How bad is 320 flying, really?
04-11-2023 | 04:02 AM
#11
On Reserve
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 66
Likes: 6
It’s a mixed bag on the 320. But I’d say it not as bad as I was expecting as most of it is at a reasonable time. I’m coming from wide body ACMI and passenger ops with a ton of back side of the clock stuff and this on the 320 is way easier on my body.
I just got back from a 4 day trip yesterday and still entertained visiting family and went out for dinner without being ruined.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the one and done of long haul ops with an Aperol Spritz and pasta by the Trevi Fountain in Rome or a massage and Pad Thai in Bangkok. It’s more like no time for beer, maybe time for dinner and definitely a shelf stable breakfast from Omaha, but I’m home more and more present when I’m home (living in base) so it’s working ok for me and way better for my young family.
I just got back from a 4 day trip yesterday and still entertained visiting family and went out for dinner without being ruined.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the one and done of long haul ops with an Aperol Spritz and pasta by the Trevi Fountain in Rome or a massage and Pad Thai in Bangkok. It’s more like no time for beer, maybe time for dinner and definitely a shelf stable breakfast from Omaha, but I’m home more and more present when I’m home (living in base) so it’s working ok for me and way better for my young family.
04-11-2023 | 04:48 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,738
Likes: 5
From: Sleeping in the black swan’s nest.
Hello, starting in a few weeks. I've had some people tell me that the 320 is the regional jet of the company. I've had others tell me they rarely fly more than 2 legs a day. What is the general consensus? I know the answer generally comes down to seniority, but any other insight? Thanks.
First and foremost, don’t pay any attention to the likes of goosey baby. It’s probably a homeless person posting from a shelter.
I’ve been in the bus for a bit. There are very few 4 leg days. Lots of trips have at least one or two three leg days. Lots of trips consist of two leg days. Out of Denver all night flying is rare. Out of the costal cities it’s more common. My last trip was DEN LGA/ LGA-IAH-LGA/ LGA-DEN. All daytime flying that’s not an unusual style trip pairing for me. My next one is three legs day one, two legs day two and one leg home.
04-11-2023 | 05:46 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 2,657
Likes: 116
This also holds true on the 737 as well. The trips between the 320 and 737 vary more by base than fleet type. Based in LAX on either fleet will have more all night flying, where based in DEN or IAH it’s fairly easy to avoid. Pairing construction is about the same within the same base from what I’ve found. The biggest difference between the two is that the 320 is a much more comfortable cockpit, where the 737 is a much larger fleet with more bidding options and potential growth/advancement.
04-11-2023 | 05:51 AM
#14
On Reserve
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 104
Likes: 3
You're probably the same dude that always complains about princess parking and all the other benefits military members get but when the time came to sign over 10 years of your life away to serve in 3 wars over 14 years you ran for the hills or had "bone spurs" and couldn't serve. Copy got you.
04-11-2023 | 05:58 AM
#15
Line Holder
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,020
Likes: 23
From: It's a plane and it's a seat
Hello, starting in a few weeks. I've had some people tell me that the 320 is the regional jet of the company. I've had others tell me they rarely fly more than 2 legs a day. What is the general consensus? I know the answer generally comes down to seniority, but any other insight? Thanks.
What type of regional flying are you speaking of? My 10 legs days?
The flying is diverse and I enjoy flying into places I visited with a RJ. I smile even bigger realizing how much more I make at UA on the bus flying into former RJ destinations.
Welcome to UA and enjoy the ride
04-11-2023 | 11:51 AM
#16
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 234
Likes: 23
From: Cramped 737 Left Seat
Welcome to United!! The Airbus flying out of EWR isn’t as “glamorous” as the guppy, per se. Many 2 leg days, some 3 leg days but 4 legs are rare although there are a few. But as time goes on, the 737 has similar amounts of multiple leg days as well. Since there are more of them, they have more to choose from. Growth right now is definitely on the guppy, however when the 321 NEOs/XLRs start coming the end of this year, the dynamics will definitely change a bit. Redeye trips out of EWR are minimal, much more prevalent on the left coast. The Bus also has more LGA (25-30%) flying than the guppy (5%) so that’s a consideration as well. Having flown both, the Bus is definitely more comfortable and much more room in the cockpit. But you won’t be disappointed either way.
Last edited by JackReacher; 04-11-2023 at 11:53 AM. Reason: Spelling
04-12-2023 | 03:05 PM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 274
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I recently rode a hotel van with a Delta crew before we set off on our redeyes. They were going home to finish in Detroit and we were going to join the mass migration of zombie pilots walking across the parking lots of EWR. The idea of a day sleep was blasphemy to them. I’m not sure if their contract strictly prohibits it, but they had never seen a pairing that includes an 11 hour day sleep followed by one, let alone two legs that evening. It’s interesting that EWR doesn’t see many redeyes, but it would be nice to see something in a TA that limits day sleeps. But that would probably force more redeyes into the east coast pairings.
04-12-2023 | 03:15 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 0
From: fatigued
Welcome to United!! The Airbus flying out of EWR isn’t as “glamorous” as the guppy, per se. Many 2 leg days, some 3 leg days but 4 legs are rare although there are a few. But as time goes on, the 737 has similar amounts of multiple leg days as well. Since there are more of them, they have more to choose from. Growth right now is definitely on the guppy, however when the 321 NEOs/XLRs start coming the end of this year, the dynamics will definitely change a bit. Redeye trips out of EWR are minimal, much more prevalent on the left coast. The Bus also has more LGA (25-30%) flying than the guppy (5%) so that’s a consideration as well. Having flown both, the Bus is definitely more comfortable and much more room in the cockpit. But you won’t be disappointed either way.
04-12-2023 | 03:17 PM
#20
Line Holder
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 872
Likes: 32
Bus pilots have Stockholm syndrome. The 73 has better, larger bases for open time, and better pairings all around. You might get a bad pairing on the 73 but there WILL be an open trip on those days for trading purposes. The 73 is the growth fleet despite its misgivings. Bus deliveries will be pushed back even further while you could be moving up in % every month on 73.
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