Originally Posted by
CLE to IAH
1. Forced upgrade - Assuming I bid/recieve the 145 (which is what I have the most time in), will I be forced into upgrade?
2. Base/eqipment - seeing as how I live pretty near DFW (1 hour drive), holding DFW would be the ultimate goal. Huge for QOL. Online it shows that the DFW 145 most jr captain is a June 18 hire. One year, that isnt too bad I suppose. If I am forced to upgrade, I know I will be on reserve for a long long time so sitting reserve at home is far more pallatable. Is that timeline accurate?
3. Junior man rules - how do reassignments work for line holders? Can you be reassigned by phone? Do you have to get released at the end of a trip? Are junior man assignments optional? (Try not to laugh too hard at that last question)
4. Reserve assignments - I have seen some of these answers on here....I am guessing scheduling pulls the “call you at 5am and release you to rest” to change your time/make you legal for a trip? Do captains fly as FO when on reserve? (Im guessing CA reserve is miserable?) Is there a limit to how many times you can sit airport appreciation? Is there an ability to jump on an open trip day before? Will they use all the FOs before putting a CA in the FO seat? Last, do you have automatic release at the end of a reserve trip or do you have to call for release?
5. Bidding - do you use PBS? Line bidding? Is there a line improvement window where you can potentially swap/drop trips or adjust schedule? That was something I loved at XJT....our line improvement window. You could really clean your schedule up nicely.
8. Soft time. What are you guys and gals getting for deadhead, cancellations etc? How are the lines in terms of credit and mix? Can you get 85+ Hours without working your off days?
TL;DR - sorry to ask, hows life at ENY?
1. If you have 950 hours of 121 time, you will be displaced to CA 145, most likely in LGA.
2. Thanks to constant FOs displacing CAs at upgrade, the junior DFW CA is looking more like Jan 18 according to our latest flow plan and seniority list.
3. Junior manning is pretty minimal because we have a crap-ton of reserves. approximately 50 per seat in each base.
4. By default, you start your reserve string with 2 hour callout (3 hour in LGA) starting at 4 am. At 5pm CST the day prior, you get your actual assignment for the next day. If you are senior on the reserve list, you might be able to get a same-day-commutable late-start flight or airport appreciation assignment.
Note: the low seniority upgrades have slowed to a relative trickle with the cancellation of the DEC program. It will take a while to get a significant number of CAs below you.
5. Line bidding, even for reserve days. There is a line improvement window, but it only applies to lineholders, so you won't be able to enjoy it for at least 2 years. As a reserve, you can request swapping days, but it will likely be "denied due to staffing". If it is approved, it probably won't be approved until the day prior to the requested swap.
8. Soft pay... the only thing you can really do to improve your pay above min guarantee is to pick up OT on your day off. Might be doable if you live in DFW (hey, you'll be at the airport after commuting home on your day off), but the pickings get slim and do you really want to pick up a Waco or Wichita falls turn or overnight?
TL;DR - don't come here. Look at OO. At least they will credit your previous 121 time for pay purposes.