Good answer

Thanks for the perspective. This was my suspicion (hope), but it’s difficult to get a true feel of company culture until you’re on the inside. Both of you guys frequently share a great deal of info. Thank you!

UPS does operate EWR-ANC direct. That would make an easy commute to work for you. I’m not sure about traveling the other direction.

I don't want to drag this out too long, but there is a big difference between post 9-11 furloughs and UPS' furloughs. I had some friends at Midway and Independence as well as other airlines went away. UPS was making around a billion each quarter during the furlough, hired managers during the furlough and continued to sub-contract while their pilots were furloughed. I'm glad you are happy at UPS. It will make it a better place for all.

My primary caution is for the OP to leave a well paying job for what may or may not be a better paying job. To my knowledge FedEx, Southwest nor Jetblue have ever furloughed. There may be some value by going to an airline without a history of furloughs. I know that I said to go to the big 3, the trick there is to get above 20% for some protection. The big 3 will have a significant number of retirements over the next few years. Our industry is unique in the seniority system. Decisions to change employers are not to be taken lightly and the grass isn't always greener. I don't want to be overly negative, but know each airline's history and culture and make the best decision available. Good luck to all.

MBB

It won't be long before these new hire Kool Aid drinkers get screwed by brown and they won't know what hit them. All of the sudden the favors and waivers they have been giving the company are all for not.

As somebody once told me helping ups out is like ****ing in your brown pants, you feel all warm inside but nobody else notices or cares.

Agreed. Been Furloughed twice before starting at brown and its not a right of passage, its bad luck. My point was you can come here with the best intentions in the world like 550 and then your disillusioned by the way this place operates and fosters good will from its employee groups. One year into our contract and they are already crapping all over CBA, knowing how short they are and how much help they need to get through the summer and peak. I bet, our young guns that are so happy to be here will bail them out right Mr.550?

Do you feel everyone should be as miserable as you? I'm failing to see what you're trying to accomplish by trying to drag a guy down. As far bailing them out, I see senior guys all over the system working open time trips. Putting that on the "young guns" is disingenuous.

Good questions. ..the answers probably depend on a person’s attitude in general.

I truly enjoy my trips and the crews I fly with.
Most line pilots distrust our Atlanta know-it-all managers and yes, sometimes we can be pretty vocal about it. However, this resentment has helped us in staying unified and supportive of each other.

My job satisfaction is not affected by this ipa/management divide at all because I don’t deal with upper level managers, or even ACPs.
I fly my trips, enjoy sightseeing, partying or just hanging out with my brothers and sisters and then I go home and forget about my work for a few weeks at a time.
We have a fdx guy in our crashpad. He always says that ups has only one and a very strong union while fdx has at least three.. we always compare our contracts, benefits, rules, etc.. Each side has its pros and cons. Both are great companies and no matter where one ends up, ups or fdx are two great choices to have.
Also, remember that there are some ~2,800 pilots at Brown but only a minuscule fraction of them are represented on this and on other message boards. Food for thought..

[QUOTE=G550Guy;2573989]

The big difference between my furlough and yours?? You had a job to go back too, we didn't.

Not so fast. We were working for a company making BILLIONS, and took care of their employees for their entire career. You were working for a PAX scumbag where you had no intention of making a career, if you did, your a dumba$$.