The vacancy bid's open until tomorrow. CCS message:
Due to the monthly base trade bid being awarded on Tuesday, July 18, we will be extending the closure date of the 23-11V Vacancy Bid to 9:00 a.m. CT on Wednesday, July 19.

New timeline:

Tuesday, July 18:
- September base trade results will be posted on Flying Together by 9:00 a.m. CT
- Final 23-11V Snapshot will be posted on Flying Together

Wednesday, July 19:
- 23-11V closes at 9:00 a.m. CT
- Vacancy results will be posted on Flying Together by end of business day

 

Hi all,

I have read through this thread and some others like it. I realize this is old but figured better than starting a new one.

Here is my situation:

I have a class date at Delta and an upcoming interview at United. IF, I get the CJO at United, I will have a decision to make.

I am 46. I think the "commute" is the biggest factor, but maybe it's short-sighted because by commute, I am driving either way with a caveat. I am an EASY 20 minutes from EWR (and almost never any traffic) and 1 hour with no traffic to JFK. More like 1.5-2 hourswith traffic and can really suck.

The second biggest factor I see is seniority progression. Retirements at UA seem to be more favorable as do their growth plans. Plus, I would be starting at UA approximately 3-4 months later than my DL class date. (600-800 people in front of me). Would the retirements offset the seniority I'd be giving up at UA?

While DL appears to have better reserve rules, that won't affect me as much living 20 minutes away.

I don't really care about equipment or long haul flying but am on the airbus and love it. Actually, I don't really like the idea of long haul. I don't want to be half way across the world if my kid gets in a car accident or something crazy happens at home.

If the drive didn't matter, I would go to Delta in a heartbeat, so maybe I know the answer. Do I just suck it up and take the longer drive? I can't help but wonder (as I drive by EWR every time on my way to JFK) how much I will be kicking myself in 5/10/15 years from now. Is my earnings potential that much better at DL?

And I realize this is a nice problem to have. And first thing's first - get the CJO at UA.

Thanks for any advice!

 

Definitely first world problems as either option is going to be very good, congratulations!

EWR is historically very junior at UA and I am sure that JFK is at DL, so don't know that there is much difference there.

Every fleet we have is based at EWR on the UA side, so you would have everything available throughout your career.

On the Airbus side of things EWR will go through prob the most changes in the next several years. We are taking delivery of A321NEOs now and will suppossedly take delivery of 321XLRs starting late next year or early 2025, but since Airbus is way behind on the certifiction of the XLR, I think that will more likely be well into 2025 before the XLR actually arrives at UA. When it does it will replace the 757-200s and be a Europe small market airplane. So, at that point the Airbus fleet will have a very wide variety of flying. Some of the A320s we have are coming up on their 30th birthday, so as NEOs come in and Maxs come in, some of the older 320s will start going away. With that in mind the Airbus fleet will still be growing overall, but not as fast as the 737 fleet over the next several years (the oldest current 737 is about 25 years old, so prob won't see any retirements off that fleet for several years)

Living local makes all the difference in the world as far as bidding and QOL go. Reserve as a local guy is not a big deal and can be quite lucrative at times, especially in the dollars/day away calculation. Additionally, when NY center has a cloud in the sky things can get pretty messed up. As a local guy that can translate into serious extra money as Premium trips with short notice come available and those that commute can't take them.

Overall at UA, retirements are accelerating and we are still doing a huge amount of replacing RJs with mainline flying and growing in other areas as well, so that is resulting in the crazy movement you see right now. At your age you would likely be in control of what airplane you got in your new hire class, so even if there wasn't a EWR slot available (unlikely) you would get whatever plane you wanted of the available group and get to EWR extremely quickly! If you wanted to go straight to Captain, you could definitely do that (assuming you have 121 time) and then in EWR you would prob get to be a line holder well ahead of most other bases. Still be on reserve for awhile I would imagine, but with as many airplanes as we have coming, I think the movement at EWR (and SFO) is pretty amazing. For instance, I just checked out brand new new hire that got SFO 756 FO as their original assignment and when they finished OE they were on reserve for the remainder of the month and had a line the next month!!

Again, don't think you can go wrong either way. 19 years of less driving headache would prob make me go the UA route.

 

Something to note about the 320 in Newark is that about 40% of their trips are LGA. The only other fleet with LGA trips is 737, and there’s a pittance on that fleet. The highest I saw was 4%, the lowest I saw was 1 single trip for the month.

 

Its far less than 40%. 20-25% range, sometimes a bit less

 

Wow. This is all great info. Is LGA a co-base? Didn’t even consider that I would have to drive to LGA but that’s about an hour too depending on traffic.
Also, I do recall talking to guys while jumpseating that the trips are much better on the 73 than 320.

Anyways really appreciate it. And yeah, first world problems indeed. It’s not lost on me how lucky people have it these days. When watching from the outside as 9/11 and the financial crisis hit. Those who made it through are seeing some long overdue returns right now!

 

Yes LGA is a co-base, but with just 20-25% of the 320 flying done there vs EWR and less than 10% on the 73, its easy to bid avoid. I should also add that if you get a call out on SC reserve, the 2.5 hrs is based on reporting to EWR, not LGA.

Additionally, you get princess parking in the short term lot at LGA and just expense it. Literally just a 10 min walk from the gate.

As for 73 vs 320 trips, there is not as much difference as some make it out to be. I saw I stat that the average is 1.8 legs a day on the 73 vs 2.1 avg on the 320. A very senior pilot is better off on the 73 though, since they do some very juicy turns crediting 8 hrs to the islands that the bus does not do.

IMO the 320 is a far superior and much more comfortable airplane though all n all.

Hope this helps.

 

I'm assuming your at b6 but not quite sure why you'd be leaving that right now ?

 

A 20 minute commute is a hands down winner compared to 1hr+. I know several dudes who turned a "better" legacy down for one closer because they had a 30 min drive to, it's very a valid reason. I'd say take the DAL class date and then see how you're feeling when your class date for United comes around.

The legacies are 80% similar living in base, a lot of the QOL rules don't really affect your regular routine. DAL does have the better reserve rules and better ability to make money on reserve so if for some reason you don't get the UAL CJO you'll still be able to play the reserve game and do well. I have buddies at DAL who chill on reserve living in Philly.

I have a buddy who has been at UAL almost a year and bids a line in EWR on the 737. He's able to get 90-100% of what he wants regarding Days off, trips, no read eyes etc. There's a lot of merit to living in a junior base at a company.

Great problem to have. You win either way.

 

I'll just add that as we get more NEO's, the lieklyhood of them flying some of the Carribean turns increases. An extra 21 seats (comared to a Max9) for sale to take advantage of in some markets.