United: The Saga Continues
 

This is a thread about nothing.... feel free to share any thoughts or tid bits that don't involve union drama.

I'll go first... I think 1 yr upgrades will continue due to the psyche of young junior pilots. They have not experienced major QOL & pay set backs like the lost decaders and therefore will continue to aggressively take any and all advancement opportunities with the assumption that the movement will continue as it *always* has. And they will be right in the near term.

I’m honestly considering a year 1 upgrade because I’m getting older (prior mil/corporate), and our LTD is directly tied to hourly pay rate. Plus, with premium dried up, and being a commuter, I’d have to credit 140 hours to match Captain reserve pay.

the math works out differently as the pay scale increases, or if you’re comparing WBFO vs NBCA. I’m just looking at going NBFO to NBCA.

of course, all bets are off depending on where the new base(s) are.

Oh man. There is no reasonable amount you could pay me to commute to reserve again with our current book. I’m already old and it just tacks years on to my life. Something to think about, before getting locked in for at least 2 years of abuse.

oh, I’ve considered that angle, believe me. It’s a bit of balance between pay (pay off the house), work rules, and getting out in front of a contract that could (maybe? Hopefully?) improve QOL to the point where the unfilled CA spots actually do fill up.

I have a few months to go before I have to decide, though. So we shall see.

I somewhat disagree. I think many will take the upgrade with a nod to “Get it while you can” since there are major set backs periodically in this industry. While we have some young pilots, many are experienced from the Express world who have lived the lost decade, just not at mainline. So get the upgrade now, enjoy the pay bump, and hold on, because in a few years there may not be an opportunity to upgrade.

When I was hired the junior Captain had less then 3 years. It took me 20 years to make Captain. (Ok I could have held Guppy Captain 18 months earlier, but who wants to be a Guppy Captain? :eek:)

My sense is that if hiring continues at current rates, the NBCA situation will begin to find equilibrium. As new hires trend younger, they will, on average, be less established in life, more mobile, and more willing to relocate or put up with certain inconveniences that us older guys no longer have the stomach for. 2,000 more eligible pilots each year is a significant dynamic shift- even if expansion is creating more upgrade opportunities simultaneously.

My only concern is that as upgrade begins to be seen as a short-term expectation rather than a far-off achievement, people will begin to negotiate with that mindset. Contracts like TUMI play on that mindset & make the right seat financially unsustainable based on the justification that “you can always upgrade if you need the money”.

I debated on the upgrade. $120 a hour odd raise for reserve which besides airport ready etc isn’t much worse than I have now (live in base). Plan would be to ride the wave, get ahead of new contract and downgrade in two years to better seniority on widebody. At probably 100k a year more than I make now this year and probably 70k next year it was very Tempting

exactly what I know others are doing. Captain for a few years, go to WBFO when you can hold a line on that.

That’s the tack I think I’m going to take. Reserve is bad but reserve in base isn’t terrible. Two years in the left seat and I’ll pay off all of my debt, I’ll slide back to the right and enjoy the sweet life for awhile.

Exactly what I’m doing…and don’t forget the nice bump into the 401k that the company is giving me at that new pay rate. Maxing out my 401k allotment by June was nice too!

BUT: it does come with a hit to quality of life. ie. DAYS OFF. I’ve been used almost every day of RES (but that means your LPV will be 90-95 hours) -this month I’ve actually had unused RES days…

The justification for taking the upgrade came down to the fact that I (along with 4,700 other letters) got that potential furlough letter two years ago and then just a year later I’m able to hold Captain…well it was a no brainer for me. May as well make that hay while it’s still sunshine and rainbows 🌈

- YMMV