Originally Posted by seven oh

I'm SCR in PHL. Most of my trips fall into your definition of relaxed. Average trip is a 2-day 1-1 or 2-1/1-2, often with a last leg DH. Almost never get 4 day trips or redeyes, even with 4+ days availability.

Just for fun I'm going to try to answer all of your initial questions. I was a Nov '22 hire, off OE in March (long sit due to sim backlog) so these answers are based on my timeline. YMMV.

- time to hold a line: third month after finishing OE
- ability to bid short call reserve: immediately. first month you will probably be forced into SC with an early (0200 or 0400) RAP. You'll be able to hold later RAPs within 1-2 months as folks come in behind you. I like the 1000 and could hold that along with most days off I wanted at about the 4-month point off OE.
- typical trips & red-eyes/overnights: length/redeyes answered above. destinations can vary widely, i've had several 1-1 transcons and 2-1 or 1-2 northeast shuttle-type trips (BOS, BGR, PWM) over the past few months. good bit of turns too, often CLT or RDU. if you're lucky you get a 2-day late afternoon/evening report with a morning return. if you're really lucky you no show your next-day DH, ride the turn back home and aren't useable the next day.
- ability to swap trips: can't speak to this, i've only bid SCR.
- seniority progression: i'm 65% in base/type after just under a year here. that equates to about top third of the SC list in seniority. i moved up 1,000 spots on the company-wide list on the summer seniority run.

welcome! feel free to DM for more info. I live about 45 mins NW of PHL and grew up here.