SWA guy.
16 days off. Line holder. MCO base. 77 Percent Seniority in base.

Senior guys are generally getting the 18 -19 day off lines.

Only way I can work it better is trying to give away a trip or so. Or praying the elitt gods are looking at me when I log in and I see I can drop a duty.

Normally Ill use month to month overlap to remove 1-2 days. So effectively I would have 1-2 more days off. But Training screwed me last and this month.

And you can't just say "I only worked 8 days but credited 150".

You have to say," I worked 8 days, but had 4 days bought by scheduling for IOE, and called in sick for a 3 day."
That will paint the real picture. There is your 15 days scheduled.


Sounds like the name of the game is get to the WB at UAL to get the gold schedule.

 

Just to compare apples to apples, the biggest difference that I’ve seen between Southwest and United 737 is trip construction. Trips at Southwest are efficient but you’ll earn every dollar. Those guys hustle with quick turns and generally more legs per day than we fly. Here the lines are not built like that. We typically have fewer legs per day and longer layovers, meaning less productive trips.

When the merger happened I thought that the LUAL guys were nuts wanting longer layovers and a more “gentlemanly” pace. I wanted to work hard and then go home. Now that I’ve gotten older, I get it. My current bid is avoid red eyes and no more than 2 legs per day. That go hard domestic grind will wear you out.

 

Yup, it’s not but it’s such an outlier I thought I’d throw it in.

 

Exactly!

Filler filler filler

 

I need some help from the group to clarify my understanding of the situation.
Live in Denver, 40 yrs old, kids at home for the next 8 years. Have a CJO with Southwest and an interview with United next week.

I’m really conflicted as to what makes sense. Obviously I don’t have a choice to make until United calls, but I’m still having the debate in my mind. What I am looking for is rational thoughts with facts, not opinions. I realize I might be in the wrong place. 🙄

It seems like with Southwest, I will have more control over my schedule, be able to pick up and drop/trade trips, work hard on my 3-4 day trips, 3-4 times per month, but overall have more days at home. I understand that reserve at Southwest usually means a you will be working, so reserve in Denver might not help me get more days at home. I’m also less worried about furlough at Southwest, although I realize they recently send out notices. I don’t believe that they will get rid of their “we’ve never furloughed” trophy that easily. Also, it will be 5-7 years to upgrade at which time my schedule will get worse.

With United it seems like I will have easier work days, but can plan on working 16+ days per month and making less money until upgrade….which will be quite a bit shorter than SWA. In addition, I will have more options when it comes to type of flying and in base opportunities(TK, bidding check airman lines, etc.). I have heard that United reserve rules suck, but if I can get reserve in Denver, I’m not too worried about that. I also think that as I get older, United flying may be more conducive to a better QOL.

I believe I will be able to hold Denver at either airline within 6 months, which should help with QOL as well. Benefits, retirement, etc, should be fairly comparable when the new contracts are finalized.

I realize both United and Southwest pilots think that their airline is the current “dumpster fire”. I don’t believe that can really be true. Pros and cons to each and different for everyone’s individual situation. What I’m trying to figure out is what makes sense for me. Most important for me right now is time at home, at least for the next 8 years. After that, I really don’t care how much I’m gone, but believe an easier schedule as I age would be prudent.

Please add in things I may have left out, or correct information I may have gotten wrong. Thanks.

 

If you fly WB international it is a completely different United. Commutable both ends, way more days off, flexibility, less chance of a reroute and higher pay. Plus, you get to take a nap in the middle of the flight and spend "day 2" of a 3 day trip in a foreign country not flying.

I would even venture to say I would take a 15 hour LHR trip over a grindr 737 3-day trip thats uncommutable.

You do you, thats the beauty of an airline that has 5 fleets (not including full-time TK) to choose from.

 

Currently, it's not difficult to hold NB reserve in Denver with United and have 20+ nights at home.

It's currently taking just under a year to hold a line, so it doesn't take too long to get the reserve days you prefer. If your main metric is maximizing time at home, then I would recommend United. You just have to accept the 18 days of unpredictability not knowing if/when you'll be used on a 2.5hr short call or whether you'll be coming home that night after your 4hr field standby shift.

 

With multiple options of fleets and seats, you’re relative seniority in DEN at UA would be a substantial benefit. Even if you decided you don’t want to fly WB and want to be on the Guppy, there are so many people senior to you that want to fly the Bus, 75 or 78 that they move out of your way on their own. Some people also choose to commute to WB LH which helps junior people move up in whatever seat they choose. This creates so many QOL options at a relatively short time on property.

 

I have never worked for either SWA or UA, but you said you want facts not opinion. Your decision is all about opinion and what is important to you. Personally, since you are in a position to not be required to commute I would choose the airline that offers me the most variety and options in the city where you live. You don't know what SWA might do in the future, but you can see what the UA business model will be for the years remaining in your work life. Having flown for an airline with a similar business model as UA I wouldn't hesitate to choose UA if you are fortunate enough to get a CJO.

 

Good luck with your interview. Being Denver based with United has a lot of perks above and beyond what others have posted. If you want to be home every night you can go into the training center and become an instructor or get into some other non flying positions there. There are also hundreds of instructors that live in Denver that will buy off your trips to get you more time at home or you can double dip with more flying. With seniority you can bid for the trips more likely to get bought off. They added more gates earlier this year with plans for even more, so there is growth to keep things moving. DEN used to be an extremely senior base, but in the last handful of vacancy bids there have been unfilled Captain spots, so if that continues you could hold CA once off probation.

I hate to sound like a kook-aid drinker because United does have its issues and hopefully they’ll get resolved with a new contract. But when it comes to quality of life and opportunities as a pilot who lives in Denver, United has so many more advantages over Southwest.