Originally Posted by
overspeed
I get that you're not stuck in a base if you can switch with the same equipment. So if you get ATL88B and want ATL73N, you'd have to bid to a different base to switch airplanes after a year, i.e. NYC73N, then bid back to ATL. So, you're saying bid the 717 because you'd get the earliest "bid to another base opportunity?"
I don't think that scenario would work as the odds of a pilot being able to hold NYC73N B and not be able to hold NYCM88 B are slim to none. That pilot would have to stay on the 88 if they went to NYC. You'd have to transfer to a base that doesn't fly the MD88, like SLC. Bid SLC 73N and then base swap back to ATL on the next AE might work, but it wouldn't be as quick because it tends to be a little more senior in SLC.