Originally Posted by
smooth rides
After reading the latest RSR, I'm trying to figure out how trips are awarded on the CRJ side. I'm one of the trainees that was sent home last March and was expecting to fly the ERJ (for bases, not because it's any "shinier"). I have little working knowledge other than hearsay from other trainees and 3 days of indoc training. I asked a couple CRJ FOs that fly at OO and all I've learned so far is that the CRJ trips are awarded based on seniority just like any other type at any other airline, and better trips are more likely to be more senior therefore the more senior you are the more likely you are to find yourself up front in a 7 or 9 vs a 200. Is there any other way of bidding for the aircraft? And how much truth is there in senior CAs and FOs avoiding the 200?
Things vary between bases. The SLC CRJ domicile has very few commuters. Most pilots here want shorter trips. CRJ 200 split duties are the most senior trip. Than it use to be followed by locals, two days, etc.. Covid has put a hit on our parings and there are a lot of 3 and 4 day trips out there now a lot of crew members living locally don't really want.
Contrast that with other domiciles that have a lot of commuters and they want commutable four day trips. Commutable on both ends.. Or perhaps three day trips. The commuters sure don't want the locals. Even if you are not a "commuter", driving in everyday to LAX or SFO if you are not real close to the airport will probably have you bidding the longer trips.
Some bases have a mix of 200 vs 700/900 flying. SLC for about a year was nothing but 200 flying. Now it has a mix. PHX and DFW are nothing but 700s.
When the bids are done here in a few more days, look on the PBS page and pull up the PBS transparency report. You can look at every position at every domicile and see what is being awarded. You can look at the pairings for each domicile as well (you can do that now). Once you've been here a while and have some seniority, the transparency report will also show where you would bid, seniority wise, in every domicile.
Where are you hoping to get based?
And to answer your last question. My bid for next month is nearly entirely 200 flying, and I'd be considered senior.