Im Atlas as well…12 years. Like the OP, UPS was my dream job since I was a young CFI. When they finally offered me a class in January of this year I turned it down after asking a lot of questions to several UPS pilots I know. I still think UPS is a great place, mostly because of the money and fleet. I was honestly honored to be selected. However, the best choice for ME was to stay at Giant. I live in base (CVG) and even though I’m only making 260-290k in the left seat of the 767 my QOL is beyond excellent. I bid mostly week on/week off schedules and layovers in CVG so I’m rarely gone from home more than 1 or 2 days per week. A lot of the 737/777 lines have 19-20 days off. Also, Atlas pays for your commute. The thought of commuting to ANC on my own time/dime and doing the crashpad thing on first year UPS pay was a turnoff.
We certainly have our issues at Atlas but after you’ve been here a few years this place gets remarkably better. Good luck to the OP, whatever he decides.

 

Plenty of great info on here like the above regarding schedules and the relentless pursuit of efficiency or optimization for the almighty $. Company seeks it, pilot groups seek it and where is that happy medium in the business world where emotions are used to bait and switch or simply pay off in lieu of the whole shebang or package if you will. It’s a trickle down effect as other outfits witness and learn how your optimizer is running amuck to further their own gains no doubt. I expect change via talent brought into the Giant arena as there’s plenty of slack to tighten. Until then I will continue to capitalize and enjoy the trips as no one will pay their employees more in order for them to lay around more these past several years as a proven statement by many on here. Keep the impact info coming as it’s a heads up or a window of future possibilities which could be good, bad or just plain ugly. Priorities are everything.

 

As a newhire does the 18 month aircraft lock start at date of hire or release to line? Also does the 18 months need to expire before the close of the vacancy bid or before day 1 of new jet training?

 

Page 377 of the contract. Section C

 

Helpful.
While my colleague's answer is technically correct, allow me to expand on it a bit. Seat lock date starts at date of hire. 18 months needs to be complete before the posted closing date of the bid. The way I understand the verbiage, your 18 months of service (it doesn't say if it's to the day, or to the end of the month of hire...worth digging into the contract more for that answer) need to be complete before the vacancy bid close date, not the effective date that occurs typically 6-8 months later. For example this vacancy bid will close on 28 Nov (that's when I understand the 18 months needs to complete) but will not go into effect until July 2023.

 

🤫 Don’t say that too loud. The inefficiency here is what makes me stay.

 

So what happens when we get PBS?

 

We telecommute. 😉

 

I'm a little late to the game, but if you live in PHL that is the best gateway to commute from if you're 75/76 SDFZ or 74 SDF. A lot of trips begin (and/or) end in PHL. You have the massive advantage of deadheading back on either company metal or American Airlines (dreadfully, since it's now a horrible airline). Either way, it's a good deal. A lot of international trips start out of EWR too. You can also use your travel bank to position you for your trip - not as good as FedEx has it, but it's still a good deal.

 

Good info…minor correction…EWR has been out of the international biz for a while. Domestic only