We do not have an exemption for moving up to a larger plane like United does. What you can do is one of 4 things if you don't like your initial base assignment:

1. Be awarded a transfer to another base on the same equipment on any AE that comes out after you are hired. No change to your seat lock.
2. Be awarded a transfer to another base that does not have the aircraft you are currently on. This cannot be done until after you have been on property for 1 year, and it still can take many months for the conversion to actually occur. If you do this your remaining seat lock is added to your new 2 year seat lock for changing aircraft.
3. Be awarded a transfer to another base that DOES have your current aircraft but you do not have the seniority to hold your current aircraft in the new base. Same 1 year, added seat lock rules apply as #2.
4. Be awarded your first captain position. Anyone at any point can break a seat lock to be awarded their first CA position. Any remaining seatlock you have is added to your new 2 year upgrade seat lock.

A word of caution about #2 and #3 - the timing of bids (AE's) is very sporadic, and you can be highly screwed by bad timing. So if you want to jump after 1 year, the AE must close AFTER the day your seat lock expires. So if your lock is up on Jan 15, and an AE closes Jan 14, you're hosed and are looking at another 2-3 months before you can bid out, plus up to 9 months from that point to actually train and convert to your desired base. So potentially someone could be trapped in an undesirable base/commute situation for almost 2 full years even with the 1 year bid out rule. That is why it is important to prioritize fleets that are in your desired base, because even if you don't get that base right off the bat you'll be assured of a faster transfer in to your desired base since you just have to wait for the next AE to make the jump with no training required.