Originally Posted by ZapBrannigan

you guys done yet?

Originally Posted by 60av8tor

If all UA did was fly the 737, I'd totally agree.

Originally Posted by mcdonald

I think his point was that with only 20 years left, WB's are out of reach... so it's basically only 737 at that point.

Originally Posted by Hedley

Even with no desire to fly heavies, having them on property is a huge boost to our seniority in a NB BES. I hate redeyes and will never do them again at any payrate so I'll stick to the NB fleet. Where I benefit is that there are a large number of extremely senior pilots who see things differently and bid the WB. By having such a large number of WB aircraft, there is also a large number of people who are senior to me that don't compete for the same trips. As the 767's are replaced with higher paying 787's, that number will grow. Single fleet airlines don't have that advantage.

Originally Posted by mcdonald

I think his point was that with only 20 years left, WB's are out of reach... so it's basically only 737 at that point[size=33px]

Originally Posted by ThumbsUp

I don’t think you really understand what PBS is. You specify the trips, flavor of trips, days, etc. that you want. How that resembles what was your first choice depends on your seniority. With the exception of the g-line and it’s effect on junior schedules, I don’t think it’s really much different than what you do.

On reserve, days off depends on the season. Summer has higher reserve utilization. It’s the 20th today, and one FO on reserve has under 5 hours of block and 7 short calls. Someone with better knowledge of our current reserve rules can correct me if I’m wrong, but that could mean 80 hours credit so far this month for a one day trip. It’s almost a non-factor, though. The junior DEN737FO lineholder in March was hired in mid October. They probably hit the line in Jan, so 2 months of reserve, unless they want to sit reserve longer because it’s easy and you don’t fly much right now. Although reserve can be a real money maker now for doing very little. If I weren’t a commuter, I’d be on reserve right now and I’m a senior lineholder.

Credit of what you’re awarded vs what you fly is not the same. NB senior pilots get lower credit awards, but also have more gaps in their schedule to get premium pay trips. NBFOs can bid on LCA trips and pick up premium on top of the trips the trips that were bought off, if you’re looking to make more $$.

In the summer, I generally only fly premium trips when I’m not on vacation. I also cap my flying at 10 days, so the best I can do in about 10 days is about 110 hours in a non-vacation month.

Days off in vacation month varies with the line credit range published for that month. As an example, with a range of 70-82 hours, you would have about 22 days off with 1 week of vacation for 75 hours of credit.

Originally Posted by flyguy81

Good info. For comparison sake at SWA:

I upgraded straight to DEN at 7.5 years…9 mos ago.. It’s gone down to 6.5-7 depending on the monthly bid. So significantly longer upgrade time than a new hire with 350 hrs.

I could only hold rsv for 5 months and then could hold a blank (lines built with trips or rsv dropped for training, MIL leave, medical, vacation). I bid rsv intentionally but am still a ways off from the equivalent of the UAL G-line. I’d guess end of this year to be a line holder if I bid it…so 9 years seniority.

That could prob buy you rsv 757 CA in DEN, DEN 777/787 FO at UAL. The OP will accrue seniority faster now at UAL due to choices. Whether or not that’s worth a few days off a month and potential for more $/month assuming same type/seat is up to the OP.

If I were in my 20’s…I’d go to UAL. If I were in my 30’s, I’d have to run the seniority calculator to see where I’d end up at both places. 40’s…stay at SWA since you’ll likely never see WB CA…unless WB FO is appealing. NB to NB comparison QOL I’d give the edge to SWA unless you want the fast upgrade.

Originally Posted by JTwift

people should realize that United is extremely seniority based in everything we do. Delta has the green slip thing where once you get a premium trip, the next one goes to the next senior person until everyone has a chance (if I understand correctly). At United, the same three people at the top of the seniority list can gobble up any premium that may happen to pop up (the company figured out how to drastically reduce premium pay at the end of Summer 2022).

every airline has its pluses and minuses. You just need to figure out what works for your situation.

Originally Posted by flyguy81

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I worked under PBS for 11 years. It can be good or bad depending on how it's set up. I still prefer line bidding....1 week of vacation next month and bid into a overlap conflict. Credit 90 with 6 days work and 27 days off in a row. Not a chance in hell I would've ever seen that with PBS...but again...depends how it's set up. I bid a line for March due to the vacation conflict pay. I'll bid rsv again in April and beyond because it pays really good with lower block liability. You can't make guarantee on rsv...when they award you a trip your credit goes up. Nobody sits a month with just 5 hrs block....which could be a pro or a con depending if you want to grow a beard or not. We get 15/16 days off on rsv. Line holders are 16-20 without vacation. We don't do red-eyes...yet, trips are mostly either AM or PM with more commutable being build now under new cba. Majority of trips are 3 days, no 5+ day trips anywhere. 2-3 leg days are normal, some might have 1, some might have 4 if it's CA/TX/HI flying

They're both good companies....just depends on if you want the chance to fly something other than a 737 or go to another continent while at work....things that may not be on everyone's wish list. If I were 15 yrs younger, I'd personally be going to UAL.