Continental New Hires

[JetsRforKids]

What is the spread between 737 and 757/767 awards during training. My goal is to get to Houston as fast as possible and if I get the 75/76 does that mean I will be stuck on the east coast for a while?

 

[Palomino]

my understanding is that if you get 756 that you can not bid down to 737 for 2 years. you could bid up to 777 but that wouldn't help your situation.

people are getting back to IAH on the 756 but it takes some time. what you want is to get the 737 and have flexibility. sounds like most are getting out of EWR if they want and back to IAH in a few months.

i'd be happy with either. right now it sounds like a 50/50 split for new hires between 756 and 737

 

[FurloughedTwice]

I think the fastest way to IAH is on the B737 but there are rumors of some openings in IAH on the B756. I think the safest bet would be to bid the B737 if you definitely want to get back to IAH as soon as possible.

Palomino is right when he says you can't bid back to the B737 for two years if you are awarded the B756. If you are awarded the B737 you can bid up to the B756 as soon as you can hold it.

I'm sure everyone with CAL will agree that the best flying is out of EWR on the B756 but being home is hard to pass up.

Good luck!!

 

[igneousy2]

I'm sure everyone with CAL will agree that the best flying is out of EWR on the B756 but being home is hard to pass up.

Good luck!!

Why would they say that? not being sarcastic.

Also, I was looking at the pay scales and it seems that just about every type has some overlap on the payscale. For example, according to Airlinepilotpay.com the 737-500 is a small but the 800 is medium. How does this effect your pay? What hourly rate is reserve based on. Is it the same for the 757/767? Or are the 757/767 considered seperate aircraft?

On a seperate note, asside from the geographical considerations, is there any difference with being assigned Guam with regard to pay/benefits/etc. Also, Once in Guam, what is the time frame to get back to the states?

Thanks,

 

[FurloughedTwice]

I guess I can't speak for everyone but the B756 out of EWR fly's just about everywhere. You will see most of Europe your first year on reserve. There is a "deadhead" issue that makes some of the trips go junior but you won't be effected by that because you will be on reserve with a minimum guarantee. It gets better over the next couple years. The IAH flying isn't bad either but they don't have as large of a selection.

As far as the pay goes you get a blend when on reserve. I'm not exactly sure what the formula is but I think it's based on the amount of B737-300/500 or B737-800/900. You get an average of the two pay scales. If you look at second year pay you can add a few dollars to the "small narrow body" pay and that will be your rate (if on reserve). The same is true for the B767 (widebody) and B757 (large narrow body).

I don't know of anyone going to Guam in a long time but that's not to say it can't happen. If you go to Guam you will get second year pay (I think) and 1,100 a month extra for living expenses if you sign a two year commitment. If you want to come back as soon as you can I think you are on your own. Don't quote me on that though. Maybe some of the more senior CAL pilots can answer that one.

Hope this helps,

 

[talespin]

The class breakdown is different every class. Mine was all 737 EWR with 2 GUM slots. A couple of buds behind me got 756 EWR. My take is it is best to get 737 so if you want you can move up to 756. The bad side of the 756 is you could end up DH over the pond a lot and you don't get many landings. Having said that; that wouldn't be so bad. I was an 01 off the street guy, but there was 4 xjt in my class and every class after that was pip guys and gals mixed in with ots folks. Not sure whats going on right now with the pip's.

 

[COpilot]

I'm sure everyone with CAL will agree that the best flying is out of EWR on the B756 but being home is hard to pass up.

Good luck!!

I flew the B75/76 off and on for 8 years before coming back to the 73 this year. And I would agree that the flying mix and destinations make the B757/767 bid package much better. As a commuter, I also liked the EWR internationl flying due to the afternoon reports, and afternoon get backs; great for getting to and from home same days.

 

[pkober]

Last word I had on new hires classes was that the fist class of the month was split 50/50, 8 757/767 and 8 737. All EWR. The next three class were 4 757 and 12 737's. My class was 8 and 8. Either way I think on the 737 you can get back to IAH very quickly.

CLAMBAKE

 

[catIIIc]

What is the cost of the medical insurance that they offer new hires for the first 6 months and what does it cover? I have heard that is an option other then COBRA.

