greaser

Greetings,

I recently received a CJO from United. It’s the job I’ve always wanted and I’m excited to have the opportunity. But some diligence is also required. Currently at Alaska approx. 65-70% seniority, ~5 years. Not something to walk away from without serious thought. I’d like to look at this decision with eyes wide open and would appreciate other perspectives or things I may not be considering:

- Priority is being there for my family and growing kid, over max earnings. My spouse has a good income and we can stay aloft on one engine if needed. Staying at Alaska I could see upgrading and then downgrading if not happy with that tradeoff

- Starting over looks like good timing now with United’s stated hiring plans, but that is always a crap-shoot, especially with the pandemic still affecting things like int’l travel

- Live within driving distance of SFO. We don’t want to leave. Alaska was reducing the VX flying pre-pandemic and absolutely gutted it in favor of E175s during covid. Some of that will come back. The future of the base is questionable, but closure is not a foregone conclusion. Alaska not a super commuter-friendly job.

- 20+ years left. But barring a furlough or spouse’s job loss, we should be able to retire early and continue with flying only if the lifestyle were really enjoyable.

- Widebody/int’l flying would be great to try. Will the body tolerate it? Unknown. Perhaps widebody reserve in base can be decent?

- United retirement wave still building. Alaska a trickle. If I stay, I might see the left seat before long, but not in SFO and not holding a decent line for a long time unless significant growth happens

- Alaska has no scope

- Alaska possibly more fiscally conservative and therefore safe

- The recent United order is exciting, but I do not yet fully grasp the debt load it will generate or the debt load incurred from the pandemic

- The recovery from the pandemic and its effects on international/business travel…Will there be some long-term reduction in business demand from zoom etc?

- Future consolidation always a possibility... giving up a # a risk in that sense

TIA for any wisdom…

JoePatroni

SFO will always be junior and will always have widebodies....just like EWR on the other coast.

9mikemike

There is a cadre of United pilots who were so fortunate to have been in your shoes. Many with less time left and a few with more time invested. I regularly talk to two of them. They each know many of the others. They all had your same questions/concerns. All are very happy to have joined United. Alaska Airlines will never be more than they are. We have virtually stood still for my 22 years here. Not likely to change in the next ten or so years. We are a crappy airline in good times and an ok airline in bad times. If you have the pedigree and you aren’t a legacy brat or in the AF reserve then Alaska should just be a placeholder on the way to your major airline career

Seven6SevenDCA

You’ll have some of the best bid choices in SFO. Do not see that changing for now at least.

Here are some considerations. Hope other UA guys and gals will chime in. Good, loyal customer base (maybe not as loyal as Alaska). Good management, for now. SK likes to make large bets (known card counter and been thrown out of casinos, so I’ve heard). Excellent city/hub network. Good flight operations division. Training facilities excellent. Maintenance facilities and procedures are excellent.

you’ll get a chance at a WB (787 fleet at full strength, and eventually the broken 777s will be returned), within 12 to 24 months. Try it out, it’s a lot of fun. Become informed on contractual equipment restrictions, but with crew hotel room lockdowns in effect in TPE, ICN, TLV, SYD, DEL, and elsewhere, domestic flying is a better choice. Same as you are doing now at Alaska, just different call sign.

Strong, proven union representation. Not many scabs left.

dmeg13021

Year 3 you’ll be even with Year 8 at Alaska. SFO is most junior base = drive to work entire career from 737 FO to WB FO to NB CA. Hold a good line or reserve at home. Premium pay pickups. Pre-pandemic 777 <3 years 737 CA ~5 years. Only if you lived in SEA or PDX would I even give it a second thought. Welcome!

KonaJoe

I have to agree with the others here. If you are within driving distance to SFO, this seems like an easy maneuver. You will gain a lot of seniority very quickly there with a pretty wide aircraft choice.

Congrats on the offer. You'll like it here.

JimLaheyTPS

No brainer being close to SFO. Others have said what needs to be said. Hope you find peace in your decision and we’d be glad to welcome you to the line!

Galaxy5

No brainer. When I got hired at Alaska about 5 years ago (also living within driving distance of SFO), management, Hornibrook, everyone, trumpeted up how great it was that I could drive to work every day…now I do, at United. And as you’re seeing, and I think the writing was on the wall, that would have headed quickly south for me there.

It was funny, when I handed in my badge and iPad, as we walked to the door, the guy (can’t remember who) asked where I was headed, and he wished me the best of luck and posited that I wouldn’t regret it.

In addition to everything else above, I hear numbers ranging from 70-80% of this base being commuters. That does insane things for your seniority and earnings potential. Do it, and don’t look back.

Zerosilver84

With 20+ years left and the amount of hiring that's going to happen in the next 3 years at ual and all majors it's a no brainer..especially if you're from the SFO area. Yes I know the hiring plan over the next decade for ual is insane but short-term to hold almost everything you want.

If you don't mind me asking what were your stats when you got the interview? UAL is top on my list after the regional. With a dal flow in my back pocket.

Larry in TN

At UAL, with just a very little bit of seniority, you'll be able to avoid trips to Alaska in the winter.

Seriously, you will build seniority very quickly in SFO. Virtually every new-hire class will have a large number of them assigned to SFO. SFO widebody FO, and narrow-body CA, are among the most junior in the company. Being able to sit reserve at home, in such a junior base, will give you a lot of options.

I think you'll be impressed with the culture at UAL and how we are treated.