Another problem is that you have to book the jumpseat online and cannot call or walk up to the gate anymore. Not a huge deal but definitely wastes your time if you do it weekly.

OP still tracking....and appreciative of all these great inputs. I think I'm inclined to try for EWR 320 out of the chute....it should be a month or two quicker to hold a line which is evidently key as a commuter....and both EWR and LGA each have at least two WN 737s each day. I may shift back to ORD above the G line and especially if legacy carriers upgauge STL-ORD to free up commute space. Shoot with all the junior folks getting 756 and even 777 FO on 16-04v, it may not be long after year 2 pay bump that I could bid up to an international line and knock off one of those commutes each month?! I'm happy for the long timers who've ridden out a tough last 15 years....

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Since I am a new hire, and don't start class for two weeks, please excuse my ignorance. Does anyone have a basic estimate of how long I might EXPECT to get into IAH on the 737 or A320?

Hard to say with IAH. The company has announced that they're keeping the flying in IAH flat next year due to the decreased business travel from the oil industry. I'd still guess within a yr just due to normal openings through progression with the a 23 net gain in mainline aircraft next year.

Thanks for the reply. I am struggling to decide if A320 or 737 will get me back into IAH sooner. Who knows, I may not even get the chance to decide!

The 737. I'm a 04/15 hire and still haven't been able to get into IAH on the 320. I will be bidding the 737 when my equipment lock is up if the trend continues the way it has been.

Thanks for the info. It seems like maybe the 737 is junior everywhere!

Mid 13 hire and things in IAH have changed quickly, as in other bases. When your two year seat lock ends you will have choices. Just getting to line holder this month, but they back filled 320 a year and half ago and folks right out of training got lines. Very hard to tell right now what will open up in IAH. Nobody thought when we got hired DEN would open up this fast. Enjoy the ride for now. Welcome, ignore the inter webs naysayers, I like it here. A lot.

"Ignore the inter webs naysayers"....

My suggestion is to enjoy and make the best of what you have in front of you. Save your money. You will work with a great group of people who want to move forward.

Many of those people have witnessed the brutality of this industry. It doesn't hurt to listen, learn, and store their experiences in your memory bank. I get it. You get crew meals, fly bigger jets, and are looking at a promising career with a large salary. You aren't the only ones who have felt this. We all have. History is a motivator of decisions moving forward.

I find it utterly disrespectful when a new pilot proclaims this is the best place but dismisses past experiences. I say this because I had a three month new hire who said "I love this place, don't you?" When I was hired, I was very enthusiastic yet asked a lot of questions and listened more than I spoke.

Well said. However there is a flip side. Most of the guys here have been here for 20 years or more and been thru a lot of ups and downs. In that 20 years it seems some have forgotten how truly awful it is at other airlines, mostly regionals and crappy cargo outfits. As a new hire I like to learn and always respect the opinions of those I fly with. I also ask them to realize that coming here made a huge difference in my quality of life and income. Most Captains I fly with are very happy for the newhires and are actually energized by the new blood and attitude. That said, I will continue to work to make things better by following the contract and supporting my union.

To a man/woman the new hires are all great to fly with. I think more of the pilots understand their plight than you would believe. Thankfully, the grand rj experiment is nearing it's end.

Here's an example of what I'm getting at. An fo is eating his extremely small portioned crew meal, cooked in a melted plastic tray and pronounces this crew meal is great. We never had crew meals at my previous airline and I don't understand why the other pilots complain about them. My concern is when we want to improve them going forward, I feel like we have to wait for these guys to figure out they actually are substandard.

I'm glad you guys are here with your improved qol and income. Your current second year pay is more than most legacy fo's 12th year pay from three years ago. I want to keep the ball rolling for everyone and I hope rose colored glasses won't stymie future gains.

Agreed....I think we are on the same page. I appreciate how things are better for me personally but know how difficult it has been for the guys hired before me. The crew meals are getting better in just the last year, but have a long ways to go. just because a pilot gets something they didn't used to have does not mean it is perfect!

That's life. Things get better, things get worse, then things get better. Of course you always fight for the better. Perspective. When I was an RJ FO for 8 years not by choice, I would have done unspeakable things for a crew meal half as good as ours. I also recognize from our perspective how they can be much, much better. And when they are, I'm sure everyone will complain about them.

That's funny, but I see what you mean. Most of us newhires are blown away by how much better it is here. It's a huge change in lifestyle. You won't here us complaining about the meals until we're at least off probation ;)

This is why you wear the half wing. If something isn't right, speak up. The other pilot should not only make it right for you but should deflect the attention onto themselves.

I wouldn't say Den has opened. It is a bit of an anomaly. The last bids were f/o equalization bids to existing Captains that bumped from other fleets into den. The company decided against an additional cap bump, thus the equalization of f/o. If anything, den has dramatically shrunk from merger date until now. I hope it grows, but it hasn't yet.

Scott

+1 I've been IAH and EWR 737 for almost 3 years. In 2000+ hrs flying I've touched STL once.

For god's sake please speak up, any of us in the left seat (except any SCAB who you should NEVER trust) will have your back! Just please let us know! Any Captain worth his/her salt will take the sword for you! Half wingers never hesitate to voice your opinion to a non SCAB! If the CA doesn't support you plz talk to your mentor! The vast majority of us are here to help you get through your first year and help us all make this profession worthwhile.

PS a half winger should NEVER have to buy so much as a cup of coffee!

With emphasis!

I have to say, as an outsider (Pt 91) looking in, it's great to see this kind of attitude towards those who've just joined your ranks. Very impressive and professional.

Sorry you find disrespect in that post. None intended. The truth is the interwebz is way more hostile and negative than any cockpit. Look at the TA. Interwebz was 50/50. Vote not close. The crewroom...meh. Have not flown with one Captain, except the scabs, i wouldn't volunteer to fly with again. Since i aggressive pickup mostly i get a choice. A few i am not sending a christmas card to every year, but 80% all around pretty great folks and run great cockpits. Every captain except one has had a pretty tough slog to that seat. Have learned a ton and a lot more to go. This is not military flying, not even close. So i listen a lot. Works great.

Now some of the crewroom and layover stuff, and this was mainly right after SLI, was BS. Understand the emotion, but finally had to make clear with two particular people from other crews what my probation end date was and offered my cell and email so we could meet the day after i was off.

Do i think this job is pretty good? Yes. i had other options, and came here and stayed here after very careful deliberation. Do we need to be a more unified pilot group, get some contract fixes, ensure enforcement of the contract, and move forward? Absolutely.

Am listening and watching as the new MEC shows their stuff.

Dragon I think you "get it" but the typed word sometimes loses some meaning somehow :)

20% is way to large of a number and I am sorry for that. When YOU are in the left seat that sentiment will be long forgotten and they YOU shall set the tone going forward. You should volunteer to be a mentor for the military folk joining us. It is a monumental shift in how to get work done and you could put it into terms that they can understand and trust. Just a thought.