The Alaska discount is alive and well
03-18-2023, 04:00 PM
#421
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2013
Position: Big foot
Posts: 454
Is it really that bad? Would you really not recommended moving over? Have an interview at UAL coming up soon. Seems like I should be able to hold 15 off after I transition from the Bus though.
I’m an Sfo native so my priority is to stay Sfo based which I trust United to provide for the entirety of my career, Alaska not so much.
I’m an Sfo native so my priority is to stay Sfo based which I trust United to provide for the entirety of my career, Alaska not so much.
03-18-2023, 04:29 PM
#422
Line Holder
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Posts: 53
Having gone from AS to UAL I'd say If you don't like widebodies or the long haul schedules I would stay put. Narrowbody flying at United as atrocious. Everyone gets 90 hour 13 day off lines with zero flexibility unless you like red eyes, which we have a lot of. 2-3 leg days, max duty time, short overnights, yada yada. I had better QOL in the regionals. Worst reserve rules in the entire industry.
03-18-2023, 08:10 PM
#423
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2014
Position: fatigued
Posts: 1,402
The NB guys get worked to death while the widebody lineholders get 19-20 days off, a blanket and a pillow. I can't wait to start 777 training.
Alaska 737 flying is tenfold better than United 737 flying. Even with an open flying line in LAX I was able to get a bunch of great maui trips. You'll never see Hawaii on the 737 here unless you're fairly senior. Only the top 10% get LIH trips.
If all United flew were 737s I would have stayed at AS.
Last edited by snackysmores; 03-18-2023 at 08:50 PM.
03-19-2023, 04:28 AM
#424
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2022
Posts: 290
United widebody vs narrowbody is a completely different airline and experience.
The NB guys get worked to death while the widebody lineholders get 19-20 days off, a blanket and a pillow. I can't wait to start 777 training.
Alaska 737 flying is tenfold better than United 737 flying. Even with an open flying line in LAX I was able to get a bunch of great maui trips. You'll never see Hawaii on the 737 here unless you're fairly senior. Only the top 10% get LIH trips.
If all United flew were 737s I would have stayed at AS.
The NB guys get worked to death while the widebody lineholders get 19-20 days off, a blanket and a pillow. I can't wait to start 777 training.
Alaska 737 flying is tenfold better than United 737 flying. Even with an open flying line in LAX I was able to get a bunch of great maui trips. You'll never see Hawaii on the 737 here unless you're fairly senior. Only the top 10% get LIH trips.
If all United flew were 737s I would have stayed at AS.
03-19-2023, 09:51 AM
#426
Gets Everyday Off
Joined APC: Aug 2016
Position: Fully Retired
Posts: 7,000
A friend of mine, a senior CA with TWA, used to bid Short Reserve every couple of years in June. He needed to paint the outside of his house. 10 minutes to the lot at STL. Put his ladder and paint away. Jump in the shower. Change. Grab his Go bag. Great to paint and never burn any vacation.
03-19-2023, 10:07 AM
#427
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2020
Posts: 103
How often do they give you exactly 2.5 hours notice when converted to short call? I realize it can happen with sick calls etc, but is more time likely? Also, is fsb more likely on the nb or wb? Specifically looking at sfo base. Thank you.
03-19-2023, 10:52 AM
#428
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2014
Position: fatigued
Posts: 1,402
I wasn't on reserve for very long but it only happened a few times. Most of the time I would get assigned a trip the night before. If you have a 6 day block prepare to be on the road for 6 days. Even if there's no open flying in SFO, if your last leg before your DH back lands in a hub you will become a reserve for that hub. No one is on long call here, everyone gets converted to short call and from there converted to field standby. The company can do this as many times as they want with no limitations and its the worst QOL killer. Field standby is mostly utilized on the NB fleets. Back in the covid days they were using it on WB too because international destinations required negative covid tests but those days are pretty much over except for China. If you live local in SFO and get the 787 you can bid the evening short call and pretty much never work. You're only covering a handful of senior trips that people dont call in sick for, or they get picked up right away. 777 has a big seniority bubble and people hired around this time last year are lineholders (domestic, bunkie trips). The 787 is significantly more senior and you will be on reserve until you bid off of it.
03-19-2023, 11:17 AM
#429
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2020
Posts: 103
I wasn't on reserve for very long but it only happened a few times. Most of the time I would get assigned a trip the night before. If you have a 6 day block prepare to be on the road for 6 days. Even if there's no open flying in SFO, if your last leg before your DH back lands in a hub you will become a reserve for that hub. No one is on long call here, everyone gets converted to short call and from there converted to field standby. The company can do this as many times as they want with no limitations and its the worst QOL killer. Field standby is mostly utilized on the NB fleets. Back in the covid days they were using it on WB too because international destinations required negative covid tests but those days are pretty much over except for China. If you live local in SFO and get the 787 you can bid the evening short call and pretty much never work. You're only covering a handful of senior trips that people dont call in sick for, or they get picked up right away. 777 has a big seniority bubble and people hired around this time last year are lineholders (domestic, bunkie trips). The 787 is significantly more senior and you will be on reserve until you bid off of it.
Last edited by Rangerover; 03-19-2023 at 11:44 AM.
03-19-2023, 11:24 AM
#430
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2014
Position: fatigued
Posts: 1,402
Is it really that bad? Would you really not recommended moving over? Have an interview at UAL coming up soon. Seems like I should be able to hold 15 off after I transition from the Bus though.
I’m an Sfo native so my priority is to stay Sfo based which I trust United to provide for the entirety of my career, Alaska not so much.
I’m an Sfo native so my priority is to stay Sfo based which I trust United to provide for the entirety of my career, Alaska not so much.
I would definitely do your interview.
