Vacancy 26-09 (WB’s are back like the McRib)
04-04-2026 | 05:39 AM
#31
On Reserve
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 72
Likes: 9
yeah. People say don’t commute, which is true if you can make that happen. But man, it’s frustrating to live in a base you can’t hold that just keeps on getting smaller. I’m closing in on half way on the seniority list, and junior to the bottom MCO CA (so no base trade option), and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to hold the base before I retire. (No, I don’t have 30+ years left).
oh well.
oh well.
04-04-2026 | 09:32 AM
#32
On Reserve
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 22
Likes: 4
So it looks to me like there really shouldn’t be “two camps” regarding min max, and I’m not sure why some people say “it has nothing to do with staffing!” every time there’s a post expressing dismay at a low min.
i haven’t seen anything to dispute this: Min/max is basically the staffing level. Yes, they can massage it to meter training, but it’s the single place (other than a displacement) where they set how many pilots they need. I glanced at a couple categories that have definitely reduced numbers over the last few awards via steadily lowering min mx.
If a vacancy ends with 500 pilots on the category summary for your fleet, and the next vacancy ends with 490, they’ve shrunk the number of pilots in your category by not backfilling. Seems that’s the bottom line.
i haven’t seen anything to dispute this: Min/max is basically the staffing level. Yes, they can massage it to meter training, but it’s the single place (other than a displacement) where they set how many pilots they need. I glanced at a couple categories that have definitely reduced numbers over the last few awards via steadily lowering min mx.
If a vacancy ends with 500 pilots on the category summary for your fleet, and the next vacancy ends with 490, they’ve shrunk the number of pilots in your category by not backfilling. Seems that’s the bottom line.
04-04-2026 | 10:43 AM
#33
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3,599
Likes: 206
From: 787
So it looks to me like there really shouldn’t be “two camps” regarding min max, and I’m not sure why some people say “it has nothing to do with staffing!” every time there’s a post expressing dismay at a low min.
i haven’t seen anything to dispute this: Min/max is basically the staffing level. Yes, they can massage it to meter training, but it’s the single place (other than a displacement) where they set how many pilots they need. I glanced at a couple categories that have definitely reduced numbers over the last few awards via steadily lowering min mx.
If a vacancy ends with 500 pilots on the category summary for your fleet, and the next vacancy ends with 490, they’ve shrunk the number of pilots in your category by not backfilling. Seems that’s the bottom line.
i haven’t seen anything to dispute this: Min/max is basically the staffing level. Yes, they can massage it to meter training, but it’s the single place (other than a displacement) where they set how many pilots they need. I glanced at a couple categories that have definitely reduced numbers over the last few awards via steadily lowering min mx.
If a vacancy ends with 500 pilots on the category summary for your fleet, and the next vacancy ends with 490, they’ve shrunk the number of pilots in your category by not backfilling. Seems that’s the bottom line.
04-04-2026 | 12:46 PM
#34
Line Holder
Joined: Feb 2024
Posts: 451
Likes: 94
yeah. People say don’t commute, which is true if you can make that happen. But man, it’s frustrating to live in a base you can’t hold that just keeps on getting smaller. I’m closing in on half way on the seniority list, and junior to the bottom MCO CA (so no base trade option), and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to hold the base before I retire. (No, I don’t have 30+ years left).
oh well.
oh well.
04-04-2026 | 01:24 PM
#35
Line Holder
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 1,631
Likes: 80
ignoring any details about me that you aren’t privy to; one of the reasons for opening MCO was to entice Spirit, etc pilots over to UAL (so it goes). They won’t be able to hold that base for a decade, if they’re lucky. SWA or AA is the place to be for Florida if you’re a new hire.
04-04-2026 | 01:31 PM
#36
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3,599
Likes: 206
From: 787
ignoring any details about me that you aren’t privy to; one of the reasons for opening MCO was to entice Spirit, etc pilots over to UAL (so it goes). They won’t be able to hold that base for a decade, if they’re lucky. SWA or AA is the place to be for Florida if you’re a new hire.
but yes the enticing of Spirit and Frontier pilots was an added bonus.
04-04-2026 | 01:42 PM
#37
On Reserve
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 110
Likes: 15
ignoring any details about me that you aren’t privy to; one of the reasons for opening MCO was to entice Spirit, etc pilots over to UAL (so it goes). They won’t be able to hold that base for a decade, if they’re lucky. SWA or AA is the place to be for Florida if you’re a new hire.
04-04-2026 | 01:47 PM
#38
On Reserve
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 60
Likes: 22
From: Left Side of a Guppy
the real reason is because United needed Captains and no one wanted the job in our current bases because our reserve rules were horrendous. So United looked where United pilots lived and opened bases. We would have had more if we didn’t sign the new contract.
but yes the enticing of Spirit and Frontier pilots was an added bonus.
but yes the enticing of Spirit and Frontier pilots was an added bonus.
04-04-2026 | 02:11 PM
#39
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,523
Likes: 122
Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets;[url=tel:4019714
4019714]the real reason is because United needed Captains and no one wanted the job in our current bases because our reserve rules were horrendous. So United looked where United pilots lived and opened bases. We would have had more if we didn’t sign the new contract.
but yes the enticing of Spirit and Frontier pilots was an added bonus.
but yes the enticing of Spirit and Frontier pilots was an added bonus.
Also heard the two were opened as a work around to the virtual pilot bases when that conversation was going around, and that these two were a way around the push back the VPB’s caused.
04-04-2026 | 02:16 PM
#40
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3,599
Likes: 206
From: 787
I haven’t paid attention to either, but has the same attrition happened at the LAS base? They opened both at the same time for supposedly the same reason. All I’ve ever heard is how wildly profitable (or cost saving?) MCO is, and that LAS isn’t. Has that base shrunk too?
Also heard the two were opened as a work around to the virtual pilot bases when that conversation was going around, and that these two were a way around the push back the VPB’s caused.
Also heard the two were opened as a work around to the virtual pilot bases when that conversation was going around, and that these two were a way around the push back the VPB’s caused.
im actually surprised it’s still around. The company got REALLY burned opening LAS. Everyone bid it to bust their seat lock and then bail. Once the “new base” designation expired and everyone saw the garbage flying they all bid back to SFO and LAX. No one wants it anymore.
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