United/Continental Furlough Time
09-11-2011, 07:04 PM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: Guppy Capt.
Posts: 1,887
Furloughed Sept. '08. (Came to UAL after being at Spirit for 7 years). Unemployed for 8 months, got hired at Amtrak. Ran trains up and down Northeast corridor. FAA called, wife wanted me to take that job to be home more often. 3 months later found out she was "seeing" someone else... had to resign number at UAL. Looking at getting back at NKS....
09-11-2011, 07:24 PM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2011
Position: Line Pilot
Posts: 142
You know, United is like a *****y x wife that has turned my life upside down over the past 10 years. I divorced a wonderful fortune 500 company with a very bright furure, to attend the wedding under the Jeppesen statue in 1999.
She was a good partner for the first two years, career progression, awesome new contract. Untill exactly ten years ago today it all came to a screeching hault. Career progression stopped, and the backslide began. C2000 pay lasted another two years until she took us to court and then that was gone with the bankruptcy. Although we werent on speaking terms, I stayed in the house because I had no place to go. In late 2003 I met a real hottie (another fortune 500 flight department) that overlooked my checkered past being married to such a skank. (UAL) She took me in, cleaned me up gave me a raise and a career path. Four and a half years later that ***** (UAL) came knocking again. I kept her on the back burner until the last "come back or resign call", my bad. I though I'd give the ole ***** one more chance, I'm still young, at 36 if I gave her the rest of my career my original expectations may pan out.
I have always heard "Love is blind", wow is it true. After one year that ***** was at it again. When she filed for divorce the second time and started the furlough process I went across the tracks to beat the rush. I took a voluntary to fly a limo for a rich guy.
Well, the ***** is back. Being in an off and on relationship and burning bridges for this ***** has brought me to the point of no return. I have to return if I want to be an airline pilot, it's true that nobody wants any of Uniteds x lovers.
She was a good partner for the first two years, career progression, awesome new contract. Untill exactly ten years ago today it all came to a screeching hault. Career progression stopped, and the backslide began. C2000 pay lasted another two years until she took us to court and then that was gone with the bankruptcy. Although we werent on speaking terms, I stayed in the house because I had no place to go. In late 2003 I met a real hottie (another fortune 500 flight department) that overlooked my checkered past being married to such a skank. (UAL) She took me in, cleaned me up gave me a raise and a career path. Four and a half years later that ***** (UAL) came knocking again. I kept her on the back burner until the last "come back or resign call", my bad. I though I'd give the ole ***** one more chance, I'm still young, at 36 if I gave her the rest of my career my original expectations may pan out.
I have always heard "Love is blind", wow is it true. After one year that ***** was at it again. When she filed for divorce the second time and started the furlough process I went across the tracks to beat the rush. I took a voluntary to fly a limo for a rich guy.
Well, the ***** is back. Being in an off and on relationship and burning bridges for this ***** has brought me to the point of no return. I have to return if I want to be an airline pilot, it's true that nobody wants any of Uniteds x lovers.
A really good analogy. I too, seem to be a glutton for punishment. We are holding on to the dream that once was. I really hope we can see it again. It truly is a shame that furloughed United pilots have a stigma about us and have such a tough time getting re-hired. I didn't have many job opportunities on furlough #2 , thus my and my wifes decision to have me raise the kids.....I utterly refused to fly an RJ @ republic or skywest for 30k a year. I have to go now, the Jets just scored baby!
09-11-2011, 07:25 PM
#24
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: Left of center
Posts: 191
Furloughed Sept. '08. (Came to UAL after being at Spirit for 7 years). Unemployed for 8 months, got hired at Amtrak. Ran trains up and down Northeast corridor. FAA called, wife wanted me to take that job to be home more often. 3 months later found out she was "seeing" someone else... had to resign number at UAL. Looking at getting back at NKS....
Last edited by guppyflyer; 09-11-2011 at 07:49 PM.
