Originally Posted by
rbigred300
If you get 717 or 88s out of NYC, about how long right now before you get to "really good" seniority and what would you consider that...top 20%? At that point what are the true benefits? People say it gives you the power to choose weekends off or holidays off...I'm guessing you can also choose where you are going and to some extent what hours you are flying. An example of a good seniority trip/line would be great. Also if you have great seniority and you choose a reserve line does that mean you fly less or would that actually make your schedule worse for you than if you picked your line? I'm just trying to get an idea of how good life can be when you are senior on a junior aircraft. I'm sure it's always tempting to chase the money but for me QOL would be much more important.
I would say 50-60% is good seniority. You can get holidays off and have some control of your schedule. Mostly commutable trips, less than 3 legs a day, etc. I've looked at the 717 bid packet in NYC and I don't know if you'd be able to get all commutable trips on that catagory (Fugly trips).
I've never been much above 40% so can't comment on what life is like up in the nose bleeds. I'm around 47% in my catagory and can tell you life is pretty good. I can hold weekends off, get any holiday off, and get a summer vacation, get near Christmas vacation and then slide my vacation over Christmas during the monthly PBS bidding...etc.
Even at the 60% range, you can bid reserve during a holiday month to get holidays off.
I used to want to hold Captain as soon as I could but unfortunately, after 16 years here, that opportunity didn't present itself until the past year or two. Now, with young kids and a working wife, my priorities have changed and being a junior captain isn't as important as QOL. I can make up the difference in pay over the summer with some creative strategery, but i have to kick QOL out the door to do it.
If you're new, I'd log into deltanet and look at the NYC M88 and 717 bid packets and look at all the trips with commutability and legs per day in mind. Even though the M88 pays a little more, I think guys prefer the 717 so sitting on the MD88 might help you move up faster. I've got 5+ years on the Maddog and it's not that bad. It's old and tired but you get used to it. The only thing I hated about the airplane is that it was hot and sweaty in the summer time. The good new is, you're so busy on the ground, you don't realize you're uncomfortable until you're airborne. The good new is, if you're on it long enough, you'll start to grow a third arm on the left side, which comes in handy if you ever want to be a professional juggler or want to join the circus.
Good luck with the decision, you're only seat