UPS Words

[slicknkat]

Out of curiosity, has anyone gotten any letters/calls/emails after completion of a UPS interview in the last 4 weeks. I interviewed on 5 Jul and have not heard anything.

Thanks

 

[ForgedBlade]

How the hell you you even get the interview!?!?!?!?! I'd like to start with that...

 

[1800 RVR]

slicknkat,

I waited 4 weeks, 3 days to get my pool letter. Others I know got their pool letter within 1 week. There is no rhyme or reason. Just remember - no news is usually good news. Just keep holding tight; I know it's tough. We've all been there in one form or another.

 

[slicknkat]

1800RVR Thanks for the words We'll keep waiting and hoping. Hope to see you at SDF


Thanks

 

[lakelivin]

Slickncat,
I waited to the 5 week mark, I had not heard anything so I called. Even though they tell you not to I did. Good thing, Mine along with other pool letters were lost in the shuffle. They were very nice to speak to and more than willing to help/answer questions. Like RVR said I think no news is good news!

By the way RVR, how is training so far. See ya on the 18th...

 

[bohnzai]

I got my letter 6 weeks two days after my interview. It all seems to depend on how busy they are in HR at the time.

 

[airwillydrvr]

I got my letter 6 weeks two days after my interview. It all seems to depend on how busy they are in HR at the time.

Hey Bohn with that float plane avatar you should feel comfortable in the water. Just kidding, hang in there man it is coming.

 

[Chog]

no word for me either...

I interviewed 11 July, and no word either. I plan on calling next Tuesday to see whats up. They told me that if i hadnt heard from them in 4 weeks, then I should call.....hope the gouge runs true, that "no news is good news".
-Chog

 

[Okaythen]

Don't know what you were told, but at my interview "pre-brief", Linda Rich in HR told me that if I hadn't heard anything by the 4 week mark, to call and see what was up. I really don't think anyone there minds a phone call with a polite question.

Hope you hear some good news soon!

 

[1800 RVR]

Hey lake,

Training is good - 1st week goes by VERY quickly. Now starting into the real meat of training. Talk to me in 2 weeks and I'll let you know! You'll love it down here - nothing but great things to say. We'll try to stop in your first day during lunch. If not, I'm sure we'll meet on your pizza day or in the breakroom.

 

[Rockin'Rican]

They have it right

Slick,

I heard within a week but like Lake and RVR said, I was told to call after 4 weeks if I hadn't heard. I received it via US mail and thinking it was like my current employer that sent good letters via FedEx and bad ones via USPS I almost crapped a brick. I too will be in the 18 Aug class. I look foward to meeting you guys. I know it wiill be great. I was told by Buzz Thompson that we will be wearing coat and tie every day except Friday which is business casual. My friend said not so...tie but no jacket. What do you guys know? Also they are asking me which domicile (Ontario or SDF) I want. Seems a little bit early since i don't know what kind of schedules they have. I'd prefer a week on and one off or 2 on and 2 off. Any insights?

 

[Chog]

Rockin,

when did you interview? Just wondering how long you were in the pool.....oh, I interviewed on a Monday, no new hires in class had coats, just slacks, shirts and ties....

 

[Below Mins]

Also they are asking me which domicile (Ontario or SDF) I want. Seems a little bit early since i don't know what kind of schedules they have. I'd prefer a week on and one off or 2 on and 2 off. Any insights?

You want week on/week off? So does everyone. I don't want to burst your bubble, but that is not going to happen in any domicile on any fleet as a new guy!

ONT is awesome if you're senior or live in domicile. It is a horrible place for a junior commuter. Crashpads are practically non-existent. Lots of lines work 5 nights/week 3 weeks/mo. Same is true for SDF 757 and A300. Reserve goes senior for FO's in ONT -- not sure about SDF.

If you have the option, go to SDFZ (75 Intl). If you want a clean line (2 weeks on 2 weeks off), this is the way to go. Your life will be so much better, especially if you plan to commute.

 

[de727ups]

Clean lines for commuting in SDF domestic or ONT are pretty rare and would be senior. I'm the number 5 F/O in ONT. I do all day flying, which is great, but the lines are never clean week on, week off. The only two on, two off, would be international in the Z or be very senior in ONT. I think it's safe to say that there is NO two on, two off, domestic. Anything good for commuting in ONT that even a somewhat junior guy could hold is going to be some serious, multi-leg, all night, ball busters that shouldn't even be legal.

SDF has a lot more flying to choose from. ONT is a small base and pretty senior, in general. Unless you really want to live near ONT, I'd stay away.

On the last bid package I thought the A300 lines were the cleanest. The A300 is taking over some of the fairly easy, old 727 flying. The 757, in all domicles, seems to work harder.

Slick,

I heard within a week but like Lake and RVR said, I was told to call after 4 weeks if I hadn't heard. I received it via US mail and thinking it was like my current employer that sent good letters via FedEx and bad ones via USPS I almost crapped a brick. I too will be in the 18 Aug class. I look foward to meeting you guys. I know it wiill be great. I was told by Buzz Thompson that we will be wearing coat and tie every day except Friday which is business casual. My friend said not so...tie but no jacket. What do you guys know? Also they are asking me which domicile (Ontario or SDF) I want. Seems a little bit early since i don't know what kind of schedules they have. I'd prefer a week on and one off or 2 on and 2 off. Any insights?

