United 2025

ManualDXer said:
Anyone know if UA has a commuter clause in the dispatch contract?
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I was wondering about this as well. I know contract negotiations are going on for UA, and AA is just starting theirs as well. Matching a commuter clause as close to DL would be amazing for both UA and AA, or at the very least some commuter protections like Southwest. Heard a rumor UA may be trying to negotiate a commuter clause? Any truth to this?
 
MountainsOrBeach said:
I was wondering about this as well. I know contract negotiations are going on for UA, and AA is just starting theirs as well. Matching a commuter clause as close to DL would be amazing for both UA and AA, or at the very least some commuter protections like Southwest. Heard a rumor UA may be trying to negotiate a commuter clause? Any truth to this?
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What does the commuter clause entail?
 
Cubaniks said:
What does the commuter clause entail?
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From what I have been told by friends at Delta, they are allowed to reserve the flight deck jumpseat if they are a commuter. If they are coming to work, they can reserve the jumpseat 5 days out. If they are going home, they can reserve it 3 days out. And even if they are traveling for leisure, supposedly they can reserve it 1 day out. And once they reserve it, it is theirs and no one can kick them out unless it’s an FAA or a working pilot, etc. But if it does not have to absolutely go to someone else for some reason, if you reserve it first, it’s yours. The pilots share the reservation system with the dispatchers, which is extremely nice. Also, say if there is a day of major IROPS or for whatever reason you just could not get on a flight or get into your headquarters hub to work, you have to prove that you attempted to get on at least 3 flights and if for some reason you could not get on then you are not penalized. At Southwest for instance, you just have to make up the day later on that you missed, and it obviously does not count as OT, just a makeup day.

Between constantly full flights these days, and the fact that AA revenue passengers can change their flights last minute without any penalties or fees for free so your standby list jumps from 10-30+ often last minute, it is very difficult if you’re trying to be at work or get home by a certain day. Also at AA all pilots (even if traveling only for fun and leisure) have priority and get the jumpseat over any dispatch. So to have some protections would help tremendously, even if you have to make up the day later on. And to be able to reserve it, especially trying to get TO work and proving that you are a commuter going to and from your home base and headquarters base would make all the difference. There are many dispatchers that would highly love to be living elsewhere besides HDQs and be able to get back home with their family and loved ones with less stress.
 
My friend mentioned any dispatcher can reserve the JS even if not a commuter. It just changes when they can reserve it for DL.
 
MountainsOrBeach said:
From what I have been told by friends at Delta, they are allowed to reserve the flight deck jumpseat if they are a commuter. If they are coming to work, they can reserve the jumpseat 5 days out. If they are going home, they can reserve it 3 days out. And even if they are traveling for leisure, supposedly they can reserve it 1 day out. And once they reserve it, it is theirs and no one can kick them out unless it’s an FAA or a working pilot, etc. But if it does not have to absolutely go to someone else for some reason, if you reserve it first, it’s yours. The pilots share the reservation system with the dispatchers, which is extremely nice. Also, say if there is a day of major IROPS or for whatever reason you just could not get on a flight or get into your headquarters hub to work, you have to prove that you attempted to get on at least 3 flights and if for some reason you could not get on then you are not penalized. At Southwest for instance, you just have to make up the day later on that you missed, and it obviously does not count as OT, just a makeup day.

Between constantly full flights these days, and the fact that AA revenue passengers can change their flights last minute without any penalties or fees for free so your standby list jumps from 10-30+ often last minute, it is very difficult if you’re trying to be at work or get home by a certain day. Also at AA all pilots (even if traveling only for fun and leisure) have priority and get the jumpseat over any dispatch. So to have some protections would help tremendously, even if you have to make up the day later on. And to be able to reserve it, especially trying to get TO work and proving that you are a commuter going to and from your home base and headquarters base would make all the difference. There are many dispatchers that would highly love to be living elsewhere besides HDQs and be able to get back home with their family and loved ones with less stress.
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Thank you!
 
FlyingSioux1 said:
My friend mentioned any dispatcher can reserve the JS even if not a commuter. It just changes when they can reserve it for DL.
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That’s nice to hear because at AA for example dispatch can not reserve the jumpseat at all. And mainline pilots get priority for the jumpseat every time, no matter if they’re traveling for actual work or just fun and leisure themselves. That makes it very difficult on a 737 that only has one jumpseat, as well as full flights and then revenue pax allowed to switch flights last minute for free.

A lot of senior people say to just buy a ticket, but if you’re not senior and topped out, those tickets aren’t cheap and add up round-trip every other week. So Delta‘s jumpseat reserve program is pretty phenomenal, especially for commuters. Here’s hoping both UA and AA can negotiate a good commuter clause to match DL or WN protections as well. 🤞
 
MountainsOrBeach said:
From what I have been told by friends at Delta, they are allowed to reserve the flight deck jumpseat if they are a commuter. If they are coming to work, they can reserve the jumpseat 5 days out. If they are going home, they can reserve it 3 days out. And even if they are traveling for leisure, supposedly they can reserve it 1 day out. And once they reserve it, it is theirs and no one can kick them out unless it’s an FAA or a working pilot, etc. But if it does not have to absolutely go to someone else for some reason, if you reserve it first, it’s yours. The pilots share the reservation system with the dispatchers, which is extremely nice. Also, say if there is a day of major IROPS or for whatever reason you just could not get on a flight or get into your headquarters hub to work, you have to prove that you attempted to get on at least 3 flights and if for some reason you could not get on then you are not penalized. At Southwest for instance, you just have to make up the day later on that you missed, and it obviously does not count as OT, just a makeup day.

