Airline Pilot Central Forums - A Few Questions about United

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CrowneVic,

Front end commutability from the west coast will be better for you as a new hire. Trips can start with a red eye, which gives you a lot more flexibility getting to work. Vice versa on the east coast, many trips end with a red eye, which gives you options to get home. Just a couple thoughts I never took into account when I started. Good luck!

Quote:

Originally Posted by XHooker (Post 2952306)

BART doesn’t go to SJC.

Apparently not directly, but it seems BART train to/from SFO plus a single bus leg would do the trick. Still sounds easier than EWR.

There’s still my question of whether SFO base also requires flying out of SJC?

And where is the “funner” flying?

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrowneVic (Post 2952435)

Going between EWR-LGA isn’t all that bad except late at night or early in the am.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrowneVic (Post 2952435)

And where is the “funner” flying?

I hate to say it, but that's gonna be the last of your worries.

The good stuff won't end up at the bottom of the PBS awards or in open time for assignment to reserves except for the occasional last minute sick call. You'll get some great flying occasionally on RSV but it won't be the norm, and it's not something you can control. Any control you have will be seniority based and there will be nearly 14,000 pilots senior to you.

You are gonna be on reserve. The phone's gonna ring and you are gonna fly where (and when) they tell you to fly.

On the other hand, if you hope to score a layover sipping a Mai Tai under a palm tree in Hawaii or the Caribbean, the entire 737 fleet is ETOPS and the 320 is not. (foot stomp)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadetdrivr (Post 2952514)

On the other hand, if you hope to score a layover sipping a Mai Tai under a palm tree in Hawaii or the Caribbean, the entire 737 fleet is ETOPS and the 320 is not. (foot stomp)

Aha! You just answered the question a friend and I were asking each other, wondering why it seemed the 73 gets all the better flying, while the bus appears to be relegated to mostly domestic stuff.

We didn't understand it, considering they are both very similar with respect to performance, capacity, range, etc. It would have to be the ETOPS cert.

I'm guessing the new XLRs on order will be ETOPS?

To answer your question...yes SFO covers down on SJC while on reserve. About 5% of trips are out of SJC.
If you commute into SFO you can then take the Monterray Shuttle to SJC for about $15.
LAX covers down on several airports....burbank, ontario, orange county etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrowneVic (Post 2952808)

Additionally, I think many of the A320’s don’t have rafts, limiting them to 162NM off shore with our exemption.

I would assume the 321XLR’s will be ETOPS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deafguppy (Post 2952837)

Additionally, I think many of the A320’s don’t have rafts, limiting them to 162NM off shore with our exemption.

I would assume the 321XLR’s will be ETOPS.

From Company Press Release.

“CHICAGO, Dec. 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today announced an order to purchase 50 new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, enabling the carrier to begin replacing and retiring its existing fleet of Boeing 757-200 aircraft and further meet the airline's operational needs by pairing the optimal aircraft with select transatlantic routes.”

Since United says they are replacement for 757-200’s, especially for 757’s flying North Atlantic ops. I’d say yes that they will be ETOPS aircraft.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrowneVic (Post 2952254)

For a potential new-hire on the Airbus who would have to commute regardless of base, can someone please provide information about the different types of flying that can be expected in EWR vs. SFO vs. LAX?

Trying to figure out if one of those bases has “funner” or “better” flying, per se.

If it matters, from where I live, UA has a few daily direct flights to EWR and SFO. I would otherwise have to rely on AA to get to LAX. But, there are probably triple the number of daily AA flights to LAX than there are UA flights to the other bases.

Moving is not an option at this time, and all three commutes are about equal in time assuming a one-legger. Also, QOL and time at home are bigger priorities for me than money right now.

My goal would be to get to IAH as soon as possible, even if that means being junior for longer.

Obviously the West Coast has the nicer weather, but I want to factor in other items, such as crashpad availability, QOL while hanging out on reserve, etc.

A couple of concerns for me would be the difficulty of having to cover both EWR and LGA as a commuter if based out of EWR, and the potential difficulty of having to rely on AA to get me to work if based out of LAX.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Sounds like you’re in DFW.

LAX personally I would avoid for the reasons listed, four different airports to cover.

EWR and SFO are going to be the same flying for the most part. A lot more LGA flying for EWR than SJC from SFO. For the LGA trips look at SWA and DAL. SWA has consolidated all their NY flying at LGA.

Seniority will be pretty even at either.

Winter is the big difference... EWR routinely is allowed positive space for commuters when the weather is bad. Takes a lot of stress out of the commute on those days. SFO NEVER EVER EVER gets positive space when the weather is bad. I’m not exaggerating when I say a shift in the wind will trigger 3+ hour flow delays and massive cancellations.

Good luck and welcome aboard!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumble (Post 2953055)

I have to agree, getting Ontario’ed out of LAX is a huge time consuming and expensive issue.