John Carr

It's amazing how pilots can be 2 of many categories in such matters;

1) Weren't there, but refuse to belive that their simply cogs in the wheel/hourly wage workers/line item costs that need to be managed. And all the rah rah/"we're a new company" stuff is just, well, stuff...

2) Were there, and either have a terribly short memory and/or weren't affected nearly as hard as others.

ugleeual

^^^THIS^^^ But we need to ensure those who like to work (a lot) can do so when we are actively hiring... when hiring stops and/or a furlough happens need wording in contract to stop the high time pickup ability.

Andy

Floyd, I was merely suggesting what I found has worked for me. I was offering it as advice to help you. Many pilots don't know how to use CCS and don't bother experimenting to find what works. I've found it pretty easy to drop trips using my methods. You don't want to even try; that's fine. No skin off my back; the more people who aren't willing to figure out how to use CCS to their advantage just makes life easier for me. Frankly, figuring out the enigma that is known as CCS was easier to me than learning to fly an airplane; YMMV.

As far as the paycheck/life value thing, you're can't put everyone who picks up open time in that category. I pick up open time because my wife works all of the time so it gives me something to do. I don't need the money; my entire United paycheck after taxes goes to investments. I have no problem living off of my military retirement checks. The only debt we have is our mortgage and I'd pay that off except I get a better ROI on my non-IRA/401k investments. When things slow down at United (and they will), I'll drop to 50hrs/take COLAs and go on extended vacations that I have on my bucket list. I don't look forward to that because I doubt my wife will take time off of work so I'll be travelling alone. Or I'll find something else to keep me busy.

Not every pilot shares the same ideas as far as how many hours they want to work. At the moment, the company offers quite a bit of flexibility, allowing one to work minimum hours (and I know there are some who drop into the low 60s every month because they've got other things that interest them; others take COLA at every opportunity) or close to max FARs. Put 10 different pilots in a room and you'll get 10 different answers on the optimum number of hours to work as long as you caveat it with one's paycheck is a function of hours worked/available on reserve.

I favor Ug's post:

Floyd

"No Coverage"..........

Zenofzin

Your wasting your time, some of these guys can't let go of the past. I heard an Asia crew in the weather room in EWR the other day, possibly needing to extend by a matter of minutes, 1 of the 4 said he wouldn't do it because scheduling screwed him over when he was on reserve in 2000...... So he'd rather see the flight cancel and screw how many people..... Glad we have a lot of new guys with great attitudes coming on board that really want to see United succeed. We are paid the big bucks to do our job to the best of our ability, provide the highest level of safety and comfort that we are able to, that's being a Professional. I'm proud to be a UAL pilot, glad the guys that beetch 24/7 on here are the minority.

Andy

Put it up for a drop using Trip Advertisements. Do not put it in as a trade in Trip Advertisements. It will show up in Open Time with an ADV code; this will allow other pilots to see that the trip's available for straight pickup.

You can also leave it as a drop in Seniority Trip Trade in case the coverage situation changes, but no one is going to know you want to drop the trip because it will never show up in open time for others to see.

Edit: If you're trying to get rid of a really crappy trip, it's less likely to be picked up. Same goes for trips that go over weekends; weekday trips are easier to have another pilot pick them up.

UALinIAH

Even better is list it through Crew Companion. It's a MUCH better product than just listing it in CCS. If everyone would use CC it would make things much easier as you can actually see what people are trying to do with a trip.

Andy

Most CCS trip listings show up on Crew Companion. I've never traded/advertised using Crew Companion but I use it to see what trips people want and what trips people are trying to get rid of. And it's hard enough to get people to figure out how to use CCS; getting someone to use Crew Companion is usually a bridge too far in spite of the video tutorial on Crew Companion.

Seniority Trip Trade on CCS is essentially trading in the blind; no one can see what you're trying to do and it's the reason so few trades get executed. Crew Companion gives one an idea of what others in your BES are trying to do and you can put in trades based on what you see on Crew Companion.

The problem with Crew Companion is that very few people know how to use it, in spite of the video tutorial and it being free. Anyone who wants to improve their line should invest a few hours playing with both CCS and Crew Companion. Since I've learned to use both, the lines I've flown have looked nothing like the lines I was awarded.

oldmako

Probably every pilot ever hired at United was a gung-ho mofo just like you are now. But when you're lied to, stolen from and duped it has a tendency to soil your attitude. It takes time and death by a thousand cuts. Perspective is key. I remember my buddies who just got hired at TWA and Eastern saying the same thing about the old farts. Guess who was ultimately proven correct? It will be interesting to read your posts in 30 years.

rightside02

Where are these educational videos you guys speak of for CCS : CC

Sitting short call in a crash pad , plenty of time to learn