Deciding on UA over the others
 

Received a CJO with AA and got an interview with DL coming up this month.
Yesterday I received an invitation for UA interview. I didn't see it coming and never considered them as an option since my application with them was there for years and never heard from them until now.
Currently live in BOS and not planning on moving out.
I am probably going to commute with all 3 carriers (AA has a very small and senior base at BOS and might close it in the future...)
My questions are:
- How bad is commuting from BOS to EWR with UA work rules?
- Any Huge advantage for UA over the other majors aside from the focus on WB?
- Is EWR going Junior?
- Is there a sit-lock?

Your probably best is DAL with 18hr reserve call out, or holding a line and the ability to reserve the jumpseat.
AA second. Better commuter policy and can reserve the jumpseat
UAL 3rd and just plan on driving to EWR.

No advantage at ua. Go to dl, commute to nyc and have a great career. Easy choice kinda like the capital one commercials.

I 100% agree!

Doesn't DAL have a Boston base? Also FYI, I commute to EWR from Boston, Manchester, and Portland often during the summer and it’s pretty easy. Tons of Boston options (United, JB, Delta, maybe others).

“Easy” commute to EWR, although JFK may be easier with higher frequency and more competition. You’d have to ask someone who works at DL or AA. EWR is and will likely always be junior long term. There is a two-year seat lock from going down in category, but not up. No one can guess what will happen decades from now, so if you get hired from DL or UA, you’d have some decisions to make.

I've had a commuter in the JS on about half the BOS turns I've done. But I've also heard that traffic sucks so bad around BOS that they would almost rather make the 4 hour drive.

Probably not. Latest rumor has a satellite base opening in BOS because of all the commuters that live in the area.

Yes. As of today those bidding better than 50% have been here 14-15 months on the 737 or are holding a line on the 777 and 787.

Did you mean seat lock? Yes, but it doesn't keep you from bidding up to CA or WB FO. The advice you will hear again and again is to take the 737 at EWR for the first year since it pays the same. Then bid up to WB when the time is right. If I was a commuter I would 100% be over on the WB doing 2 or 3 trips a month.

Allegedly DAL is opening BOS, after putting the kibosh on it for Covid. Once that happens, I wouldn’t bother to recommend UAL to anyone living in New England. They could fly NB out of a Boston base and scratch their widebody itch at JFK with both AA and DAL, both of witch have better reserve rules and commuter rules than UAL.

Your information on AA is exaggerated. Below was the last class drop.

Lga 737 i - 2
mia 737 i - 8
bos 737 d - 2
lga 737 d - 6
mia 320 i - 20
phl 320 i - 5
lga 320 d - 16

Every few NH classes they offer BOS slots. It’s 737 only and goes junior. You’ll have no problem bidding 737 in NH class (320 always goes senior). You can hold any base in 6 months at AA.

BOS is not closing, you’ll be on reserve though. If you want to hold a line. LGA - 737 - Domestic you’ll be under 70% before IOE. With the expected mass WB pilot retirements in the next few years, LGA 737 D upgrade should go under 1 year.

We were just told today that the BOS base is no longer happening at Delta due to the lack of scale in any one fleet that operates there (330, 75/76, 737, 320, 220).

There’s the precursor to a BOS base actually opening. When the central planning committee meets again in about 10 minutes the plan will change.

Where did you come up with AA is closing the BOS base? Might want to send an email to the COO to let him know.

He/she said “might”, and that’s probably worst case and good planning on his/her part.
EWR is junior, DAL JFK is junior, AA BOS is senior, but you can hold it probably within a year of being hired. You just won’t gain much relative seniority.

You have to make a decision. Drive to work, suck up the juniority, or commute with no BOS base on the horizon and quicker seniority.

As mentioned above, they give BOS to new hires occasionally. I’ve been at AA 18 months and I’m 60% in BOS. I wouldn’t call that super senior. I guess we’re all spoiled with the current amount of movement.

have a classmate that was 95% in BOS and got a line…

That’s because, much like delta, reserve actually goes senior.

Look at AA closer. BOS isn't going anywhere, and you're driving to work. You can't beat that commute.

There’s several sites out there that you can “project career expectations”. If you look, I’d bet career expectations over a 25/30 year career are better at UAL than DAL (as they hired a ton of 26-32 year olds in the 2015-18 years…. You’ll be behind them forever)
But it’s great to have options, don’t listen to us on here…go with your best personal research and be happy you have made a great career - no matter where you end up!

Just for perspective, I left FDX in 2018 and haven’t looked back (even during COVID). 3 year CA upgrade here and can’t imagine still doing night hub turns for the next 25 years at brand EX….

And for those that think FDX does mostly day flying….ask the senior folks that were at FDX before the USPS contact. It was 95+% night hub turns before then. And that contract expires soon…as they were awarded that day time flying after they “won” it from UPS 8-ish years ago…AND THAT 10 YEAR CONTRACT IS UP FOR REBID - SOON…. Does anyone really think FDX will get the new contract with the USPS??? I don’t….