United vs UPS
03-28-2022 | 07:32 AM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,201
Likes: 32
From: 4A2FU
Hi. 25 year UA guy, preceded by 2 years at DHL. Either way, finish 20 in the mil. As I'm crunching the retirement numbers, healthcare costs are a significant hurdle, and I'm envious of the guys with the tricare deal. That said, I do maybe 3-4 redeyes a month. Night hub turns at a cargo carrier ain't that. Two years of the nightly freight thing made me at least 10 years older. Our big changeover at DHL was Monday night/Tuesday morning, and when you walked into the ready room you could tell by looking at them who was on day one and who was on day seven. If you're not at an airline now you probably can't jumpseat, but if you can I HIGHLY encourage you to jumpseat into SDF, sit through the sort, and jumpseat out. If you really want to taste the sweet nectar of night freight, do it for a week. Those guys aren't making bank because Mama Brown loves them (she doesn't, but that's beyond the scope here.)
03-28-2022 | 08:32 AM
#22
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Total newbie on cargo QOL and pay conversations so please excuse the question, but I see references to higher pay for UPS and opportunity to make much more, but the published pay scale seems to be as good or better for UAL (esp WB of course).. what am I missing? Just the fact that UPS pays everyone on a ~WB scale?
03-28-2022 | 08:55 AM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,508
Likes: 109
know guys that have left purple/brown for UA, and vice versa. To each their own.
03-28-2022 | 08:57 AM
#24
New Hire
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Total newbie on cargo QOL and pay conversations so please excuse the question, but I see references to higher pay for UPS and opportunity to make much more, but the published pay scale seems to be as good or better for UAL (esp WB of course).. what am I missing? Just the fact that UPS pays everyone on a ~WB scale?
03-28-2022 | 09:34 AM
#25
Living the SloBus life
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 2,166
Likes: 89
Hi. 25 year UA guy, preceded by 2 years at DHL. Either way, finish 20 in the mil. As I'm crunching the retirement numbers, healthcare costs are a significant hurdle, and I'm envious of the guys with the tricare deal. That said, I do maybe 3-4 redeyes a month. Night hub turns at a cargo carrier ain't that. Two years of the nightly freight thing made me at least 10 years older. Our big changeover at DHL was Monday night/Tuesday morning, and when you walked into the ready room you could tell by looking at them who was on day one and who was on day seven. If you're not at an airline now you probably can't jumpseat, but if you can I HIGHLY encourage you to jumpseat into SDF, sit through the sort, and jumpseat out. If you really want to taste the sweet nectar of night freight, do it for a week. Those guys aren't making bank because Mama Brown loves them (she doesn't, but that's beyond the scope here.)
03-28-2022 | 10:54 AM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,497
Likes: 66
From: MD-11 FO
Hi. 25 year UA guy, preceded by 2 years at DHL. Either way, finish 20 in the mil. As I'm crunching the retirement numbers, healthcare costs are a significant hurdle, and I'm envious of the guys with the tricare deal. That said, I do maybe 3-4 redeyes a month. Night hub turns at a cargo carrier ain't that. Two years of the nightly freight thing made me at least 10 years older. Our big changeover at DHL was Monday night/Tuesday morning, and when you walked into the ready room you could tell by looking at them who was on day one and who was on day seven. If you're not at an airline now you probably can't jumpseat, but if you can I HIGHLY encourage you to jumpseat into SDF, sit through the sort, and jumpseat out. If you really want to taste the sweet nectar of night freight, do it for a week. Those guys aren't making bank because Mama Brown loves them (she doesn't, but that's beyond the scope here.)
Having said that, that's only part of the flying at both carriers. There's so much more to it!
03-28-2022 | 12:13 PM
#28
All is fine at .79
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 4,486
Likes: 42
From: Paahlot
I have no skin in this game but if I had your background it would be UPS/FedEx.
The spousal unit has friends at United and even after 8-10 years on station they were on the chopping block in ‘20 when COVID hit.
You’ll be at the bottom of a 13,000 pilot seniority list.
UPS is currently at 3000.
After the same amount of time your relative seniority will be significantly higher.
COVID 2.0 / MERS 2.0/ SARS 2.0 / Cold War 2.0 are all right around the corner.
Go get your pension too.
Almost everyone I meet with a Mil pension is enjoying life and pretty much treating flying as a side hussle to get out of the house.
The spousal unit has friends at United and even after 8-10 years on station they were on the chopping block in ‘20 when COVID hit.
You’ll be at the bottom of a 13,000 pilot seniority list.
UPS is currently at 3000.
After the same amount of time your relative seniority will be significantly higher.
COVID 2.0 / MERS 2.0/ SARS 2.0 / Cold War 2.0 are all right around the corner.
Go get your pension too.
Almost everyone I meet with a Mil pension is enjoying life and pretty much treating flying as a side hussle to get out of the house.
03-30-2022 | 01:46 PM
#29
On Reserve
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: T4
Total newbie on cargo QOL and pay conversations so please excuse the question, but I see references to higher pay for UPS and opportunity to make much more, but the published pay scale seems to be as good or better for UAL (esp WB of course).. what am I missing? Just the fact that UPS pays everyone on a ~WB scale?
Another common misunderstanding is about night flying and hub turns. It’s just not a thing for everyone. But what is a thing at United is you will not be making anything close to UPS unless you pick certain jets… so keep it in mind.
03-31-2022 | 08:35 AM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 425
Likes: 0
Check the yearly W-2 thread, but the basics involve the fact that ups dudes on the international side make 50-100-150k more than ‘guarantee’. Most whale FO are seeing 275-325 easy.
Another common misunderstanding is about night flying and hub turns. It’s just not a thing for everyone. But what is a thing at United is you will not be making anything close to UPS unless you pick certain jets… so keep it in mind.
Another common misunderstanding is about night flying and hub turns. It’s just not a thing for everyone. But what is a thing at United is you will not be making anything close to UPS unless you pick certain jets… so keep it in mind.
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