UAL hiring soon?

[ualdriver]

Why would UAL mngt, or anyone else do this??

SB flies to all the sh!tty, out of the way places in the country. Keeping them around gives all the mngt types out there an excuse to say "these rates are the new industry standard".

I agree. And with our negotiations coming in '09, I can GUARANTEE that's exactly what my mangement will be crying. We can't compete with Virgin because UAL pilot/flight attendant/maintenance pay is too high. We'd like to raise your pay, but we can't, etc., etc. And in reality that argument, in some cases, might not be far from the truth. And the downward spiral continues.

And unfortunately, the days of any airline being able to "bury" anyone I think are coming to a close. Margins are too narrow and these new up starts are too well capitalized to sustain a long term fight. Sure, if Skybus was stupid enough to hit AMR in DFW, for example, AMR could "bury" them, but they're probably not that stupid. It will be a death by a 1000 cuts as they just undermine everyone's market share (if not them, one of the inevitable copy cats), taking a few % points here, a few % points of market share there, and before you know it, we're right back in the early 2000's again.

 

[SoCentralRain]

My brain hurts. Thanks, Mr. Sparkle.

To summarize: Cool to fly airplanes. Sh1tty industry. Take one or the other.

::heavy sigh::

Good luck.

"And now...back to the thread!"

Yes, UAL will need to hire soon.

SCR

 

[BigShotXJTdrvr]

How many of you regional CA's are thinking of making the jump? By taking a quick look at airlinepilotcentral payscales, it seems like it would take quite a while to make up the pay difference, not to mention the QOL.

I had always wanted to fly for United. I think you guys have a very professional pilot group, someplace that always seemed like it would be a great place to spend a career.

However, all things considered, I doubt you will be getting the caliber of applicant you would prefer. I am 7 year XJT captain, and with top 20% seniority and $80-100K a year going in the bank and funding the 401k, it takes a lot to make one want to start over again.

I have made a spreadsheet pay comparison to estimate how many years it takes to break even if you make such a move. You lose a lot for the first few years, then (if you manage to stay continuously employed) you have to first fill in the financial hole you dug for those years and only thereafter are you in positive territory.

I figured domestic 320/737 FO for first 4 years, then just for giggles threw widebody FO pay for a few years.

I got a total of slightly North of $500K pay for the next 7 years at either job. After 7 years United would most likely be the better paying gig.

That doesn't include things like reserve, crappy rules, etc.

So, I think I am a lifer at XJT. But to each his own. I just don't think there are a ton of guys who want to go back to $30K when they're 35 years old.

Expect to see a lot of regional FO and younger captain types of app--guys who have less to give up, and more time left to make gains.

 

[contrail67]

Any word on the poolies that were hired in 2001? I am one of them and just curious if anyone knows if this will carry any weight.

 

[ualdriver]

Any word on the poolies that were hired in 2001? I am one of them and just curious if anyone knows if this will carry any weight.

I'm in the process of finding out for you. I'll drop you a note if someone else doesn't already know.

 

[HighSpeedClimb]

no 737s to aloha

What's your intel, we keep hearing otherwise? BTW, are the Ted drivers paid the same as mainland UAL? If not, what is Ted's salary? thx

 

[ualdriver]

What's your intel, we keep hearing otherwise? BTW, are the Ted drivers paid the same as mainland UAL? If not, what is Ted's salary? thx

A320/737 pay is banded, similar to what is done at Continental. Ted pay is the same as A320/737 pay. So far, there has been no transfer of aircraft to Aloha, although our domestic capacity is being pulled down slightly this year unfortunately.

 

[Tejas-Jet]

This is a sad state of affairs. I hope that the new leadership in ALPA can help to fix the industry for the future of our profession.

ALPA is not in airline management. The best ALPA can do is react...and the more who stand up, the stronger the reaction will be.

Obviously, concessionary contracts voted in by the majority of ALPA pilots speak volumes to management....13-15 guys showing up at LEC meetings does also.

It is really sad when an MEC or LEC member goes to management and standing behind him is.....nobody. Management sees that too.

 

[ualdriver]

Any word on the poolies that were hired in 2001? I am one of them and just curious if anyone knows if this will carry any weight.

Unfortunately, contrail, from what I am hearing it sounds like the poolies are going to have to re-interview. I'm not 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure. Sorry. If I hear anything different, I'll let you know.

 

[BlueSurfer]

Yeah,

Our contract at JB is really terrible... Last year, as a 5 yr A-320 Capt, I bid 6 months of reserve (during the slow months. i.e. the fall and flew 4-5 days per month), then bid a line for 6 months, i.e. the summer, and averaged about 90 hrs/month and worked 15-16 days. My W-2 last year was $140K, for really only working 6 months... Peace

 

[ualdriver]

Yeah,

Our contract at JB is really terrible... Last year, as a 5 yr A-320 Capt, I bid 6 months of reserve (during the slow months. i.e. the fall and flew 4-5 days per month), then bid a line for 6 months, i.e. the summer, and averaged about 90 hrs/month and worked 15-16 days. My W-2 last year was $140K, for really only working 6 months... Peace

I used to make $140K/year as an A320 First Officer!

 

[Gordo]

I spoke with Bob Neil (the furlough coordinator at HQ) today. I was told that in the coming weeks they expect to complete the list of recalling furloughed pilots to fill the July and August classes. They are expecting to have new hires in September at a rate of 40/month for the forseeable future. Many of the senior furloughed pilots who've by-passed are not returning.

Good Luck.

 

[Yuppyguppy]

sweet

 

[HA25]

Yeah,

Our contract at JB is really terrible... Last year, as a 5 yr A-320 Capt, I bid 6 months of reserve (during the slow months. i.e. the fall and flew 4-5 days per month), then bid a line for 6 months, i.e. the summer, and averaged about 90 hrs/month and worked 15-16 days. My W-2 last year was $140K, for really only working 6 months... Peace

There was a time when that was FO pay at UAL.. let's not get too excited. We have MD-11 CA's at Gemini with $200,000 W2's who work an average of 2x as many days as a Fedex CA who makes even more.. in theory, we could all work more and more and make a good paycheck, but then you're life ends and you've done nothing but work!

I know you sat reserve doing "nothing" for 6 months, but were you really free? Did you pop open a beer? did you take your wife and kids on a road trip? no.. you sat at home waiting on a phone.

We need to come to terms with the fact that most college degreed jobs, and especially those in sales are $100,000/yr jobs in todays world by the time the person gets in his mid 30's.. which is the average age of a 1st year FO at the airlines.

 

[BlueSurfer]

FMS - I totally agree with you. The pay isn't what it used to be, and new start-ups/LCCs, JB included, lower the bar when they start up, and all new start-ups do have an unfair advantage on labor and maint. costs. We could debate to death what to do about em. Anyway, we've worked very hard at getting the pay up at JB, and will continue to do so... I would love to be working at one of the majors, but there weren't any jobs 5 years ago when I needed one, so I've been with JB since. Most of those mid 30 college kids making 6 figures though I would guess are probably working pretty long hours to earn that pay though. I still take this job over working for a living any day...

Take care