people bid out of there on a rocket. When United is hiring at Vne time on reserve really can’t be anything more than a few months.

other places… who knows. Lotta factors in play and although we talk about progression based on time-on-property that is a proxy for relative seniority. At the moment there’s not a reliable relationship between time-on-property and relative seniority. Not, at all, steady state. The uncertainty is mostly upside though. Whatever time-to-line ends up being will probably make a lot of captains jealous

Can any one chime in on how long to hold ORD in any capacity?

Brand new folks getting it across several fleets on the last bid.

Class drop today?

Or are we just giving up and plan to say 'Guppy and Bus in EWR and SFO' for this class and the next?

Here’s the list of what was offered, but don’t know how many of each:
EWR 737
SFO 737
LAX 737
DCA 737
GUM 737
EWR 320
SFO 320
LAX 320
DCA 756
EWR 756
LAX 756
SFO 756

Is Guam easy to get for new hires? I saw there was a slot for todays class.

if it’s offered and available when it’s your turn to bid, then it’s easy. If not, then it’s hard.

I hope not, I'm on the next class, and all I want for Christmas is a Guppy to LAX... :)

why even comment, are you that bored? Props though, that username seems spot on

did you bid it

29 - 737
15 - 320
1 - 756

GUM had five available slots and was available to anyone able to bid 737. Two people took GUM from today's class.


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It seems to vary by class; I would say it's relatively easy. As you may know, there are financial incentives outlined in the UPA to entice pilots to commit to GUM.


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In recent years when GUM slots have been available to new hires, they’re offered, but not forced if nobody bids them. They just post the number of available Guam seats to each new hire class until they get filled by voluntary bids. The last couple of vacancy bids have had unfilled GUM FO positions, so a lot of new hires have had the option recently. Of course it’s a small base so there’s no guarantee of the opportunities continuing.

Is there a positive to bidding 737 over A320 or vise-versa? Putting all bases aside.

Much more growth and better flying

I would just read through the forums for a more detailed answer. This question has been answered a lot. 320=arguably better airplane. 737=better trips, by destinations. Probably faster to a line right now on the 737 as people tend to hang out longer on the bus.

Any recently hired MSP commuters out there mind PMing me? I have a few questions.

Anyone have an idea on how long it would currently take to hold a line in either the 73/320 at DCA? I'll be living in Virginia Beach for the foreseeable future, with the eventual goal of moving in domicile to DC, but considering bidding EWR for now if the time to a line is excessive at DCA. My gameplan would be to commute to EWR for a while (since it is a commute regardless to either DCA or EWR) and then try to bid DCA once I have enough seniority to hold a line there.

Thanks for any info--excited to join the United team!

As others have said, 737 regardless of base is likely the fastest to a line for the foreseeable future (largest fleet and will continue to grow with ALL the MAX deliveries - even if they do choose to retire some of the older airframes). There’s a ton of us down the the Hampton Roads area that commute - at least being DCA based, you can drive it if you have to. AND YOU WILL HAVE TO at least some / half the time.
EWR is just tough overall as it gets long delays for little/no reason and out of ORF it’s almost exclusively RJ flights. Usually only 2 a day most days, sometimes it jumps up to 3. However you can always try to jumpseat on Delta or American to LGA as a backup.

Welcome to United!

no.

current hiring suggests it could be very short but unlikely so short that EWR first doesn’t make sense

No idea but I know the airbus does layovers in Norfolk in case that influences your decision. I’m not sure how senior it goes but I’ve seen it on the EWR schedule and flown it once.

the 737 is a larger category then the 320 in DC, but generally assume 20% below you to guarantee a line in normal times. With covid that number has fluctuated greatly month to month, at least on the Airbus as network shifts flying around. Im at 63% (so 37% below me) and could not be guaranteed a line in August and was on reserve. But network forced even more flying to DC in September and October (as compared to August) so back to being a lineholder.

and don’t bid a plane because of a specific layover. Those can change all the time. Just ask those special 767/777/787 pilots and their need for South America trips. ;)

737 is the growing fleet, it’s always the best choice imo

Better plane? I'd argue that point with you. People hang out on the Bus longer? Really? Where did you get that info? I've been on the 737 for 23 yrs and there are senior people to me on it going NOWHERE!! PS- The last FO I flew with is upgranding next month and going to the Airbus since he would be more senior in the A/C in IAH. He would've rather have gone to the 737 better flying and he likes the A/C. Everyone has their own opinions not right or wrong. Just figure out what you want and for most people its ALL about seniority in seat and base with where it flies to coming in a close 2nd. Hope this helps.

Well, that's why I said arguably. To some, they like the quieter, roomier airplane that doesn't have space-shuttle re-entry speeds on final. Oh and did you know it has a side stick and a tray table? Some people like that stuff.

There's this system we use called CCS. It has the staffing. You should check it out. Since you mentioned IAH, 50% for 320 FO is about 800 more senior than 737 FO. In fact, at least at 50%, it's at least several hundred more senior at ORD, DEN, EWR and then I stopped looking.

Takes about 7 years to hit the 50% mark, currently, in the right seat of the Airbus in IAH. It's crazy senior and the fleet keeps shrinking in IAH.

If you bid the 737 you will have 1/2 the thickness of your skin removed, learn to feel personally attacked when someone even slightly criticizes your airplane, and have to get very upset whenever you hear someone say "GUPPY".

I love saying guppy on the radio, especially in ewr and iah. it’s really what allows me to get out of bed in the morning.

So wtf is with the Guppy thing offending people? As a post merger guy who dgaf what the airplane is called, it blows my mind that someone always feels the need to say GUPPY on any post in the Facebook groups and then blows my mind even more that people get so worked up over it.

Paycheck cashes every two weeks whether it’s called seven three, three seven, thirty seven, FLUF, Guppy or Puppenholfükker.