Nwa Qol?

[Jimbodawg]

Hi,

I have questions concerning QOL and schedules at NWA. Regarding junior positions: 747 SO's: How are the trips arranged? Do you go to Asia for days? How many if so? Are you limited to 8 hours flight time in a day? Are there 2 SO's in long haul flights then? How many days off will you get after a trip? How does this work if you are an SO on reserve?

DC-9/A320. I see there is long and short call reserve. Is long call reserve fairly senior? Do they fly reserves up to the min guarantee per month? Or could you sit at home all month long? Can you pass the trips to the most junior reservist? Are schedules efficient, and are there trip/duty rigs? Are hotels decent? Are reserve schedules 4 on/ 3 off or so?

Are flight crews based in AMS or NRT at all? How do they staff those flights such as BDL-AMS? Are you deadheaded to BDL? Do you originate in AMS? And how about the intra Asia stuff, are you deadheaded to NRT to start Asian flying? (what I am getting at is, is it possible to live in Tokyo and start your trips from there)?

Do senior schedules have 18 days off? Or do you expect to only see 12 off per month?

How are the flight bennies for the family and friends?

Thank you!

 

[viper548]

Good questions. I'd like to add a few.

How much is the 401k match?
How long is the callout on short reserve?
How many hours/mo during training?
What is the junior base for the DC-9?
How long is the training for 747 FE?

 

[meigwo]

And......

How is senority assigned to new hires? Age? Picked out of a hat?

 

[viper548]

How is senority assigned to new hires? Age? Picked out of a hat?

age. Oldest=senior

 

[patrickdc9]

Speaking as an NWA DC9 reserve guy, I can answer a few of your questions, but have no clue about the 747-SO gig. I've been on the line since October and haven't been flown over 50 hours in a month. The long / short call reserve system is pretty slick. If you're a commuter, the long call reserve option works nicely. Basically, scheduling notifies you 12 hours prior to your trip, which makes it relatively easy to commute in from most locations. Short call is nice if you live in base because you hardly get called (you have to be able report within 2 hours). I've gotten long call 90% of the time I requested it. It's awarded purely on seniority, but keep in mind there are senior guys that live in base and love short call because they get to stay home a lot.

The junior base now for the DC9 is still DTW, but you can get MEM or MSP within a month or two.

Hope that helps.

 

[Jimbodawg]

Patrick,

It sounds like long call makes life on reserve commutable? Would you agree to that? How are reserve schedules looking, as in will they make you work 6 in a row? is it 4 on, 3 off or some other pattern? Can you request to be on a 4 day trip (again, for commuters)? Do they release you early on the last day? And is there a hot/airport reserve?

Thanks

 

[~~~^~~~]

Disregard

 

[patrickdc9]

Patrick,

It sounds like long call makes life on reserve commutable? Would you agree to that? How are reserve schedules looking, as in will they make you work 6 in a row? is it 4 on, 3 off or some other pattern? Can you request to be on a 4 day trip (again, for commuters)? Do they release you early on the last day? And is there a hot/airport reserve?

Thanks

Yes, as long as you live near an airport that has a descent number of flights to your hub, then it's commutable. NWA also has a "call in honest" program - which means they will book you positive space on/off line on your commuter flight, as long as you gave yourself at least one option, i.e., you were planning to jumpseat on a 6 pm flight, but it cancelled so now your left with a 9 pm with no seats.

The reserve schedules are heavily weighted towards the 5-6 or more days in a row, but that was Nov and Dec (holiday months), so things may be different going forward. I'm hoping for 4 days on call.

I've been released early on the last day about 50% of the time.

Not sure what you mean by "hot/airport" reserve.

 

[cargoflyr69]

Good questions. I'd like to add a few.

How much is the 401k match?
How long is the callout on short reserve?
How many hours/mo during training?
What is the junior base for the DC-9?
How long is the training for 747 FE?

-Its not really a match per se, its a gift directly into your account wheather or not you contribute on your own. starts at 5% then goes to 8%.

-Short call is 2 hour report. report is 1 hr to push. 3hrs total. Very rare to get that short of a call. Usually you get called 4-5 hours or more in advance.
-Long call. you have to answer your phone 24/4 but it is a 12 hour report time at a minimum.
-Long call pilots fly more often than short call, thus more overnights and hotels paid by company and less crashpad expense. yes, long call reserve is somewhat commuter friendly.

-75 hr guarantee for training and reserve.

-747 s/o training, no clue, i'm a 9'er

 

[cargoflyr69]

no hot/airport reserve here.

 

[viper548]

when do the medical benefits kick in? Any idea how much per month for myself and my daughter?

 

[FmrFreightDog]

Yes, as long as you live near an airport that has a descent number of flights to your hub, then it's commutable. NWA also has a "call in honest" program - which means they will book you positive space on/off line on your commuter flight, as long as you gave yourself at least one option, i.e., you were planning to jumpseat on a 6 pm flight, but it cancelled so now your left with a 9 pm with no seats.

Wait, an offline flight counts for one of your two flights for call-in-honest??

 

[Buzo]

Medical starts day 1 and is 155 for you and your child.

 

[viper548]

Thanks

 

[DTW320]

Call in honest. Yes, your original flight can be offline. If you can't get on they will give you a positive space on the NWA backup flight, as long as it is scheduled to get to base before checkin time. If something happens to your backup flight you are still on the hook for the missed trip/no-show. Of course, this only applies when going TO work.

Couple of extra points about the medical...the $155/month for you and any number of children is for medical + prescription plan. Dental is another $17/month. All of that is more when you include a spouse. The premiums are deducted pre-tax so that helps. Pre-existing conditions (including pregnancy) are completely covered and it starts day 1.