Lurchi

Can anyone give an estimate of how long it would take to hold an FO line at SFO in 757 and 777? Also how long to upgrade to CA in anything at SFO?

krudawg

I've flown out of SFO for 30 plus years. The Office staff is the best in the system. You can actually walk to the employee lot (make sure you move your car out of the lot every 14 days or big $$$ if not). I heard SFO has a very large population of Commuters mainly because Housing is outrageous and California State Income Taxes are repressive. The 757 and the 777 may experience very slow movement when the 747 (Cap and FO) bump letters start coming out. I don't have any data on the movement but just a gut feeling.

Winston

I can't understand why anyone would want to fly the 757 out of SFO: essentially pays the same as the 737, but goes to about 7 destinations instead of 50. You'd be on reserve after two years vs. weekends off lineholder mainly flying Hawaii trips, should you so desire (same for the Bus, minus Hawaii). Better airplane, to be sure, but who cares? It's all about pay and quality of life at this point.

777 or 787: currently running about 2-3 years to hold the seat, several years after for a line. Could be better going forward, could be worse.

Chuck D

FWIW it pays the same 1st yr as the 737 and 777, and not everyone has a choice of aircraft. Currently SFO 756 lines have bounced from maybe 1.5 to something under 2.5 years, and it's definitely more senior elsewhere. Agree that the pros are mostly outweighed by the cons and variety lacks compared to EWR, but some positives too - most flying days are 1 leg, some occasional - ok, very rare - repo work to HKG or GUM or covering Europe w/ a stop in EWR, or elsewhere but those don't normally make it to a RSV. If you really want to sit RSV the blended rate after yr 1 is definitely helped by the 764 and you can have short calls to your heart's content. Overall it's not ideal in every way but a great aircraft(s) and engine(s)... i.e. RR, Pratt, GE lol.

awax

I was going to say that you don't get out much, but I guess one's only experience tends to also be the best. Should we talk about the last 4 CPs (at least). I'll give ya the DORs, but the rest? Seriously?

Lurchi

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the info.

Would it be possible to meet SC or LC time requirements with a commute from SLC to SFO?

Grumble

Depends, what's your risk tolerance?

krudawg

Strange reply that. I never said SFO has the best MANAGEMENT, I said STAFF. When the Pilot group contributes to the HOLIDAY FUND it's for the STAFF not Management. Sorry for the misunderstanding

MasterOfPuppets

757 is a great airplane with horrible flying out of SFO. You won't see Hawaii until you hit 20% in base at a minimum and even then it is extremely un-commutable 2 day trips.

SFO is going through a major shift in manpower as the 747 closes in OCT. Where these pilots go remains to be seen but I would bet there will be secondary displacements off of the 787 FO/CA, 777 FO and probably 756 CA. This will have very little impact on 737/320 and 756 FO. However pilots will get pushed backwards in every fleet in every seat in SFO extending RSV time for some.

787/777 FO is currently around 3 years but they were mostly used to staff the reserve ranks. The last several bids the awards for widebodies went to pre-merger hire pilots, now that they have a reserve cushion. after the 747 drawdown It is going to get several years longer to hold those seats.

As far as holding a line on the WB I have found that the junior line holder is roughly the same seniority as the most Junior CA in BES. So the time line for WB line holder and junior CA is about the same. Right now the most senior post merger hire (in their 4th year) is about 1000 numbers away. Im going to guess 5-7 years.

Unfortunately the displacement of 242 747FOs and 90 747CAs provides us no ability to forecast your question.

Welcome to United movement will still be quick for now!

Lurchi

Master o pup thanks for all the info, that really helps! I will know this week if I get a CJO from United and I am trying to weigh pros and cons compared to another offer.