In general, it's senior in both seats. It pays the most at UAL and it tends to fly efficient schedules. Win-win.

So it might take 5-10 years to get 777 FO in EWR or ORD roughly?

Nah less than that to get EWR777FO. Bottom 777 FOs are about 11,000 company wide.


You're going to be on reserve forever, though.






Put it this way. I'm about 50% overall in the company. On the 777FO in EWR I would be about 75%. I'm nearly 50% as a 320 Captain. That should tell you how desirable the WBFO position is.




WBCA goes to about #3,000. That's really freaking junior for that, though. Most are 2,000 and under. Line holder senior to that.

Whoa... got it. So you're saying the WBFO lineholder is super senior even in EWR.

Thanks for the breakdown.

I’ve been here thirty years and would be 85-90% as a 777 CA.

SFO’s story is a little different: there are guys in WB training now with under four years with the company. If these recent snapshots on this latest vacancy hold up they’ll be within a few percent of the G-line before they complete training.

Word around TK these days (I know, I know...) is that there’s another MOAB coming down the pike this September-ish that’ll require significant off-campus SIM time throughout the winter.

Long story/short: Line-holding WB F/Os in SFO at around 5 years seniority is not unreasonable to expect in the next 12 months.

FWIW, the latest SSC report suggests there will be a series of large bids.

Not counting used A320s there are 45 new Boeings arriving in 2020, 17 of them wide-bodies that will require multiple FOs, and right now they are all growth aircraft.

Combine growth with retirements and a perfect storm is brewing.

Which means we are due for big recession, industry consolidation, or another retirement age change.....I try to keep my glass half full on these things but....

Yup.

Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

Just for perspective, not bi#%hing. 20+ years will get you a very bottom 777 FO line in ORD. There's been no forward movemnet for almost 3 years. It's likely the senior people (25-30%-ish) in the seat will never move and/or only maybe to the left seat.



SFO & EWR are better as has been said.