Gonna see the language, and HOW the language is implemented before thinking about going to left seat, 2024 at the earliest before putting in a bid.

 

How many years to get weekends off as an FO at UA?

 

Depends on base, fleet, and if you’re asking about reserve or a lineholder. Some IAH 737 FOs are holding weekends off on reserve in their second bid month.

 

Currently a NB CA not on reserve but crappy line holder 60-70 percentile depending on the month. Looking at WB f/o if the AIP goes into effect. Won’t take a pay cut and a huge increase in QOL. Wondering how many others might do the same.

 

Well, on the latest vacancy, I only saw 4 or 5 NB CA's that went to WB f/o. A couple of those we real head scratchers. I hear this claim a lot, but over the last 3 vacancy awards, the number of captains that down bid is relatively insignificant.

 

I hear the not pay cut mantra thrown out but unless you’re going to be in the top 20% of WB FOs in your domicile you’re absolutely going to take a pay cut. $60/hr difference in rates. If you’re not senior enough to get add pay trips to make up for the difference, it’s a $60k annual pay cut. In IAH there isn’t WBFO add pay very often and if you don’t have 20+ yrs with the company you’re not getting many if any. QOL is definitely better if you can deal with the international flying but the pay argument only works if you’re very senior and in the right base. The mid and lower seniority WB FOs in IAH do a ton of South America. 20 hr 4 day trips which are all nighters both ends with a short nap. Great for commuters but not any more days off per month than a NB schedule.

 

read your emails. Language is expected to be finalized end of august. Union votes whether to send it out to pilots (they have 7 days to review). Voting expect to open Sep 8ish, then close 20 days later, per union rules. If it passes, signed and implemented Oct 1.

all subject to change.

 

Pay depends on perspective. Based on just flying your published line, NBCA will generate more total dollars while requiring about 3 more days on the road and a lot more actual work. WBFO works fewer days and pays more on a per day basis. Another way of looking at is that both pilots fly the same number of days and then the NBCA has a 11 hr 3 day added to their schedule. For many, it just isn’t worth it.

When I was a fairly junior line holder (around 70%) on the 777 in IAH, I never went south or to HNL. I did a ton of LHR or Europe/NRT W-trips and never in the flying seat. I never worked more than 12 days and averaged 78-80 hours credit.

You’re right about needing to be senior to game the system though. Until you can exclusively bid the flying seat and buddy bid with LCP’s or pick up the rare premium trip, the odds of making more than your published line are slim.

 

Yes there are.


You completely missed the point. A NB CA (about $285/hr) can now down bid to WB FO and under the new contract rates (about $285/hr!) and see no loss of income, but a monumental improvement in QOL.

 

I was comparing apples to apple not apples (old pay rates) to oranges (AIP rates). I agree completely that QOL is light years ahead on the WB for mid seniority but it’s a $60k per year someone is paying for that QOL. It’s great to have choices. Hasn’t been this way very often.