09-11-2011, 07:41 PM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2011
Position: Line Pilot
Posts: 142
Furloughed Sept. '08. (Came to UAL after being at Spirit for 7 years). Unemployed for 8 months, got hired at Amtrak. Ran trains up and down Northeast corridor. FAA called, wife wanted me to take that job to be home more often. 3 months later found out she was "seeing" someone else... had to resign number at UAL. Looking at getting back at NKS....
09-12-2011, 05:05 AM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: guppy CA
Posts: 5,171
Furloughed Sept. '08. (Came to UAL after being at Spirit for 7 years). Unemployed for 8 months, got hired at Amtrak. Ran trains up and down Northeast corridor. FAA called, wife wanted me to take that job to be home more often. 3 months later found out she was "seeing" someone else... had to resign number at UAL. Looking at getting back at NKS....
That is assuming that you want to return to UAL.
You might also want to check into overseas flying opportunities.
Good luck to you.
Last edited by Andy; 09-12-2011 at 05:25 AM.
09-12-2011, 05:17 AM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: guppy CA
Posts: 5,171
First furlough sucked for me. I flew with my Guard unit but starting getting close to sanctuary and the man days got lean at my unit.
Looked for alternative jobs but didn't find much - I even went to work for UAL in a ground job for a while. Absolute misery; managers treated their employees like total crap - I wondered how United could survive with such crappy management.
Slept in my car and in a storage unit for more than a few nights.
Switched to a desk job in the Reserves and was able to work until I came off of war orders and then was only able to work 179 days/yr.
Met my current wife (I divorced in 2001) who provided stability in my life; much needed as I was heading down a dark path. Consolidated my fecal matter and was able to work for the reserves full time due to changes in the law. (increased mandays over a 4 yr rolling calendar)
Returned to UAL in 2008; allowed me to run down my manday clock so that I could go back on orders in the future.
Went back to a Reserve staff job in early 2009 prior to being furloughed and did that until taking an active duty retirement Sep 10. I haven't worked since then; tried to get a job for a while but wasn't willing to settle for just any job ... between wife's pay, my retirement pay, and our living standards (not excessive), we have more than enough to live on and are able to save some of our money. We already have a nice nest egg to fall back on.
At this point, I'll wait until recall - I'm expecting a call next spring/summer. I'm getting pretty bored at home but I'm able to find stuff to do. I'll start working on my golf game this winter down here in Tucson.
Looked for alternative jobs but didn't find much - I even went to work for UAL in a ground job for a while. Absolute misery; managers treated their employees like total crap - I wondered how United could survive with such crappy management.
Slept in my car and in a storage unit for more than a few nights.
Switched to a desk job in the Reserves and was able to work until I came off of war orders and then was only able to work 179 days/yr.
Met my current wife (I divorced in 2001) who provided stability in my life; much needed as I was heading down a dark path. Consolidated my fecal matter and was able to work for the reserves full time due to changes in the law. (increased mandays over a 4 yr rolling calendar)
Returned to UAL in 2008; allowed me to run down my manday clock so that I could go back on orders in the future.
Went back to a Reserve staff job in early 2009 prior to being furloughed and did that until taking an active duty retirement Sep 10. I haven't worked since then; tried to get a job for a while but wasn't willing to settle for just any job ... between wife's pay, my retirement pay, and our living standards (not excessive), we have more than enough to live on and are able to save some of our money. We already have a nice nest egg to fall back on.
At this point, I'll wait until recall - I'm expecting a call next spring/summer. I'm getting pretty bored at home but I'm able to find stuff to do. I'll start working on my golf game this winter down here in Tucson.
09-12-2011, 05:24 AM
#29
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: Chief Pilot G550
Posts: 63
98 NH. Furloughed Dec 03, but took the LOA pending furlough AUG 03. Started a small business, played Mr. Mom. By Summer of 04, flying bug was calling again. Took a job lead that a friend turned down flying PT 91 out of HEF. Interviewed and got the job. Went to part time small business, fulltime flying Citations and reaffiliated with USN.
Was recalled Feb 05, told UAL to pack sand. Still flying for the same department now and retired USN Dec 08. UAL gave me final fish or cut bait Aug 07, same response as before...pack sand. Divorced during this whole mess also.
