Itsajob

Don’t know about the working conditions, but it is a more senior plane than the 737 or 320. You’ll have a much quicker improvement in quality of life as a new hire on a fleet with rapid movement. Also, the 756 program is a bit of a cluster. You get access to the CBT’s and FM before showing up to TK and it’s strongly recommended to have all cbt’s finished before the first day of class. Once class starts you basically have 4 days split between systems review and flows and systems in a fixed base sim. The footprint is the same for the 737 or 320 except that on the 756 there are 5 different versions of the plane and the systems exam ask questions about each. The 320 is one plane and the 737 is mainly the NG with a few max differences. Being the average student that I am, I would pick the 737 or 320 and make it easy on myself being new to the company. You can always bid the 756 a little later. Learning 5 airplanes when you’re already familiar with line flying and loading a Boeing box is one thing, doing all of that and trying to figure out United procedures at the same time isn’t what I’d be interested in. I’m pretty lazy though and not that into what I fly. The 737 isn’t as bad as people like to make it out to be, the bus seems like a nice place to work, and I’ve never heard a bad thing said about the 757.

F15andMD11

It's good to plan for all possibilities, but that's a long shot. There was 1 vacancy in last bid. Not as critical to fill as the 29 vacancies out in the west coast. The writing on the wall is that base will shrink some (IMO) with the arrival of the "new girl in town" (787-10). But you can certainly bid for EWR day 1 of indoc.
To answer your working conditions question, 76 hrs of pay (73 + unused call outs). Not much difference where you get those hours as a new hire.
That said all this will change in early Dec when next bid comes out.
Welcome!! Good luck!

Pro2nd

Congratulations and welcome! Some insight on the 756. I have been here nearly 4 years and got EWR 756 as a new hire. I moved to eastern PA right away which is about 1:15 to the employee lot. I can be in the flight planning room in 1:40 typically. I'm still bidding about 80 percent which is right about the point where you can start to guarantee a line (a crappy line). I'd be 40% on the 73 and 23% on the 320 just to show how much of a difference there is. The 756 flying in EWR is the best in the system. I absolutely love it. I would love better seniority, but can't bring myself to leave EWR 756. Which base you are in will change things. My experience is entirely Newark. There is almost no movement on the 756 in EWR. Be advised you will be junior and on reserve for a long time. There are a lot of short calls and field standbys these days so living within 2 hours drive time is a big leap forward in QOL. I wouldn't recommend this fleet to a new hire unless you lived within that 2 hour drive radius. Life on reserve is for the most part under your control, but can be hellacious from time to time when they are short. If you want to fly you can pick up trips. Breaking guarantee is very hard to do. I've never done it on reserve as far as I can recall. In an average reserve month, out of the 18 days i'm on call I average 5 days a month flying and 5 short calls. Again this is great if you can spend all the rest of the time at home and not commuting, sitting at your crash pad, or the airport. I still maintain moving close to a base is the best way to go on any fleet. Especially if you are at the beginning of a long career. Good Luck!

F15andMD11

fixed it for you. Don't paint too rosy of a picture for the new hires.

Hilltopper89

Have heard nothing but great things about the pilots and the airplanes. I wouldn’t do it. Go junior seat and vacancy bid to it later if you decide that’s what you want. Bid it today and you’re into a 2 year seat lock. There’s a reason 756 always goes to the 8 ball...not because it’s not a great seat but because of the seniority issues for new hires. Be prepared to be on reserve for a long time. I have a friend hired January 2014 still on deep reserve on the 756 (IAH) whereas an EWR 320 FO would be at like 20% with weekends, holidays, and 18 days off.

Pro2nd

On reserve I can typically pick up trips when I want. Not every day, but one trip a week at least. It does get harder this time of year I will admit.
I am usually a pessimist so I've never been accused of painting too rosy a picture of anything as far as I can recall.

opheims

Thanks, Pro2nd! That's exactly the perspective I was looking for!
My wife and I were lucky enough to find our way into an apt in Manhattan years ago, so I will be an easy car/train ride from EWR. I'd enjoy the airframe and flying, but the seniority movement is a concern...
I'll just have to cross that bridge when I get to indoc. I assume the 737 also covers LGA?

MiLa

737 and A320 cover LGA as well. I would guess that you will be able to preference LGA trips with good success being that for most people getting to EWR is easier. To me it sounds like the Bus or 737 would be a no-brainer for you.

F15andMD11

Well I stand corrected, 5 EWR 756 in new hire class today. Nice!
Aggressive pick up or out of silo pick ups?

Pro2nd

In the 10:55 seniority trip trade run. The last week is ironically the first time I haven't seen a trip to pick up.