Between constantly full flights these days, and the fact that AA revenue passengers can change their flights last minute without any penalties or fees for free so your standby list jumps from 10-30+ often last minute, it is very difficult if you’re trying to be at work or get home by a certain day. Also at AA all pilots (even if traveling only for fun and leisure) have priority and get the jumpseat over any dispatch. So to have some protections would help tremendously, even if you have to make up the day later on. And to be able to reserve it, especially trying to get TO work and proving that you are a commuter going to and from your home base and headquarters base would make all the difference. There are many dispatchers that would highly love to be living elsewhere besides HDQs and be able to get back home with their family and loved ones with less stress.
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I am now extremely interested in Atlanta, living elsewhere and having less stressed loved ones.
 
welp22 said:
Anyone have any idea what the test (assuming there is an entrance test) and interview are like?
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The test IS directly from the ADX testing bank...most people can't sheppard test prep again...so if you don't know that material cold...buy the sheppard atp test prep and start reviewing.
 
Bustedcropdusta said:
Who do we bribe in finance to make sure that stays at 16?

I’m seat locked (in the NOC) at the moment so I wouldn’t be mad if they moved those last two classes to fall of 2026.
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This is one of the reasons I turned down a crew scheduling position after I received an offer letter in March. (I also got my 1st class medical, so I knew it wasn't realistic to commute while also doing a 141 program.)
 
DeltaJulietTango said:
This is one of the reasons I turned down a crew scheduling position after I received an offer letter in March. (I also got my 1st class medical, so I knew it wasn't realistic to commute while also doing a 141 program.)
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If you’re doing flight training then I definitely get it.

18 months is a drop in the bucket when speaking about the length of a career, and going the internal route opens up more opportunities than just dispatch.
 
Anyone who applied this round received anything yet? Or anyone at United heard any updates? Curious on how many apps they got this time around

Thanks in advance!
 
Yes a commuter clause would be nice. Yet I really haven't had an issue commuting. Of course I don't have kids at home.
In all my time as a commuter, I think Im coming up on 6 years as a total. Ive only purchased 1 ticket, have only had 2 diversions due to weather - one of those ended up renting a car with 3 other passengers and driving.

Also, depending on your company, one may be able to do their annual ride to commute to/from work.

This is just my opinion, I chose to do this. Thus it is my responsibility to get to work. Look at it this way, say you choose to live 2 to 3 hours away from work. Thus if ones car breaks down going to work, you could be considered a "no show" for work.

Finally, even though the FAA considers us a crew member - the IRS does not. So if you choose to commute, you may end up paying taxes to 2 states. The one you work in and the one you live in, unless you live in a state that has no state tax, or has an agreement with the state you work in
 
F9DXER said:
Yes a commuter clause would be nice. Yet I really haven't had an issue commuting. Of course I don't have kids at home.
In all my time as a commuter, I think Im coming up on 6 years as a total. Ive only purchased 1 ticket, have only had 2 diversions due to weather - one of those ended up renting a car with 3 other passengers and driving.

Also, depending on your company, one may be able to do their annual ride to commute to/from work.

This is just my opinion, I chose to do this. Thus it is my responsibility to get to work. Look at it this way, say you choose to live 2 to 3 hours away from work. Thus if ones car breaks down going to work, you could be considered a "no show" for work.

Finally, even though the FAA considers us a crew member - the IRS does not. So if you choose to commute, you may end up paying taxes to 2 states. The one you work in and the one you live in, unless you live in a state that has no state tax, or has an agreement with the state you work in
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Interesting and valid points about the tax. I do wonder how that works, although I was always under the impression you pay taxes to the state you work in. A quick Google search says you cannot be double taxed on the same income. But we all know Google is not the end all, be all. I wonder how that works for all the flight crews that commute in and out of their bases from out of state. Are they paying double taxes?
 
MountainsOrBeach said:
Interesting and valid points about the tax. I do wonder how that works, although I was always under the impression you pay taxes to the state you work in. A quick Google search says you cannot be double taxed on the same income. But we all know Google is not the end all, be all. I wonder how that works for all the flight crews that commute in and out of their bases from out of state. Are they paying double taxes?
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That may have been answered in their post. We’re not crew members but they are. But- as always- consult a tax professional in your local area to determine eligibility or any associated tax implications.
 
F9DXER said:
Even though you will get credit for the taxes you paid to the state you work in, you still have to file and may end up paying in the state you live in.

As stated, consult a tax professional. Im just going off of my experience.
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Makes sense for instance if you live in a state that has a higher income tax than the one you work in, you may owe the difference. Good points to look into. Will research with the tax folks.
 
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