Major Upgrade Time
- Thread starter MikeOH58
- Start date
frog_flyer
FredFlyer
Yup.
And those must have been updated very recently. It used to be Feb 2000 LGA for AA and a 1986 hire for Airways.
AA has been 'shrinking to profitability' and USA has been in bankruptcy 69 times in the last decade.
Also, I wouldn't be surprised to see the AA upgrade time come down soon. I know a guy that is super senior right seat that was hired in 1990 and said he was at the back end of a hiring spree. So that means that 'a lot' of the pilot force was hired in a short period of time and implies that upcoming upgrades will be more spread out (hire dates).
And those must have been updated very recently. It used to be Feb 2000 LGA for AA and a 1986 hire for Airways.
AA has been 'shrinking to profitability' and USA has been in bankruptcy 69 times in the last decade.
Also, I wouldn't be surprised to see the AA upgrade time come down soon. I know a guy that is super senior right seat that was hired in 1990 and said he was at the back end of a hiring spree. So that means that 'a lot' of the pilot force was hired in a short period of time and implies that upcoming upgrades will be more spread out (hire dates).
Maximilian_Jenius
Super User
factor in the baby boomers retiring en masse in the coming years, age 65 or not, and it can all change overnight!
ZapBrannigan
If it ain’t a Boeing, I’m not going. No choice.
The minimum time to upgrade at US Airways is 8 years on furlough. 
Velocipede
New Member
APC is pretty good with the numbers.
embraer07
Well-Known Member
I was just on APC the other day and noticed that the most junior captain at Continental was hired on Sept. 2005
I am warming up to Continental more and more for a number of reasons. That is just one more.
FWIW: For Delta the most junior Captain was hired in July of 2000; so it seems like its AA that is having issues.
I am warming up to Continental more and more for a number of reasons. That is just one more.
FWIW: For Delta the most junior Captain was hired in July of 2000; so it seems like its AA that is having issues.
Tram
Well-Known Member
Yeh.. Great reason to warm up to them..*
n57flyguy
Well-Known Member
I know an AA MD-80 CA that upgraded in 2000 at LGA.
BobDDuck
Island Bus Driver
I'm sure he downgraded a year later though.
Nick
Well-Known Member
Since 2005, they have hired ~1000 pilots. All of them have to upgrade before today's new-hires do.
A new contract would improve QOL for reserve pilots and junior lineholders. Many senior FOs might choose to upgrade.
Those two things will lead to an upgrade time, for today's new-hires, of probably more than what the 2005 hires are able to upgrade in.
Calcapt can elaborate or add more to this (if he ever posts outside the lav
)
SlumTodd_Millionaire
Most Hated Member
It says something completely different to me: that working conditions are so bad for junior Captains that the more senior FOs won't consider upgrading. Something to think about...
Maximilian_Jenius
Super User
jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
You should see the crap the guys over there on reserve go through. It's alright if you live in base, but if you are commuting to reserve, good luck...
embraer07
Well-Known Member
I said one more reason. Not the reason.
I know 2 Continental pilots who love their job and company; add that to random posts here and there on APC and on Jetcareers and yes, I have warmed up to a company that a year ago I didn't even think twice about.
But PCL_128, that is definently something to keep in mind as well. In this business you can never take anything at face value..there is always more to it.
But anyways, I'm going to be at a Regional for another few years before I even think about moving on to a Major, and who knows what will be going on then, or even which companies will still be around!
Jtrain, since you brought it up I have a question for you: while sitting on reserve over at Expressjet how possible is it to commute? To be specific, I'll be applying to Expressjet soon-the only regional I will be applying to- and once hired I plan on making a move to Seattle, so I would naturally request the LAX or ONT bases. Would I be playing with fire by commuting down to either one from Seattle? If so, how long are guys sitting reserve these days?
Thanks for the help!
typhoonpilot
Well-Known Member
Short upgrade times and long upgrade times come and go. It all depends on where you fit in during a hiring cycle. Guys hired at TWA pre-1965 upgraded very quickly, guys hired 1968 and on upgraded at 20+ years. That makes it very important to look at how many pilots have been hired ahead of you recently.