 

[lakelivin]

Rican,
I also was told tie but coat was optional. PLEASE take ONT. I was called and told basically that I am the youngest in class and would get what ever is left for base choices. As of now looks like ONT. I am from out west but live in the east now. Due to first year pay not quite ready to go back to Cali.

See Ya on the 18th.
LL

 

[Stan]

Whatever you take you are locked in for 1 year before you can bid something else, even on the same airlplane. Right now there are a bunch of newhires on the 757 in SDF that would love to have ONT but can't bid it do to that restriction.

 

[lakelivin]

Stan,
What about base trades? Can Pilots switch on their own or is a system bid required?
Thanks
LL

 

[Stan]

Stan,
What about base trades? Can Pilots switch on their own or is a system bid required?
Thanks
LL

A system bid is required to change bases. This only is a problem on the 757 because it is the only fleet with multiple domiciles.

 

[LittleLearBoy]

What is so different about the MIA base flying?? I hear that all the time but nobody says why?

Just a poolie splashing around wasting time.
LLB

 

[Rockin'Rican]

Chog, I interviewed on May 9th (Monday), was told I was in the pool about a week later. Got the call for my medical about May 15th, got the medical on May 28th and Buzz Thompson called a day later.

727 thanks for the insight.

 

[Okaythen]

UPS Background Checks

Just thought I'd throw something out for any poolies following this thread.

I got the call for my contingent offer (basically to schedule the physical) last week. During that call it was emphasized to me that the offer was contingent and "this is not the time to give notice to your current employer." I have followed that advice, but today I got a call from my boss telling me he had gotten a request for my flight records. It's not a big deal because I had already given him unofficial notice that I may be leaving, but I was a little surprised. I knew UPS would be requesting flight records from my employer, I just wasn't sure when. Based on my experience, once you get the call for the physical, it's time to clue in your current employer if you want them to hear the news from you first.

OK

p.s. I don't know how they determine who gets the "Moon River treatment" at the physical, but I'm over 35 and I escaped without being invaded.

 

[V-STALL]

I also was told tie but coat was optional.

Make sure you guys ware a suit the first day, that's the day they take pictures for ID's and website. Congrats to you all. Welcome aboard!

 

[1800 RVR]

We're in week 2 and everyone is still wearing at least a sportcoat and tie. We take them off during the day. I was told that this was expected, except for Fri, which is biz casual.

 

[Jetlaggy]

LL,

I was told that I was #7 but i cant say that I am going to be any help in your Cali avoidance quest. That is like a nightmare to me. I dont know any specifics on the diff between SDF domestic and Z so i guess either of those is fine with me.


Tailwinds

 

[lakelivin]

Jetlaggy
Thanks anyways, I am wishing for a small miracle. Things could be much worse. I am just stoked to be going to the 756. See on the 18th.

 

[Below Mins]

I dont know any specifics on the diff between SDF domestic and Z so i guess either of those is fine with me.

Huge difference between the two, especially for the junior guy. SDF domestic has many lines that work 3 weeks/month. Lots of night flying coupled with short layovers. As an added bonus for being junior, you can expect to fly multiple leg, cross-country death marches fairly regularly.

Lines are much cleaner in Z. Most flying and reserve lines are 2 weeks on/2 weeks off. Much more day flying and 24 hr layovers are common. Although you won't totally avoid sitting the sort, it won't be a regular part of your life like it would domestically. It is pretty easy to turn 2 weeks of vacation into 6 weeks off or more -- something that will never happen domestically unless you are very senior. Also, the intl override and per diem makes a huge difference in pay that first year.

 

[Brown Cow]

Everyone is talking about this airplane and that airplane. The important thing is to get in the door, through the training, and over the hump of first year probation. Everything else is mute. Some guys and gals were sitting on the panel for 3 years before they upgraded (those hired shortly after 9/11). Sure they were mad, but they realize now that it was worth the wait.

Also, it must be made very clear that you may have a schedule one month and that will all change the following month. The word is, that a system bid is coming out mid to late August. Those folks who were hired starting Nov. '04 through the next few classes thereafter will be released to upgrade. This involves about 75 upgrades or so. Bottom line is that any new hire that has a line now will lose that for quite some time. For anyone coming on the property since about April or May will sit reserve for a while. Remember pending our contract, there are about 140 engineers looking to move.

From looking at the bid packages and the open time created because of a lack of manning, the Z domicile is the absolute best. Reserve pilots will tend to get more trips than any other fleet. The MD-11 has two trips over the next weeks open, the 75 has a few, the Bus has a few and the 8 has a few, but the Z has about 15 and there aren't enough guys to bid this in open time so it goes to the reserve people.

Bottom line......the question of lifestyle is relative. If you live in the ville, reserve is great, if you don't, it isn't. If you think that planning ahead for the best lifestyle is good, then realize that by the time you can permanently hold a line, you will have done your fair share of reserve. Finally ONT and MIA are very senior and people don't leave there if they can avoid it.

Food for thought!

 

[psysicx]

How long would it take for someone to hold a line one the Z base?

 

[Brown Cow]

Last bid, there were roughly 45 reserve lines. One third go to guys senior, the other two thirds go to the bottom bunch. Right now, they have hired about 8 on the Z side, so you can do the math. However!!!!!!!!!! The reason there are so many trips in open time is because the z side is severly understaffed. They need at least another 30 Captains and 50 FO's/RO's to make things run smoother. My numbers are probably off, but you get the rough idea. Sorry, but it is impossible to determine how ling before you can hold a line. Depends entirely on how many go to the left seat.