Originally Posted by
AV810
[The way our schedules are built right now, expect to be on duty for 10-12 hours at least 2 out of 4 days on a trip. You will probably have at least one 5 leg day. We also have plenty of long overnights, so you will probably have at least one 18 hour plus layover.]
Great answer, thanks! Which leads to next question (sorry, that's how it is when you're a newbie
): I assume I should expect roughly five 3 or 4-day trips per month. That makes 18-20 duty days. Then, being newbie scum, I have to commute to MKE the night before and probably home the day after (since the commute is a 2-legger). So now I'm on duty about 20 days and commuting about 10 days per month, meaning I get days home only on months with 31 days? Is that close to reality for my first year, or am I missing something?
I have not seen the MKE lines but I would hope you could hold some computability on one end. First year and being Jr is rough but with how seniority at ZW is improving you should be able to move bases and or hold a better line quickly. I always planned on having four trips of four days each with your schedule usually being 4 on followed by 3 off for the month. Otherwise its work days 1-4 go home the morning of day 5, all day at home day 6, commute in the night of day 7. Rinse and repeat.
A couple of tips
1. If you get stuck with no commutability you can always look for flying on day 7 (the day before your next trip starts) that you can pick up that ends in domicile (MKE) it pays 1.5 or 2 times the rate AND it makes it harder to jr man you at the end of your trip.
2. Try and trade for trips in pen time that may be more commutable out of ORD or IAD. The company may be less likely to approve this so be opportunistic. If they are really short on some days you have off put in a request to pick up flying and package your trio swaps in. for example.
You are scheduled to fly this schedule that is in-commutable on both ends out of MKE.
May 3-7
May 11-14
May18-21
May 25-28
you found a couple of trips out of ORD that you like on May 11-14 and May 25-28 however your trade requested was denied "lack of compassion and understanding on my part PG"
a couple days later the company is really short over integration May 1-3 and is offering critical pay for those days. You find a 2 day trip in MKE May 2-3 and add a request and include text like this.
" I am willing to add this two day trip if you will approve these two trades as well" and submit the same two trade earlier denied. If they are desperate it often works.
ask the guys that you are flying with for advice. The are a very knowledgeable group.
Make the Admiral proud.