Originally Posted by
ImSoSuss
In most cases yeah but not when a new base opens up. When ORD 320 opened up every vacancy awarded on the FO side was withheld to the max while they pumped new hires in to fill the base up with FOs. The company doesn't like to train NB FO to another NB FO aircraft if it doesn't have to.
The key is seat locks. If a 737 FO is waiting to transition to a 320 FO then the 320 FO spot could go to a new hire even though the senior FO has entitlement.
If a qualified MIA 73 pilot is waiting to get into ORD 73 then no new hires can be placed in that status.
No FO who isn't seat locked is waiting for any narrowbody base currently. So even senior statuses like DFW 320 should be rapidly available to new hires (<6 months) perhaps even before training is complete.
We're back to 2023 advice, bid the airplane you want and the base will come soon after.