blueray280

I'm currently an NK guy. I had no intent to leave, but with recent developments, I may hop ship (United or AA or NK).

My situation:

• Live in DFW (40m from airport). I am open to moving to Denver and commuting until I can move.
• Massive focus on QOL.
• Under 25 years old.
• FO with 9-12 years before upgrading in DFW.
• I like waking up late and staying up late. So much so that I'd sacrifice a requested day off to avoid waking up early.
• I live for reserves.

I currently average 16 days off per month. And I average 22 days where I get to sit at home per month (including reserve days I am not called). I haven't flown in three months. I average 30.39 hours of flying per month, and credit an average of 77.4 hours per month. I wanted to see how AA would compare, especially with all the coming retirements.

A few of my questions:

1. The big question: How senior is DEN? What about IAH?
   What class date is the most junior FO and CA in each?
   Is the upgrade time closer to half a decade or a decade for Denver on the most junior aircraft?
   
2. What is the trip composition for most NBs? What percentage of 1, 2, 3, or 4 days? I was reading 5-E-12-e, and it seems like the limits are quite nice.
   
3. How do reserves work over at United? The pros, the cons? Is it possible for someone on senior reserves to have an RAP after 10am every day? Is it possible to not be called very often if senior on reserves? Does everyone start out on LCR? Oh, does seniority have any impact on the call order?
   
4. I read that you guys have the option for personal leave? If ever needed, does that actually get approved? What might it be approved for?
   
5. Is involuntary Field Standby being eliminated?
   
6. If commuting from somewhere like DFW, do they cover employee parking for the DFW airport?
   
7. 5-E-7-b: Can you waive the two days off in between down to one?
   To get a schedule like: 6 on, 1 off, 6 on, 1 off, 5 on, 12 off
   
8. How many days can you get off in a row each month? I can usually get 9 days in a row easily every single bid period right now.
   
9. What is the minimum number of reserve days in a row? The max?
   
10. How is the QOL on reserves? Used and abused?
    
11. Does the 60 minute report time mean at the gate at that time? Or is it though security or similar?
    
12. If I was a line holder and only needed 65 credit hours per month. Is it possible to fly less to get down to that number? Or do you have to be really senior? Is there any chance of dropping trips when you are a line holder?
    
13. 5-E-7-h: No more than 80% of reserves scheduled for a day. Does this mean that for a given seat, if you are bidding 20% or less relative seniority for reserves, you'd pretty much be guaranteed to get the days off you want?

Thank you everyone! From what I read so far from the contract, United seems amazing. I'm kicking myself.

PK387

Alright, I'll take a crack...

1. Compared to historical norms, both very junior. DEN CA is currently unfilled, so you can hold it as soon as you have the requisite time. DEN FO went maybe 150 numbers from the bottom last vacancy. IAH FO has massive amounts of unfilled slots and probably will for a long time. IAH CA is a different story. Today, it looks like about 1.5 years, but most people expect stagnation or eventual shrinkage there (because the company grew it like crazy pre UPA23, but that problem (a general unwillingness to bid junior NB CA in most bases other than IAH) has since been solved).

2. I don't have the data for DEN, but for my NB base this month it's about 13% 1-day, 28% 2-day, 29% 3-day, and 30% 4-day. I would say it's a pretty nice mix. We generally don't fly trips longer than 4 days on the NBs, but there are some 5 and 6 day WB trips.

3. See the ongoing reserve thread: https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/united/146110-please-tell-me-about-reserve.html

4. I don't have much experience with this one. All the contract says is "12-A-1 When the requirements of the service permit, a Pilot may be granted a personal leave of absence up to a maximum of five (5) years for any reason deemed adequate by the Company." Maybe someone else can chime in there.

5. Yes. Currently involuntary FSB can only be assigned to someone already on SC and it's limited to twice per month. Also pays 3 hours add whether you fly or not. It goes away entirely in August.

6. 4-H-9-b In the event parking facilities are not available for employees at a Company station location not covered in Section 4-H-9-a, the Company shall assume the monthly parking charges up to a maximum of sixty dollars ($60.00) per month.

7. You can waive it down to one day off only during your first block of days off in a given month... don't ask me why.

8. Depends on the month, but you can generally get a pretty good chunk. I've got 10 off in a row in Feb, and I could have had 11 if I wanted.

9. For PBS purposes, 3 min and 6 max (unless they touch the end of a month, then there's basically no minimum). If negotiating with schedulers after PBS has already run, they'll use 2 days as a minimum for reserve days or days off.

10. See the ongoing reserve thread: https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/united/146110-please-tell-me-about-reserve.html

11. I actually don't think this is defined. I try to be at the gate at report time unless I hear differently from the CA, but I've never seen anyone upset over a couple minutes here or there.

12. Theoretically, you can drop every trip if someone is willing to pick them up. In practice, it helps being senior and having trips that other people are interested in. I'm sure this varies a lot by category, but I've had some success with straight drops even as a relatively junior guy.

13. Basically yes. Those top 20% aren't subject to the company's reserve coverage profile, so they'll essentially get whatever they ask for as long as it's legal.

VacancyBid

That's an easy answer. Leave

You can go back and forth about QOL in 2024 or 2029 but it's a much more solid (though never assured) bet on United for 2030, 2040, 2050

elmetal

please stop saying reserves. this is not the airforce. it's RESERVE singular.

When you say RESERVES you mean 2 pilots on reserve.

also if you're under 25 you should seriously leave. (as a former NK for many years myself)

As for AA vs UA, that's a personal choice. You live in DFW, if you plan on never leaving, go to AA and never look back.


Newhires can get 737CA in DEN on the 737.

You will work on reserve, especially in summer. You're obviously new at spirit, and what you haven't been flying, is not the norm. When the airline doesn't have 25% of its fleet grounded, you are flying on reserve, like I said I spent many years there.


I don't think it needs saying again but I will. LEAVE NK. I cannot be any more clear.

MaxThrust1

If you live in DFW and want to stay, AA is the obvious choice. Former NK myself, you’ve got over 40 years left, leave and don’t look back!

scns77

I actually don't mind sitting reserves....it's really not that bad

11atsomto

sitting reserves its not to bad as long as you live in bases. I m above the g line and occasionly I bid reserves, you know you may get some extra nights at your homes.

I think I have found however that, the sabremetricians have advised the company to look at your reserves (actually plural) as free labor as opposed to (non analytic) insurance ...(how draconian)

At least at my last employer (LCC) would boast about the above mentioned strategy in the earnings calls....it usually bit them in their planet Uranus as weather more than 2 weeks away is a 50/50 crapshoot

elmetal

this had me freaking dying lol

goinaround

I also saw your post in the AA forum. Dude, you're soooo in the weeds on all this. You are 24 years old and you're agonizing about weather it'd be a good idea to go to a legacy? Good god man. The answer is yes.....quit worrying about all the queep.

Turbosina

When I was 24 the only people hiring were Ameriflight and some very shady cargo operators out of MIA. I remember getting an offer to go fly a Lear 23 that literally was held together by duck tape, with engines that had last been overhauled in the Nixon Administration...