Hello all,

Currently in EWR as 756 FO about 90%. Considering a move to ORD that would place me about 90 - 91% on the list. It would seem that I could bid for and get a line in ORD according to the past couple of months of awards that I have seen in PBS. I am looking for some input from anyone sitting around that percentage or has answers to my questions below. Thanks in advance


1. If I were to hold a line, how easy or hard is it to drop, trade, or pickup trips in ORD. Do the junior line holders find it fairly easy to drop a trip over a weekend if they wanted to or even swap or do you find that you are essentially stuck with what you initially get awarded?


2. If I got reserve in ORD, can I expect to get used for a lot of SC or FS during the month. Do they have as many of those reserve assignments as EWR does or is it a little more relaxed. Ultimately, if I have to sit reserve I am trying to find out if its better to do it in ORD or EWR. The commute is equal for me either way.

I am trying to weigh whether EWR or ORD is the better quality of life on reserve or as a junior line holder. sometimes it looks better from the other side then you find out the opposite once you get there. I appreciate any feedback.


3.

 

Before you get too far down the path, note the MAX/MIN numbers for ORD 756 on the current bid and the forward guidance for ORD 756 from the latest manpower planning update. If ORD 756 slightly shrinks as advertised you may find yourself either something worse than 90% or win the RSV lottery and never fly on lots on LCs. Won't know what happens until it does.

The entire discussion may be theoretical anyway, at least in the short term, unless you can get a pilot-to-pilot base trade in the absence of vacancy bids.

 

I don’t work for United but wondering how long you’ve been there to potentially get back to Chicago on the 756

 

I get and I am aware of everything you said. regardless, I am looking for the info in the event a vacancy comes open in the near future. With the movement systemwide right now there could opportunity for backfill. I don't want to scramble last minute for the info I am looking for. Right now it would seem I would have a better QOL in ORD. If that changes, it may not be hard to get back to EWR.

 

just under 3 years

 

1. It depends on the trips you have. As a junior line holder expect a lot of bunkie LHR mixed with some domestic. I had pretty good luck with criteria trades to get flying positions or my days traded. If you have a flying trip, especially in the winter someone would probably pick it up if you try to drop it.

2. On my reserve months it was a mixed bag. A lot of it depends on how good you are on short call pick ups to avoid trips. I think I sat like 3 months of reserve. Didn’t fly one of those months at all, but was picking up SC’s to avoid work. They will convert you to short call a good bit, but I don’t recall ever getting used. I never was assigned a FS.

ORD 756 has a pretty big mixed bag of international and domestic flying. Your exposure to getting called on reserve is pretty high, however it’s nowhere near say a 737/A320 reserve (or EWR 756). Loved the plane, base, crews and overnights, but ultimately chose to switch planes for better seniority. I’ll go back in a heartbeat when it makes sense seniority wise.

 

Thanks for the info

 

I sent PC an email because I’m interested in lateraling to ORD from SFO because the flying is so horrible in SFO on the 756. He said both ORD and SFO are shrinking. So probably going to be a while before anyone gets into ORD. Sorry!!!

 

Except in ORD where there is zero movement. Look at the last few bids and see how many ORD vacancies there have been. Sorry bro, get in line, the long line.
Also, not to be negative Nancy, but how are you thinking 90% is a line holder? Possibly in summer. ORD doesn’t have the flying EWR has.
Same swap and trade as EWR, same LC/SC. FSB on our fleet? Haven’t seen it nor heard of it. Do they have that up in the big city?
Good luck!

 

90% will be middle-bottom to middle reserve. I’ve noticed that the G-line has been around the 67-68 percentile during the slow months.