Dr Douglas 8

I just joined the forum. I have not really been much into tracking the drama on line for the last couple years, as I've been just trying to move forward with life. So with all due respect, I am curious.

I see a lot of talk about CAL recalls, etc. I don't see much on United recalls except by virtue of the leavings. I was furloughed in one of the many initial batches (844 or so?), then took a recall and went to LOA right away as I was not ready to leave a very good place of employ for what I saw as failing senior management performance trend. Then a few years ago (late fall of 08?), I got another furlough off LOA. All the while I've spent my "summer off" from united as a captain, check airman, director of operations, global long haul pilot, you name it.

My question is if any other United Airlines furloughees are still thinking about UAL as a viable career option given the ground swell of how the seniority integration might unfold for us?

The majority of the guys I joined with had a full military career or had left another top carrier as a check captain or another global major airline to come to United in the late 90's and early 00's. So many of us are already well heading toward the years, where traditionally, we should have had the chance to upgrade at United a few years ago. But as we know, the industry has other "plans" at times. I grew up in a United family and had wanted to fly jets for United for as long as I care to remember, so at least I can check the box in the bucket list I guess. But maybe I'm not ready to give up on the idea of a relatively fair scheme to integrate my former highly experienced and qualified United colleagues into the new United.

Are the old 2172 guys still chatting somewhere out there?

Again, best wishes to the people of the new United. I hope the new guy can be his own man and create something resembling collective success rather than follow the failed lead of a washed up oil man turned airline scourge. The people of UAL an CAL deserve better that what Tilton has sowed.

contrail67

I would think that most long term decisions will be made after seeing the "new" JCBA.

ewrbasedpilot

double posted..........

ewrbasedpilot

He is already being called Frank Lorenzo Junior around the CAL system if that tells you anything. Haven't heard ONE good word about him from ANYONE, especially crewmembers who've had him on their flights. Word is, is that he's really full of himself. Big surprise there, eh?

UAL T38 Phlyer

Dr. D:

I was one of the 2172, although I am technically "on-property" now...not by much.

I took a LOA (Mil), for better pay, stability, schedule, benefits, and retirement. In three years, I'll have a mil-retirement, and will go back.

That said: I'm not holding my breath. Twelve years ago, when I got hired, UAL was supposed to be superior to my mil retirement...it would just be redundancy. Heck, it was supposed to more than make up for getting out before I had 20 years.

Now? Milpay (active) and retirement are superior; UAL will just augment my mil retirement. Military retirement benefits makes up for the lousy United medical plan. If the airline business falls apart, I have no worries, although I won't live as big as I would have liked.

I'm old enough I have no aspirations to go chasing a new airline. If a great flying job came along (say, Cindy Crawford's personal pilot), I'd consider a course-change.

I'm hopeful for a new and better UAL, but I am not counting on it. (Re: ewr's and just about everyone else's comments from CAL).

kc135driver

Dr Douglas-

Welcome to alternate UAL/MEC forum land! Yes many of us "old" furloughees are here. I'm a 99 hire, 2172+1437. Amounts to squat, as you know.

To answer your question, I think most are working on alternate careers and planning to stay out until it seems like a no brainer to go back to mother U, ie great contract and reasonable SLI. That's my plan.

Best Wishes-

KC

SoCalGuy

"Imitation is the best form of flattery"??

"FLIBS"
(Frank Lorenzo In a Better Suit)

ewrbasedpilot

Please don't get me wrong..... I love my job, the planes I fly, and the folks I work with.........but somewhere along the line, management has taken to screwing everyone so THEY can live like kings at OUR expense. It certainly has taken a lot of the wind out of the sail. We hear a lot about dignity and respect, none of which we seem to be entitled to. When Gordon/Greg, and even Larry worked WITH us, it made for a great airline. I'm still trying to figure out how the BOD can bestow over $600,000 a year on Tilton to do NOTHING, yet those of us busting our rear ends aren't worth squat.

ewrbasedpilot

deleted....................

SpecialTracking

Your just wasting brain cells my friend. When the TB&T ( Tilton Bank and Trust) opens it's vault, the positive cash flow is staggering. You have to remember who installed the BOD.

Yes, in their eyes, we are not worth squat. They want to pay us $1 above the rate for which we would strike. After our 41-48% bankruptcy pay cut, John Tague said that we were still overpaid.