PossibleDeviation

I’d say stay at Spirit as well. QOL is better and current rates are better and will only increase with the JCBA down the line.

banned

I still miss Spirit after moving to UA. Didn't commute for either. I guess the future at Spirit is a little more unknown but UA isn't so great that it's worth commuting for.

Swindler128

In the same boat. Ua contract and all looks rocky at best then again so does NK/b6. Would be great if something could shake out sometime soon

dualratedchoppa

Can you elaborate?

JurgenKlopp

Rocky at best? Wow def the sort of mentality this pilot group needs…

FlyPurdue

Unfortunately, this website is probably the worst place to ask that question and it is the worst possible time to ask that question too.

We absolutely need a new pilot contract, and like any airline, our contract has some glaring issues that must be resolved, but make no mistake - this is still a great place to fly. There is a strategy that keeping new hires away will get management to the table quicker, but for every well informed new hire that we keep away, there are countless less-informed new hires waiting on the wings who will take that spot - and will not be as engaged with ALPA once they hit the line. Those are the new hires that I do not want right now.

If you do come to United - learn the reserve system and become an expert in how the silos work (I wish it did not have to be this way, and maybe soon it won't be an issue) but there are ways to play the reserve game just as CS does.

I can not speak to the ATL-UA Hub commute, so thats a different conversation. Good luck in your decision.

GSintercept

Came from Spirit as well. Live in base for both. Pros and cons to both carriers. Nothing will beat the scheduling flexibility at spirit, but the options at United far outweigh what we had at spirit or even JetBlue If and when that’s finalized. Just beware that unless the reserve rules here change you will be commuting in to sit field standby or short call much more than you want to. It’s going to wear on you. Living in base makes it better, but the reserve situation here is not desirable. Good luck in your decision and congrats having the option!

Otterbox

Atlanta is full of United commuters who for whatever reason in the past didn’t get or take the opportunity to work for Delta but still chose to live in Atlanta. Currently, if you’ve got United on your application you’ll get a Delta interview invite and be on property within 9 months provided you prep well for the interview. I know people who left United for DAL because they live in a DAL base and have absolutely 0 regrets.

Spirit… too much of un unknown future with the JetBlue merger. The great QOL work rules are going to be thing that management guns for in any JCBA, and JetBlue ALPA is probably the weakest pilot group of any major… they’re new at being unionized and gave away huge scope concessions (rights to 35% of domestic “Blue city” flying and future interns flying outside the range of current JetBlue aircraft when signed) in NEA for a 3% pay raise. Spirit QOL contract times will be sacrificed to protect JetBlue pilot fiefdoms in NYC and BOS. JetBlue almost failed as a company 10 years in due to rapid expansion so is now very risk adverse which makes it shy away from competitive markets outside of Boston/NYC easily, and Delta is a fierce competitor in the ATL market.

Swindler128

Hypothetical that the jb deal was done a week ago. Would you have left ? Let's assume the drop to 0 ( which should be in any contract imo ) is gone but at least you can drop some things. Was it worth it ?
Would be great if the united mec would release something on what their really trying to get. When I see people talking about getting holiday pay as a qol factor that just makes me cringe

banned

I guess I'd echo all the other statements. I have never commuted and probably wouldn't be able to justify it for any airline to be honest, unless it was all worry free positive space.