Can anyone offer insight in to 737 / 320 flying out of EWR should that be in the drop. I have a class date of 12 Feb and I'm looking to try and figure out which equipment would be the best to select on day 1. Best seniority, best trips, fastest to hold a line and anything else that would be pertinent to think about. I appreciate the guidance. I'll be commuting for a few years.

 

Commuting from where?


In EWR it seems the bus goes junior, but you would also be holding a line quicker. The flying on the 737 is better*. They love to tout those Caribbean overnights. On the bus, well if you're coming from a regional the only difference you may notice is the paycheck**. A lot of "RJ" type flying mixed in with some of the longer stuff, which is fine. I'd rather be doing it here than it farmed out, of course.



Bus has a lot of early starts and late finishes, but not all trips are like that. About 1/3 of the flying starts and ends out of LGA (pretty much the same as the 737).


Long story short, if having a line is the most important thing, the bus will get you there quicker. The line may not be the most commutable, but it's better than reserve in a hotel or crashpad.




*From a junior lineholder on either plane (say, 70-85%), I don't think they trips are really all that different. The more senior you get, the 737 does have better flying (one leg a day as opposed to 2-3 on the bus).


**Not really true. Every person I've flown with at a regional (and a few LCCs) has commented about how well this operation runs and how much support there is here. It's not perfect, of course, but this place does fairly well day to day.

 

Herk what week you interview? I interview'd Dec 12th and am awaiting a class date. Buddy of mine interview'd 5th and got his this last Friday (he was assigned 12 feb but was able to squeek into the 5 feb)

 

In SFO the 320/737 will offer fastest upgrade to line (caveat below). For a new hire the 320 will be the easiest to learn and fly. If you’re a fighter guy or have flyby wire experience it’s an easy transition. 737 has the best flying, airplane is much more manual and work load intensive.

As a new hire I’d avoid the 756 unless you’re previously typed on the airplane. All my buds tell me it’s hands down the hardest school at TK. Also you’ll be seat locked from going down for two years (up anytime). The flying is predominantly two day domestics which for a commuter can be a pain, and they’re to EWR and BOS. The fleet is way undermanned in both SFO and EWR so line holder status could happen quick. EWR 756 has the best flying at United. Last vacancy bid both coasts were about 20% unfilled vacancies on 756.

 

The 320 in EWR recently has actually been fairly stagnant. That will change come May thanks to this last huge vacancy bid. For perspective, I was hired in Sept. Until this April, my seniority on the 737 would be 7% higher than it currently is on the Bus. In May they’ll even out with 11% movement on the bus, as to only 3% on the 737. 320 has ~180 pilots, whereas the 737 has ~430 pilots. I’m 99.9% sure they’ll offer both 320/737 EWR for your class, as there’s still a bunch of vacancies in each. Honestly, there’s so much movement right now due to the 787 coming to EWR that seniority is a moving target.

I think you’ll see the most growth and movement on the 737, as that’s where most of the a/c orders are, but that’s just based on the last 3 months and next 3 months. There are a bunch of ex-EasyJet Buses incoming though, but not near the same scale as the Max orders. 737 has more night-time redeye flying. Bus has more trips out of LGA, only by a few percentage points though. I can’t speak to the flying on the 737, but the Bus is a very comfy aircraft to fly. You’ll fly anywhere between 1-4 legs a day. Trips range anywhere from an EWR-IAD turn, to an EWR-SEA transcon (which I’d personally rather fly in the front of a ‘bus than a 737). Tray table is great too.

 

Good post except 73 LGA flying is only about 10% of the trips. 73 base is 3x larger than the Bus. Bus is a nicer airplane to spend time in. 73 has better flying and a lot more diverse trips.

 

If they are a new hire without access, they may not be aware of the info that I relayed to them. And if they cannot get it themselves, there's a good chance they know someone already at United that can get them access to the information. Coming into Indoc in 2016, I wasn't aware this info was out there... and I had plenty of people that could have gotten it for me.

It was my "recommendation". They can use it as they need.

 

Jan 14/15 drop anyone?

 

January 14/15 drop

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And the choices that were made.

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