ExpressJet to fly for United?!

[CRJDriver]

Just pulled up a IAD-SAV flight on March 28 and found this...

United 5209
Operated by
United Express/ Expressjet Airlines Inc.

Couldn't find a press release or anything though...

[jtrain609]

It's another short term deal replacing some Mesa flying.

[Seggy]

Did you soil your pants thinking it would end your commute to EWR you sell out?

[FlyChicaga]

Come On Chicago Base!

[Seggy]

I think we have a lot of folks at ExpressJet tonight soiling their pants.

[jtrain609]

Originally Posted by Seggy

Did you soil your pants thinking it would end your commute to EWR you sell out?

Well I'd be trading my EWR commute for an IAD or ORD commute

The Denver flying (which would be freaking AWESOME) is being done with Dash's right now, and I don't expect that to change. Chicago would be a huge step up from Newark, though, if only because it's only one time zone away and I've got a ton more flights going there.

[SmitteyB]

Excellent news for you guys. Congrats!

5200's were Colgan's flight numbers.

Quit stealing our flying.

[Captain_Bob]

Originally Posted by FlyChicaga

Come On Chicago Base!

Why on earth would YOU want a Chicago Base?????

Originally Posted by Seggy

I think we have a lot of folks at ExpressJet tonight soiling their pants.

Not really as much as you'd think. We were told on the CEO/Pilot Conference Call that there was a temp deal on JR's desk with another carrier for @ 5 planes... and that it would be similar to the JetBlue and Frontier type of deals.

So... we've effectively seen these things come and go. No soiling of pants will happen (Except for Chicaga who will be groping for the trips out of ORD!), until we see a longer term deal signed with at least 10+ aircraft.

Overall though... just like the JetBlue and Frontier flying... it gets us noticed and shows the key players in the industry how flexible we are... in addition to allowing us to show off our pilot group and quality of service that we can provide to a carrier.

As always... let's hope it does lead to bigger and better things down the road.

Bob

[jtrain609]

I think that this deal, more than any of the other temp. gigs Express has done, has the oppertunity to lead to more flying.

Mesa is falling apart, and if United wants to replace them we can take over their 145 fleet without too much problem.

[Seggy]

Oh Bob I think it was lost in interweb translation.

First I hope you guys get a ton more flying.

My comments meant to illustrate how some members on here might be soiling their pants hoping to get new bases that would lead to a much better QOL.

Hope that clarifies it!

[Captain_Bob]

Originally Posted by Seggy

My comments meant to illustrate how some members on here might be soiling their pants hoping to get new bases that would lead to a much better QOL.

Oh... so you were referring to Chicaga... gotcha!

Bob

[Seggy]

Yes sir Bob!

[Doug Taylor]

Giggity.

[kellwolf]

If anyone but XJT had gotten this we would have seen letters proclaiming how the PCL pilots lost this flying for the company. But since it went to an airline with a better contract and higher pay rates, management is oddly silent.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

...I thought the problem with Mesa and UA, was that Mesa was still using a majority 50 seat feed, and reluctant to purchase more 70 seaters.

So, how can XJT get the UA flying when they only have 50 seat jets, and United has a hard-on for 70 seaters!

[FlyChicaga]

From what I understand, this flying might be done by our Charter pilots. This means our pilots who have been on the seniority list for 20+ years, making over $90-100 an hour, plus an override, and a 90 hour guarantee. That is quite the shift from Mesa rates. So much for "lowest bidder."

Looks like it might be a two week temporary contract. Similar to JetBlue and Frontier like Bob said.

Right now I'm flying about 90 hours a month with 13 days off. There will be no open time pickup for me. I miss our 26-hour four day trips out of San Antonio.

[Ddub1214]

Originally Posted by Maximillian_Jenius

...I thought the problem with Mesa and UA, was that Mesa was still using a majority 50 seat feed, and reluctant to purchase more 70 seaters.

Quite the opposite actually, Mesa has 20 CRJ7's flying for United and another 10 on order. Meanwhile JO has been trying to pull the 50 seat flying and send the planes to China.

The flying that ExpressJet picked up was probably a result of Mesa sending a few ERJ 145's to TSA (but maybe also because of cancellations due to lack of crews). The remainder of Mesa's ERJs are on the Freedom (Delta) side.

[wheelsup]

I read on another forum that the 5200 series flight numbers are/were colgan flights.

[beechpilot]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

I read on another forum that the 5200 series flight numbers are/were colgan flights.

They were but the United flying is now 6800 through the 6900's.

[meritflyer]

All of the details of this are speculation right now.

I'd rather wait for a PR or VM from XJT management to affirm details that none of us have any clue about.

[sidenote]

John, I miss you

[/sidenote]

[jtrain609]

Justin, we could have been so right together. It's too bad that, at an absolute minimum, three women have come between us.

[meritflyer]

<------ ME

[Doug Taylor]

So Train, what you're really trying to say to Merit is that you cain't quit him?

[jtrain609]

It's true man. You should see the texting fling we've got going on, it's downright mantastic!

[meritflyer]

Train can be my "first officer" anytime.

Receiving checklist please..