Good luck to all of you, especially the double F's.
Was recalled Feb 05, told UAL to pack sand. Still flying for the same department now and retired USN Dec 08. UAL gave me final fish or cut bait Aug 07, same response as before...pack sand. Divorced during this whole mess also.
Good luck to all of you, especially the double F's.
09-12-2011, 05:49 AM
#30
CH46 Pilot to the Stars
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Position: Furloughed
Posts: 61
What I've done on my ten year summer vacation
Aug 2000 I stood under the Jeppsen statue all aglow, not as thrilled as I had been in July 1991 when I received my wings of gold at Whiting Field, but pretty thrilled as I had achieved my lifelong goal of becoming a pilot for a major airline.
Furlough #1 in October 2001 started with ten months of unemployment that we weathered thanks to my timely return to Mother Marine Corps flying the mighty, mighty Battlephrog (the aircraft God Himself would fly if he was allowed to be a Marine aviator
) in the reserves.
Fell a$$ backwards into an aviation safety job as a government civilian in Aug 2002. Then my unit activated and we spent 2004-2006 rotating in and out of Iraq. I returned home and de-activated in October of 2006 and, happy to have a job but slump shouldered and defeated, was headed back to Cubicleville when lo and behold, Jezebel United sang me her siren song of recall and I walked away from a secure lifetime of drudgery as a government drone to once again dance the skies on silver tipped wings....briefly.
I saw Furlough #2 looming and managed to find a job as a government defense contractor before getting shown the door at United in April 2009. In June of 2010 I landed another government civilian job with the Navy making righteous bucks working a full time Mon-Thurs on, Fri-Sun off schedule, great benefits, and (for now) a retirement plan.
All in all I have been very fortunate but definitely live by the adage, "You can always tell a Marine....you just can't tell him much". That being said, I have no intention of doing the right thing and staying snug in my velvet cage but rather will leave the cozy confines of Cubicleville once again when Heartless Harlot United comes calling with her promises of life in the tropics a hop, skip, and a non-rev away from our villa in the Philippines. If miserable b!tch mistress United throws me out of the house again and leaves me cold, lonely, and unemployed on Guam's fair shores I'll either try to go fly for one of the asian carriers or add hydroponic ganja to the crop rotation on our rice fields in Negros....or both.
Hoping for the best, planning to get boned,
Furlough Willy
Cubicle Commando
Furlough #1 in October 2001 started with ten months of unemployment that we weathered thanks to my timely return to Mother Marine Corps flying the mighty, mighty Battlephrog (the aircraft God Himself would fly if he was allowed to be a Marine aviator
) in the reserves. Fell a$$ backwards into an aviation safety job as a government civilian in Aug 2002. Then my unit activated and we spent 2004-2006 rotating in and out of Iraq. I returned home and de-activated in October of 2006 and, happy to have a job but slump shouldered and defeated, was headed back to Cubicleville when lo and behold, Jezebel United sang me her siren song of recall and I walked away from a secure lifetime of drudgery as a government drone to once again dance the skies on silver tipped wings....briefly.
I saw Furlough #2 looming and managed to find a job as a government defense contractor before getting shown the door at United in April 2009. In June of 2010 I landed another government civilian job with the Navy making righteous bucks working a full time Mon-Thurs on, Fri-Sun off schedule, great benefits, and (for now) a retirement plan.
All in all I have been very fortunate but definitely live by the adage, "You can always tell a Marine....you just can't tell him much". That being said, I have no intention of doing the right thing and staying snug in my velvet cage but rather will leave the cozy confines of Cubicleville once again when Heartless Harlot United comes calling with her promises of life in the tropics a hop, skip, and a non-rev away from our villa in the Philippines. If miserable b!tch mistress United throws me out of the house again and leaves me cold, lonely, and unemployed on Guam's fair shores I'll either try to go fly for one of the asian carriers or add hydroponic ganja to the crop rotation on our rice fields in Negros....or both.
Hoping for the best, planning to get boned,
Furlough Willy
Cubicle Commando
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