Lots of people are ****ed because they’ve been stuck on the bottom for 2 years with little movement. I get it!

My post from last year, I hope it helps:

I was hired into a large base at the beginning of a large hiring wave. I was on reserve for about 5 months, which consisted of minimum days off and I was called about half the time. I had a lot of single days off, however, I lived in base and wasn’t really trying to avoid them. I actually enjoyed flying a couple days then having 1 day off. Post contract, the single day off issue is partially fixed – 6 days off each month are required to be consecutive (4 off and 2 off, or 3 off and 3 off, etc). I have found that most guys living in base don’t mind single days off sprinkled in. It’s a different story for commuters.

After I escaped reserve, I would average 13-16 days off per month with relatively short and inefficient trips for the first year. However, short trips can be very enjoyable… away from home for less than 5 hours. A few people directly above me were getting 17-19 days off. The second year my schedules were consistently 16-18 off every month with minimal solitary days (maybe 1-2/month, not trying to avoid them). Could I have commuted? Yes, but I wouldn’t have enjoyed my life as much. For reference, at the end of my second year, I was top 20% of FO’s in that particular base and equipment. Keep in mind; I was hired at the onset of a huge hiring wave and lots of movement from right to left seat.

I am now in 3rd – 4th year in a different (less senior) base. I dictate my entire schedule… from more than half the month off consecutively, to not working more than 1 day in a row, and everything in between. If I have less than 18 days off, I screwed up. Average 19-21 off with decent credit. Easily commutable from anywhere on the planet.

The interface of our bidding software is ok; the way it solves is bad. Once you figure out how it solves and you are not on the bottom of the list, it works (there are tricks). That being said, I want new software with traditional solving capabilities.

The question you must ask yourself: Am I willing to sacrifice (move to a base or crash-pad) for a few years to get what I want? Once the Airbus transition is finished later this year, I expect the hiring boom to start again. You may be in a good position to ride the wave.