United 10/15 Class Assignments

[UAL-GSO]

I would give some thought to skipping the car altogether. I drove mine out, but I don't think the amount I used it justified it. You'll take shuttles to and from the airport, some of the hotels offer shuttles downtown, and the Stapleton area now offers quite a bit to do right around TK. The biggest reason to have on is if you are not going home on your days off and want to explore.

You may want to check this place out for a car if you stay in town on days off:

http://www.airlineautorental.com/

OK cars at a cheap (as in airline pilot) rate. And it is across the street from the training center, too. As far as accommodations go, the Red Lion had the cheapest hotel room rate 7 years ago, FWIW. Good luck and welcome!

 

[Sonny Crockett]

Welcome to United guys!

Beer is on me and whoever else you fly with during your first year here.

Hopefully in the next few weeks you will see how the new ALPA-MEC leader sets the tone! Things are about to change towards the pilots favor.

 

[contrail67]

Do you think there will still be ORD openings for the future classes?...I go on 11/12

 

[ualdriver]

Do you think there will still be ORD openings for the future classes?...I go on 11/12

If there aren't any ORD slots in class, you will have absolutely no problem getting a slot in ORD in a very short period of time, perhaps before OE.

 

[Skippy]

well i can guarantee ill be the most junior for 10/29 unless i can get it changed in the next 2 weeks.

SKIPPY , DOH!

 

[motch]

Hay Skip...
Congrats on UAL man. Well deserved.

Always
Motch

PS> Maybe you can keep an eye on RB! LOL

 

[Andy]

Senior guy in the class is 0001 and junior guy is 9999 based on last four of your social security number.

There are very few affordable options for hotels. We had a few guys at the Doubletree and Radisson. There is an extended stay hotel on Quebec for 800/month but we had one person's car broken into there..so they packed up and left. We also had a handful of people staying with family / friends in the area.

AFAIK, United's class seniority has always been based on last 4 of SSAN.

For hotels, I posted this on another board. Take it for what it's worth:
For a place to stay, pick a hotel chain and join their frequent guest program.

Specifically, I'd recommend Marriott because I find you can go cheap cheap and still get great perks.
For the Denver area, the Fairfield Inn Aurora (not too far from TK; I've stayed there before) is $89/nite for 11-23 Dec with/without military rate. Go without military rate and use Premium Pounds coupons. For Fairfield Inn, you can use 50 Premium Pound coupons, saving you ~$50/nite off the rate. Coupons are good for two nights and can be had for ~$40. So your net cost at Fairfield Inn is around $59/nite. Includes free highspeed internet, complimentary breakfast and a kitchen.

Or, you could stay at the Rennaissance right next to TK. The rate is $140/nite, but you can use 100 Premium Pound coupons, saving you ~$100/nite. Coupons can be had for ~$70. So your net cost would be $75/nite, but no free highspeed internet or breakfast until you become a Marriott Gold (50 nites in a calendar year) and no kitchen.

Once you hit a status with a hotel chain, they treat you great. I'm a platinum with Marriott and I get free suite upgrades, complimentary breakfast, lounge access, etc. Plus I accumulate points for free hotel nights.

I recommend that you spend a little time at www.flyertalk.com on their forums and get more information on frequent traveler programs and how to play the game. Every hotel chain has a program, so whatever one you decide on, I'd stick with it.

As far as the Premium Pound coupons, I don't sell them, but you can get them on Ebay and a number of other sources. They also are Bonus Bucks and Extra Euros. All are denominated in the particular currency (Pounds, Dollars, Euros). The most bang for the buck is Premium Pounds.

 

[pthein]

What happened to this part??

"If I am offered a position, when will I know my assignment (base and aircraft) as a new hire pilot for United?
You will "bid" for an assignment and base during your first week of training. Student pilots are assigned random numbers by a computer to determine bid order. "

 

[contrail67]

AFAIK, United's class seniority has always been based on last 4 of SSAN.

For hotels, I posted this on another board. Take it for what it's worth:
For a place to stay, pick a hotel chain and join their frequent guest program.

Specifically, I'd recommend Marriott because I find you can go cheap cheap and still get great perks.
For the Denver area, the Fairfield Inn Aurora (not too far from TK; I've stayed there before) is $89/nite for 11-23 Dec with/without military rate. Go without military rate and use Premium Pounds coupons. For Fairfield Inn, you can use 50 Premium Pound coupons, saving you ~$50/nite off the rate. Coupons are good for two nights and can be had for ~$40. So your net cost at Fairfield Inn is around $59/nite. Includes free highspeed internet, complimentary breakfast and a kitchen.

Or, you could stay at the Rennaissance right next to TK. The rate is $140/nite, but you can use 100 Premium Pound coupons, saving you ~$100/nite. Coupons can be had for ~$70. So your net cost would be $75/nite, but no free highspeed internet or breakfast until you become a Marriott Gold (50 nites in a calendar year) and no kitchen.

