First and Second Year pay WB FO
04-01-2023 | 09:21 AM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
04-01-2023 | 02:43 PM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
Not sure how many people contributing to this thread are actually UA WB pilots. I am.
Yes you can probably try to fly and break guarantee as a reserve. Why work hard when paid the least though….
Right now junior line holders were hired a year ago. I suspect that will slow down a bit but who knows with all the airplanes on order. Waive everything and people even junior to that are getting lines. Get a line, and you can fly 90-95hrs no problem. For the even better good deal stuff, you’ll need to live local or have some seniority, but it’s not 10 years. I have less and cleared over 130 and 140hrs credit in 2 of the last 6 months. Never worked more than 11 days in a month either.
for QoL, you need to look at trips and compare. You can work 9 days for around 75 hours at Ua if you want. Stay on home time zone if desired. If you fly a WB, idc what airline you’re at, you’re going to fly at night. Personally I think out and back intl flying is easier having compared my trips with freight trips. That night sort stuff has to be hands down the worst flying anyone can do. Having done it all, a simple double augment intl out and back is the easiest and requires no recovery time for me. Easy to stay on home body clock, and 3 or 4 trips gets you a compliant line.
I will add, pension + b fund is nice. Higher b fund (presumably going to match deltas)plus good performance could yield a comparable result. How long does pension remain as companies everywhere are trying to shed them. Personally I’d probably prefer the UPS combined retirement package, but then again with 18% and our upgrade times, you can go straight to a $350hr nb Capt seat if it’s just about money and make more. (New contract speculation)
Yes you can probably try to fly and break guarantee as a reserve. Why work hard when paid the least though….
Right now junior line holders were hired a year ago. I suspect that will slow down a bit but who knows with all the airplanes on order. Waive everything and people even junior to that are getting lines. Get a line, and you can fly 90-95hrs no problem. For the even better good deal stuff, you’ll need to live local or have some seniority, but it’s not 10 years. I have less and cleared over 130 and 140hrs credit in 2 of the last 6 months. Never worked more than 11 days in a month either.
for QoL, you need to look at trips and compare. You can work 9 days for around 75 hours at Ua if you want. Stay on home time zone if desired. If you fly a WB, idc what airline you’re at, you’re going to fly at night. Personally I think out and back intl flying is easier having compared my trips with freight trips. That night sort stuff has to be hands down the worst flying anyone can do. Having done it all, a simple double augment intl out and back is the easiest and requires no recovery time for me. Easy to stay on home body clock, and 3 or 4 trips gets you a compliant line.
I will add, pension + b fund is nice. Higher b fund (presumably going to match deltas)plus good performance could yield a comparable result. How long does pension remain as companies everywhere are trying to shed them. Personally I’d probably prefer the UPS combined retirement package, but then again with 18% and our upgrade times, you can go straight to a $350hr nb Capt seat if it’s just about money and make more. (New contract speculation)
04-01-2023 | 07:01 PM
#23
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 670
Likes: 1
sfo, because that’s where new hires will go. Sure they lateral over, but indoc will offer sfo777. I’ve also never flown at Ewr. Could have similar outcomes, but sfo has way more trips, thus more opportunities for junior people.
04-02-2023 | 09:07 AM
#24
Thread Starter
On Reserve
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 153
Likes: 4
From: 320 FO
I think another layer to consider is the Z Travel benefit at United vs UPS, which as I understand has none.
We travel around the world a lot and despite many stressful moments when travelling on standby this one benefit we have used a lot.
Dom
We travel around the world a lot and despite many stressful moments when travelling on standby this one benefit we have used a lot.
Dom
04-02-2023 | 12:00 PM
#25
Line Holder
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 440
Likes: 14
From: 30 West
I don't know what Z travel is but if you're referring to pass travel sometimes nonrev travel is just impossible for families. I don't work for either UAL or UPS but from what I understand from friends who work at both FDX and UPS they both do a lot of company business travel on the pax airlines. That occurs enough that most all enjoy high status along with upgrades often when they fly along with reward miles. When it is time to go on vacation they can redeem free travel with the miles they have accumulated. It can be nice having positive space travel and not stressing over whether you're going to get on a flight or not. I am retired from a pax airline and personally would prefer fly pax, but if I was just concerned with traveling I don't think the benefits from working for UPS or FDX can be beat.
04-02-2023 | 02:05 PM
#26
Line Holder
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 452
Likes: 15
I don't know what Z travel is but if you're referring to pass travel sometimes nonrev travel is just impossible for families. I don't work for either UAL or UPS but from what I understand from friends who work at both FDX and UPS they both do a lot of company business travel on the pax airlines. That occurs enough that most all enjoy high status along with upgrades often when they fly along with reward miles. When it is time to go on vacation they can redeem free travel with the miles they have accumulated. It can be nice having positive space travel and not stressing over whether you're going to get on a flight or not. I am retired from a pax airline and personally would prefer fly pax, but if I was just concerned with traveling I don't think the benefits from working for UPS or FDX can be beat.
A long haul international super saver award trip with United is like 80K miles round trip. That's 320K miles for a family of four. For one trip. In economy. Are they really deadheading around in excess of 300K award miles worth every year?
04-02-2023 | 02:39 PM
#27
Line Holder
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 440
Likes: 14
From: 30 West
I don't know. How many miles do you have to fly to end up in FC most of the time? It's my understanding that the higher one's status the faster award miles are earned. Any UPS or FDX pilots able to help out with this idea?
04-02-2023 | 03:55 PM
#28
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 9
award miles are tied to $ spent and not actual miles anymore. With high status you get 10 or more miles per $. A round trip in Polaris to Europe or Asia is easily $8000 - that gets you 80,000 miles
04-02-2023 | 04:05 PM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2,923
Likes: 95
The folks that are really building status are ACMI folks and FDX folks who do a lot of international DHing (expensive tickets).
04-03-2023 | 03:59 AM
#30
On Reserve
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 66
Likes: 6
I got 120,000 miles and made 1K on United in 4 months at an ACMI carrier so it’s entirely possible. Add a few credit card sign up bonuses and I bet you could make high six figures. I saw guys with a couple of million miles in their accounts.
Last edited by GEARPINSOUT; 04-03-2023 at 04:00 AM. Reason: Spelling
