Originally Posted by
WantTheJob
Hello all,
Currently in EWR as 756 FO about 90%. Considering a move to ORD that would place me about 90 - 91% on the list. It would seem that I could bid for and get a line in ORD according to the past couple of months of awards that I have seen in PBS. I am looking for some input from anyone sitting around that percentage or has answers to my questions below. Thanks in advance
1. If I were to hold a line, how easy or hard is it to drop, trade, or pickup trips in ORD. Do the junior line holders find it fairly easy to drop a trip over a weekend if they wanted to or even swap or do you find that you are essentially stuck with what you initially get awarded?
2. If I got reserve in ORD, can I expect to get used for a lot of SC or FS during the month. Do they have as many of those reserve assignments as EWR does or is it a little more relaxed. Ultimately, if I have to sit reserve I am trying to find out if its better to do it in ORD or EWR. The commute is equal for me either way.
I am trying to weigh whether EWR or ORD is the better quality of life on reserve or as a junior line holder. sometimes it looks better from the other side then you find out the opposite once you get there. I appreciate any feedback.
3.
1. It depends on the trips you have. As a junior line holder expect a lot of bunkie LHR mixed with some domestic. I had pretty good luck with criteria trades to get flying positions or my days traded. If you have a flying trip, especially in the winter someone would probably pick it up if you try to drop it.
2. On my reserve months it was a mixed bag. A lot of it depends on how good you are on short call pick ups to avoid trips. I think I sat like 3 months of reserve. Didn’t fly one of those months at all, but was picking up SC’s to avoid work. They will convert you to short call a good bit, but I don’t recall ever getting used. I never was assigned a FS.
ORD 756 has a pretty big mixed bag of international and domestic flying. Your exposure to getting called on reserve is pretty high, however it’s nowhere near say a 737/A320 reserve (or EWR 756). Loved the plane, base, crews and overnights, but ultimately chose to switch planes for better seniority. I’ll go back in a heartbeat when it makes sense seniority wise.