Originally Posted by
Diesel1030
correct
as mentioned above..I moved up some numbers in class due to my school projected date ending before some S80 classes etc.
Same here.
I was number 3 in my class by age.
When it became my time to choose I was faced with the choice of getting an aircraft and base that was more preferable to me, but becoming number 24 in the class.
Or taking a base that was less preferable to me and becoming either number 1 in the class or number 6 in the class depending on equipment.
It was an extremely tough decision, but I went with my general rule that has been learned the hard way over 17+ years in the regional airline biz. That is, seniority is worth more than anything in certain situations, more than money, more than base, more that aircraft type.
One seniority number can mean the difference between holding the base you want or a long commute, holding weekends off or no weekends off, holding a CA seat or being FO, being furloughed or being employed.....etc. etc. etc., and these downsides have the potential to last for YEARS. I have seen it happen to guys I know.
I decided to take the much less desired base and aircraft and jump up to number 1 in the class, than take what I wanted and become number 24 of 25.
The new hire lock in is only 6 months, after that it is 2 years, so that helped ease the decision for me.
It was worth it to me and I don't regret it, some others made the opposite decision to me and dont regret it either.
One decision gives guaranteed pain early on with the potential (but no guarantee) for major upside later. The other decision gives lesser or no pain starting out, with the potential (but no guarantee) for major downside later if you are ever wishing you had an extra couple of seniority numbers.
Basically either choice is a gamble, and you will never know for sure if you made the right decision until retirement.
Finishing later, does give the advantage of having time off at home between indoc and aircraft GS, but that is where the advantage ends. The downsides are, loss of seniority (with all the associated potential repercussions in years to come), the potential of being on probation longer, and also being on first year pay longer.
It is kind of a jacked up system if you ask me, but it is contractual, and there is no getting around it. It is what it is.