May 3rd Class
 

I'll be there! Who else?

I'll be joining you.

I'll be there as well. Can't wait to start! Hoping for anything to Dulles.

You going to bid the 756?

When did you guys interview? I interviewed March 8 and I'm waiting for a class date. Any info is appreciated. Thanks!

I will be happy with anything to Dulles but given the choice I'd love the 756. Not really expecting to get lucky enough to have to choose between the two though. Where are you looking to get?

Getting out of the AF. Age 43. Hired last Oct and just now starting terminal leave.

I doubt I'll get a choice either, I want the 737 in SFO though. I'm 32. So I'm hoping some people bid the 756. I'm guessing I'm going to be pretty junior in class.

Sent you a PM.

Bid was just awarded today. Almost all vacancies were on the 737 SFO/LAX/EWR , a handful on the 756 EWR/SFO, 320 SFO/LAX.

Everyone should bid the 737 unless you don't have a choice! You can always bid up when the opportunity arises. The 756 WILL NOT get you to any base quicker. If you do get the 756 not all is lost recently SFO has been going unfilled but only a couple a time, not in big numbers.

SFO/LAX will be easy to get, If you don't get it on the drop you will get it for sure on the next bid. IAD/ORD is going to be tougher, its not very senior but there has been no unfilled slots in a while, probably 1-2 vacancy bid cycles. IAH/DEN/CLE enjoy the commute.......

I had a 3 March Interview date. I'm in contact with another gentleman who had a 2 March interview date and he got the 3 May class as well. About 10 days ago, another 2 march interviewee I know was given the 26 April Class. I'm guessing it won't be long until you hear.

Planning on bidding the 737. I'm 39 1/2 and live in Colorado. So I'm guessing the 73 will get me back to Denver the quickest, although patience will be my primary virtue.

aussie,
I also interviewed that week (the 10th) do you happen to have any info?

thanks

Nice username Bobby!!

Cheers,
Chaggy

Yeah, the Irish and the 17 kind of give it away :)

That's a pretty bold statement and based purely on your conjecture. You don't know what bases will be offered in which classes, when there will be a future opportunity to bid the 756 at a desired base, or even if they are just tired of doing short haul and want a taste of long haul flying.

There ARE positives and negatives to ANY aircraft and base offerings.

All this negativity about the 756 is really harshing my mellow man...

See you there!

I'll see you guys there.

Anyone know how often United has been sending out interview invites?
ex. Once per month?

Thanks for the replies..

I was in the 756 as a new hire, i bid it & loved it.
To me, beats a 737 any day.
Welcome aboard.

What is the class size and drop for May 3rd?

18 737
6 756

I flew the 756 loved every minute of it. What did I say that's as wrong? If you want a specific base the 756 will not get you to it the fastest. If you want to be off reserve the 756 will not be the fastest. But if you don't care and want to do some cool flying then bid the 756.

EWR 756 flying is probably the biggest variety of any base/equipment. Welcome aboard.

This is good advice. I think what he is trying to say is that if you do not have a choice of where to go, or will have to commute, the 737 will offer the most flexibility and options faster.

The 757 is a fine plane as is the bus, but you will be much fewer options, and the 757 especially, you will be stuck junior for a very long time, unless you are in EWR.

A plane is a plane. Do what will allow you the most time off with family at home. Yes, bold statement. Do what is best for you, don't follow the other lemmings off the cliff.

All other things being equal (base didn't matter, rsv didn't matter) which aircraft is easier to learn? If one is easier, how much so?

The 737's are all the same so you only have to learn one aircraft, although there are at least 4 weight groups you have to learn.

The 757's are a hodge podge and its hard to get everything down. There are United 757-200s PW engines, Continental 757-200s RR engines, Continental 757-300s, old ATA 757-300s, 767-300s PW engines, 767-400s GE engines (and a 777 flight deck with 757 overhead panel). All have little difference or major differences. It got to the point when I flew the plane I actually had to think about the proper engine start procedure. If you are new and on probation it can be quite difficult especially when you spend most of your time in the Jumpseat as an IRO.

With all that said new hires have been flying the 757 since United started hiring in 2012. No one has been fired, that I know of, and the instructors, LCAs and Line CAs (The good ones) will get you through.

Great airplane but it certainly isn't easy to learn! At some point everyone needs to fly it or they will regret when its gone.

Having flown all of them, you will learn any of the aircraft just fine and I wouldn't include that in your decision making.

Bid for quality of life and whatever makes life easier/better. If you Live in the NE, I'd do 756 EWR to go see some awesome places, even as a bunkie. 756 west coast is pretty nice as well, lots of Hawaii flying.
Getting a line will happen much faster on the 737. Big variety in flying from short domestic trips, transcon all nighters, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico etc.

From the looks of it, Airbus won't be offered to new hires for the time being so those are the options. If you live in a base, I would bid any aircraft to get that base off the bat.

The guppy didn't used to do overwater or international flying, the 757 did. Now they both do, so no real advantage learning one over the other.

737 noisy, cramped, ice age technology overhead. 757/767 much more room, a little quieter. Still 1st generation glass.

Thanks for the replies gents, I appreciate the details! Still have to do my interview later in the month but can't help but to look ahead a bit since I'm excited by the prospects.

The callout for being on RSV is 2.5 hours for EWR, right? Same for LGA? Just checkin...I'm looking to live in-domicile.

I'd steer well clear of the 756. Other than being able to stand and stretch in the cockpit, you'll be forced into a lie-flat seat for 1.5-2hrs mid-flight, ice cream, chocolate and more meals than you can handle will be shoved in your general direction and you'll have to deal with British pubs and their shoddy cask ales. It's all pretty terrible!

I have been moving backwards on the EWR 756 since I was hired a bit over a year ago. Still on reserve with a line getting slightly further away every month. I live an hour away from EWR so long call and short call are no big deal for me. Most of the 756 flying is commutable on both sides if you are planning on commuting. The 737 and A320 is not that way. I'm not a fan of our global reserve rules namely RDO days. I love the airplane and the flying! I wish I had a line, but when my 2 year seat lock is up, no way am I bidding over to the 737 or airbus, even to be a line holder. I love the flying and the destinations too much to go back to multiple leg days similar to the brutal regional flying I left a year ago.

Another quick question here...
I'd assume typical 737 trips are 4 days? Is that so, and what's typical for 756?

Most 756 trips out of EWR are 2 day domestic and 3 day Europe trips with the occasional 1, 4 and 5 day in there. These are what I have been seeing in open time over the last year anyway. I'm not sure if this is representative of all the trips being built into lines though since I haven't gotten a line yet. As far as the 73 goes, my wife seems to get mostly 3 and 4 day trips with the occasional 2 day. Her trips seem to usually have early shows.

it sounds like there is possibly a little back log in the 73 after indoc. Is there any in the 76?

The 737 trips are a mix of 1, 2, 3, and 4 day trips.

Don't count on it for either airplane. Our class had ranges from 5 to almost 30 days wait on both airplanes. 737 seemed a little longer but not that much and this stuff changes weekly here.

What was your class date?

how did they determine who went to say 737 training first and who went last? Was it based on the domicile you get or seniority? Or was it just on a volunteer basis (request sheet). I personally wouldn't mind a longer break between indoc and the start of training if given the option. But i could certainly understand some new hires desire to start training as quickly as possible.

Staying in training as long as possible is a great deal. Hard to beat 90 hours of pay at $79.24 per hour.

I thought between indoc and whenever aircraft training begins you were just on guarantee and not in "the training curriculum". I may be mistaken.