When AA starts hiring again in a few years time a very young new hire will have a phenomenal career there as he will be hired right behind thousands of mostly 40 and 50 year olds. This compared to a guy hired at Continental a few years from now who will be hired behind thousands of 20 and 30 year olds.
Typhoonpilot
Tram
Well-Known Member
Hey get original!
Man, no way.. I'll give you all the credit... It's sooo simple... I can't believe it was free!
I be slanging strix' all over the place now..
OldTownPilot
Well-Known Member
Actually, No "post 9-11 new hires" have upgraded yet. The first ones were hired in June of 05.
EWR 737 CA has been "awarded" to guys as junior as sep 05. This bids "effective date" is NEXT september.
CAL's upgrade time is more than 2.5 years for the first guys hired. This is ONLY for EWR 737, which is as commutable as... well.... nothing. Commute in the day prior and leave the day after you are done. and you'll probably only have 2 days off to begin with.
These guys that upgrade now will be on reserve for several years, being used and abused like they have never seen before. There is a reason that 77% of the pilots could hold a CA spot. Being Junior in your base at CAL SUCKS.
I know EWR 756 CA that just upgraded, skipping the 737 entirely, and waited to upgrade until he could be a lineholder on the 757, albeit a junior one. In the month that he has been a lineholder he has already flown with 2 FOs that are senior to him.
Th PBS system that CAL has will go down the list constructing lines, when it gets to the most junior line holder it the stops, takes the unfilled trips and goes back up the list deconstructing the lines and basically junior manning the lineholders into these unfilled trips. Once you get one of these "splat lines" you could see ANYTHING on your line, in this area where seniority is not followed.
EWR 737 CA has been "awarded" to guys as junior as sep 05. This bids "effective date" is NEXT september.
CAL's upgrade time is more than 2.5 years for the first guys hired. This is ONLY for EWR 737, which is as commutable as... well.... nothing. Commute in the day prior and leave the day after you are done. and you'll probably only have 2 days off to begin with.
These guys that upgrade now will be on reserve for several years, being used and abused like they have never seen before. There is a reason that 77% of the pilots could hold a CA spot. Being Junior in your base at CAL SUCKS.
I know EWR 756 CA that just upgraded, skipping the 737 entirely, and waited to upgrade until he could be a lineholder on the 757, albeit a junior one. In the month that he has been a lineholder he has already flown with 2 FOs that are senior to him.
Th PBS system that CAL has will go down the list constructing lines, when it gets to the most junior line holder it the stops, takes the unfilled trips and goes back up the list deconstructing the lines and basically junior manning the lineholders into these unfilled trips. Once you get one of these "splat lines" you could see ANYTHING on your line, in this area where seniority is not followed.
jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
Well I'm commuting to reserve from Salt Lake City to Newark. If I could describe it in a word, it would be suck. I've gotta leave the day before reserve starts to get to Newark (there are only two flights a day there) and in some situations have to leave the day after I get done with reserve, so I'm burning some days. I sit reserve in a crash pad in Newark, which kinda sucks, but I mean, could be worse.
I'm transferring to LAX or ONT in February with good luck (I'll find out if I get the transfer in a week or two) which will make my life infinitely easier. I'm not sure what the reserve time is in LA, but I'd expect 6-9 months, personally. Movement has slowed down a lot and guys are spending more time on reserve. There are some guys in Houston with almost a year in that can't hold a solid line yet (according to the rumor mill, I haven't checked the list down there to see who's holding what to tell you the truth).
If you REALLY want to live in Seattle you may consider Horizon.
embraer07
Well-Known Member
Horizon is good, but I REALLY want to work for ExpressJet
That commute sounds like hell, man. I hope you get the LAX or ONT transfer soon. If the reserve commute is that bad then I'll just live in base until I can hold a line, then move to Seattle. I just can't stand the thought of living in L.A. I heard that city is less than great to live in! How is life up in Newark? Maybe I'll just request that base initially and live there while on reserve, then request a transfer to LAX once I hold a line....