SFO Base
08-07-2013 | 11:21 AM
#11
Line Holder
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 93
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From: Unqalified
You'll find out soon enough. The SFO 737 bid will open in a few days and when the award comes out there will be many tea leaves to read. There will be four groups to analyze since the new base consists of half LUAL pilots and half LCAL pilots with those two groups split up again between CA and FO.
When LAX opened for LCAL last year the right seat went surprisingly junior, likely because the cost of living is so high. In August the junior LAX FO is one from the bottom of the entire LCAL seniority list so a new hire might get in there quite quickly. If SFO parallels then good for you.
LUAL has some unique circumstances affecting them in that they still have over 1,000 on furlough with a good number of them already flying LCAL 737s awaiting recall. It's less predictable what might happen in SFO as a result. All eyes will be on it though.
When LAX opened for LCAL last year the right seat went surprisingly junior, likely because the cost of living is so high. In August the junior LAX FO is one from the bottom of the entire LCAL seniority list so a new hire might get in there quite quickly. If SFO parallels then good for you.
LUAL has some unique circumstances affecting them in that they still have over 1,000 on furlough with a good number of them already flying LCAL 737s awaiting recall. It's less predictable what might happen in SFO as a result. All eyes will be on it though.
08-07-2013 | 02:13 PM
#12
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,725
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From: UAL retired
I know it's hard to predict until the dust settles from the seniority list integration, but that being said; what are the possibilities of SFO being a junior base going forward? QOL is extremely important and I'm at another airline trying to get on with United. I live in the Northwest US and commuting is something I must plan for. This is my attempt to distinguish the dream of what it could be, and the reality of what it most likely will be. Found posts relating to this topic, but hoping to cut through the clash and get some good insight. Thanks all!
During my 17+ years at United I have commuted from:
Chicago to New York
New York to Chicago
Portland, OR to New York
Portland to San Francisco
San Francisco to New York
and lastly
New York to Washington.
Living in Portland, OR and commuting to San Francisco was a good commute. There were many options almost hourly and most importantly the weather delays into San Francisco and Portland are far fewer than Chicago or New York or Washington.
Next, although it is true there has been tremendous stagnation at United for the last decade, I believe if you are lucky enough to be hired at United in the next 2 years you will have a career with rapid advancement not dissimilar to those folks hired at United from 1985 to 1990. Those pilots made Captain within 5 years or so and never lost that position even during bankruptcy. Therefore I would expect you would become senior in San Francisco early in your career and remain that way depending on your bidding habits.
Finally, although I see some consolidation coming in terms of future base closings at United, given that San Francisco is a powerful gateway to Asia and a dominant feature in West Coast hub and spoke operations I feel confident in predicting that San Francisco is safe as a base that will be around for many years to come.
In short, your QOL at United as a resident of the Northwest would feature a relatively easy commute, rapid movement, and a secure base upon which to make future plans. All that and a buck will got you a coffee at a diner, but I hope it helps a little
Joe Peck
IADFO
P.S. Feel free to drop me a PM if I can answer any more particular questions.
Last edited by Sunvox; 08-07-2013 at 02:46 PM.
08-07-2013 | 02:37 PM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,866
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Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe part of the question you are framing which is unspoken, is a choice between United and some other carrier and where would you expect to have the best QOL. Assuming for the moment I got that right, I would like to provide encouragement to say that your QOL expectation at United would be very high, higher perhaps than has been intimated so far in this thread.
During my 17+ years at United I have commuted from:
Chicago to New York
New York to Chicago
Portland, OR to New York
Portland to San Francisco
San Francisco to New York
and lastly
New York to Washington.
Living in Portland, OR and commuting to San Francisco was a good commute. There were many options almost hourly and most importantly the weather delays into San Francisco and Portland are far fewer than Chicago or New York or Washington.
Next, although it is true there has been tremendous stagnation at United for the last decade, I believe if you are lucky enough to be hired at United in the next 2 years you will have a career with rapid advancement not dissimilar to those folks hired at United from 1985 to 1990. Those pilots made Captain within 5 years or so and never lost that position even during bankruptcy. Therefore I would expect you would become senior in San Francisco early in your career and remain that way depending on your bidding habits.
Finally, although I see some consolidation coming in terms of future base closing at United given that San Francisco is a powerful gateway to Asia and a dominant feature in West Coast hub and spoke operations I feel confident in predicting that San Francisco is safe as a base that will be around for many years to come.
In short, your QOL at United as a resident of the Northwest would feature a relatively easy commute, rapid movement, and a secure base upon which to make future plans. All that and a buck will got you a coffee at a diner, but I hope it helps a little
Joe Peck
IADFO
P.S. Feel to drop me a PM if I can answer any more particular questions.
During my 17+ years at United I have commuted from:
Chicago to New York
New York to Chicago
Portland, OR to New York
Portland to San Francisco
San Francisco to New York
and lastly
New York to Washington.
Living in Portland, OR and commuting to San Francisco was a good commute. There were many options almost hourly and most importantly the weather delays into San Francisco and Portland are far fewer than Chicago or New York or Washington.
Next, although it is true there has been tremendous stagnation at United for the last decade, I believe if you are lucky enough to be hired at United in the next 2 years you will have a career with rapid advancement not dissimilar to those folks hired at United from 1985 to 1990. Those pilots made Captain within 5 years or so and never lost that position even during bankruptcy. Therefore I would expect you would become senior in San Francisco early in your career and remain that way depending on your bidding habits.
Finally, although I see some consolidation coming in terms of future base closing at United given that San Francisco is a powerful gateway to Asia and a dominant feature in West Coast hub and spoke operations I feel confident in predicting that San Francisco is safe as a base that will be around for many years to come.
In short, your QOL at United as a resident of the Northwest would feature a relatively easy commute, rapid movement, and a secure base upon which to make future plans. All that and a buck will got you a coffee at a diner, but I hope it helps a little
Joe Peck
IADFO
P.S. Feel to drop me a PM if I can answer any more particular questions.
08-08-2013 | 05:11 AM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 168
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And the fact that UAL brought 70-76 seat RJ's to the mix doesn't make it any easier! They are not our metal, so we lose jumpseat and seat priority! I'll take OUR 737's anyday...
08-08-2013 | 06:13 AM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
From: Cal reserve..the gift that keeps on giving
08-08-2013 | 06:25 AM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: Captain
08-08-2013 | 07:11 AM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
From: Cal reserve..the gift that keeps on giving
And I think you meant to say, " I hope reserve does US well"...
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