 

[miles otoole]

IAs a commuter, I also liked the EWR internationl flying due to the afternoon reports, and afternoon get backs; great for getting to and from home same days.

So you'd commute for half a day and fly all night? Wow!

 

[EMBpilot]

What is the spread between 737 and 757/767 awards during training. My goal is to get to Houston as fast as possible and if I get the 75/76 does that mean I will be stuck on the east coast for a while?

Spread varies. I went the 73 route and got into IAH a week after the LOE.

What is the cost of the medical insurance that they offer new hires for the first 6 months and what does it cover? I have heard that is an option other then COBRA.

They don't offer any coverage for the first 6 months. However they suggested an independent, short-term provider called Health Plan Administrators, Inc. (HPA) and gave us the brochure with their contacts.

http://www.hpa-inc.com/index.cfm

They have a few options to consider and after figuring out what we need we sign up for an OK plan - costs me $169/month.
COBRA from my old place was $726/month but again all depends on the plans.

Hope it helps.
Good Luck.

 

[CAL EWR B737]

Why would they say that? not being sarcastic.

Also, I was looking at the pay scales and it seems that just about every type has some overlap on the payscale. For example, according to Airlinepilotpay.com the 737-500 is a small but the 800 is medium. How does this effect your pay? What hourly rate is reserve based on. Is it the same for the 757/767? Or are the 757/767 considered seperate aircraft?

Thanks,

If you fly a 737/300-500-700 you get small narrowbody pay. If you fly a B737/800/900 or B757/200/300 you get large narrowbody pay. B767/200/400 widebody pay. Reserve or soft time you get blended rate times guarantee or actual which ever is greater. Right now on the B737 its about 50% of the difference between small and large narrowbody.

 

[ForgedBlade]

Of the 16 in my class, we were given 8 IAH slots, but we were all 737. It varies, but there is a pretty decent amount of movement, so I'd say the 737 is your best bet if you want IAH quick, but it can vary from class to class. I was nuts and stayed with NYC, just wish it was a bit cheaper there!!

 

[FurloughedTwice]

B757 IAH Update

Just a quick update on the B756 and B737 IAH slots. The company just emailed some of the new hires that were awarded the B756 in EWR and said that they have 7 B756 openings in IAH starting in January. Some of these guys haven't even left the training center yet.

This doesn't happen very often and it might still be quicker to get to IAH on the B737 for the future new hires but I would bid the airplane you want to fly. At least that is a sure thing.

 

[catIIIc]

I am going to be in the jan 10th class and was wondering if anyone has any ideas on equipment and base awards. I know there is a system bid in Jan and wondering when that will go into effect. Can't wait to start.

 

[psysicx]

What kind of lines does the 756 have out of IAH?

 

[FurloughedTwice]

I haven't looked at them but I have heard from other people that they aren't that great. You will be on reserve for a long time in IAH on the B756 but if you live there that's not so bad.

Good luck!

 

[IAHERJ]

Haven't taken a good look at the lines but the aircraft flies to Florida(757) and to the West coast as well as ANC and a few trips up through EWR. The 767 does Amsterdam and HNL and GUM going West. There is a nice 6 day I believe that takes you to HNL, GUM, NRT, GUM, HNL. 6 days and five legs with at least 24 hour layovers in all cities. Goes pretty senior. The 767 and 757 also go South from IAH to Mexico(757) and South America(both). You won't see as much of Europe being based in IAH unless you get a 4 day through EWR to Europe or something. 737 in IAH does some cool stuff as well in Central and South America as well as West Coast and everything in between. Lots of 4 days with trips going through all the 3 domestic hubs. You can cover some ground on a 737 in 4 days flying all Continental's types (300,500,700,800,900) in a single trip. I'm in training so I should't be looking too much farther than my books but I have to admit, I've peeked online at the various fleets trips etc.

IAHERJ

 

[Powda5]

Is the FO list in Guam stagnant? If it were bid for, would it likely be awarded, or is the lock-in making things stagnant? When were the last FOs awarded Guam (bid-wise, not necessarily newhire assigned). Thanks!

 

[propjob27]

A new hire in the Aug 23rd class was awarded Guam on the system bid we had that closed in the end of September.