Once you hit a status with a hotel chain, they treat you great. I'm a platinum with Marriott and I get free suite upgrades, complimentary breakfast, lounge access, etc. Plus I accumulate points for free hotel nights.

I recommend that you spend a little time at www.flyertalk.com on their forums and get more information on frequent traveler programs and how to play the game. Every hotel chain has a program, so whatever one you decide on, I'd stick with it.

As far as the Premium Pound coupons, I don't sell them, but you can get them on Ebay and a number of other sources. They also are Bonus Bucks and Extra Euros. All are denominated in the particular currency (Pounds, Dollars, Euros). The most bang for the buck is Premium Pounds.

Andy,

The Fairfield that you are talking about is the one right by the Homestead in Aurora, where I am planning to stay... I take it the drive is reasonable to TK?...How is the area?
Thanks

 

[Reebo]

well i can guarantee ill be the most junior for 10/29 unless i can get it changed in the next 2 weeks.

SKIPPY , DOH!

Dude, you made it!!!

I guess now it's EGLL instead of EGSS. Enjoy

 

[av8er2]

Senior guy in the class is 0001 and junior guy is 9999 based on last four of your social security number.

There are very few affordable options for hotels. We had a few guys at the Doubletree and Radisson. There is an extended stay hotel on Quebec for 800/month but we had one person's car broken into there..so they packed up and left. We also had a handful of people staying with family / friends in the area.

There not paying for lodging. Isn't that great.

 

[Andy]

Andy,

The Fairfield that you are talking about is the one right by the Homestead in Aurora, where I am planning to stay... I take it the drive is reasonable to TK?...How is the area?
Thanks

The drive's reasonable; I225 north to I70 west. Probably 15-30 min depending on traffic. The area's lower middle class. Not a terrible area, but I wouldn't leave any valuables out in sight in my car.

 

[C-17 Driver]

Other "fees" in training

I hear UAL pays for the uniforms. As a military guy whose employer has "deep pockets," I'm not used to paying for anything. Could someone please shed some light on the following: headsets, pubs bags, overcoat, bus driver hat. Heck, I don't even know what to ask about.

Wisecracks are appreciated as long as there is some good poop in there as well.

What else to buy? second mortgage...etc..

 

[Long Time Gone]

There not paying for lodging. Isn't that great.

You can't go anyway, so don't worry about it. Your lack of knowledge regarding proper grammar ("There" instead of "They're") indicates that you obviously don't have an education.

Based on the above example, your application is hereby rescinded.

 

[Andy]

I hear UAL pays for the uniforms. As a military guy whose employer has "deep pockets," I'm not used to paying for anything. Could someone please shed some light on the following: headsets, pubs bags, overcoat, bus driver hat. Heck, I don't even know what to ask about.

Wisecracks are appreciated as long as there is some good poop in there as well.

What else to buy? second mortgage...etc..

Wisecracks up front:
How did copper wire get invented? Two pilots fighting over a penny.

What are four things that pilots never buy?
Pens, soap, shampoo, and of course newspapers.

A pilot's wife went to the grocery store with her son. They are going down the detergent aisle. The son stops and gets mom's attention. He says, "look it's mommy and daddy soaps. Can we get a couple for our orphan baby soaps?"

To answer questions:
Overcoat & bus driver hat - should be covered for free. What are you going to do with the hat - give it to your kid for Christmas as a frisbee? Now, that'd be a great way to save on Xmas gifts. I hope that you're not planning on wearing one of those things.

Pubs bags: Your expense. United will have exacting specs for a bag so don't bother buying one ahead of time. The UAL store is reasonably priced, so just have it payroll deducted. The same specs go for suitcases; I recommend that you get one of them, they only carry high quality suitcases.

Headsets - you pay for a molded earset. Get it done during training.

Dry cleaning - was covered by the old contract; should still be covered. Save receipts. Uniforms only; not the rest of your clothes.

You have to pay for your hotel during initial training (just about every major requires it). United pays for subsequent training.

Having flown for a second tier operation prior to United, I'd say that United is pretty good about paying for reasonable costs. At least under the old contract; I haven't flown under the concessionary contract, but I doubt that anything's changed.

 

[IAHERJ]

HA!! I've finally found something Continental does better than another major airline in the first year. They do pay for lodging during training. Uniforms, not so much........And we wear hats..

Good luck and glad to see UAL back in the hiring game.

 

[contrail67]

But when does medical insurance start at Continental?

 

[whymeworry?]

But when does medical insurance start at Continental?

You can buy medical insurance for your entire family for $100/ mo. CAL ins kicks in after 6 mo. By contrast, you'll spend a minimum of $800 for lodging at UAL. You do the math.

 

[John Pennekamp]

You can buy medical insurance for your entire family for $100/ mo.

Really? Details?

 

[contrail67]

You can buy medical insurance for your entire family for $100/ mo. CAL ins kicks in after 6 mo. By contrast, you'll spend a minimum of $800 for lodging at UAL. You do the math.

Who offers that?! I did not know a plan exists that cheap.