Akcfiguy

What is the time to hold a line in SEA, ANC, SFO, LAX.

What does a typical junior line look like SEA/ANC in particular? (Overnights, block, credit)

As an FO on reserve, can I expect to be used often? (Spent almost 2 years at my regional not being used on reserve, so I am ready to get to work!)


if you have anything else scheduling related that you would like to mention, please do!

Avgeek7248

if you want to work you can pick up trips on reserve and they’ll give ‘em to you. Pick em all up I enjoy flying 7-8 days a month on reserve.

NerdBoi

1) So far me and my classmates are 8 months in and nowhere close to a hard line; I think I was about 70 spots from the complete bottom hard line. One could argue we are getting closer to open flying lines but they are garbage because of a 3rd step trading process just implemented for hard line holders. This means that hard line holders got another round of trading and bidding and all that's basically left over are primarily red eye flying lines. Not mad about it, seniority is king and it is what it is. The bottom just got a little more rough for us down here. We have, in fact, gone backwards in seniority in SEA because of airbus transitions.
2) Typical lines are hard to quantify with 3 rounds of trading so they all look completely different after the fact.
3) Yes, in SEA, you will work every day, every time. Reserves are essentially ran like line pilots with a lot less days off.
4) It won't matter how many people you have under you while you're not a hard line holder; reserve doesn't factor any kind of seniority unless there's a tie with a flying preference. Reserves are run completely on utilization. That's why you'll rarely see a handful of senior people ever bid reserve because its not a good time.

While I'll be off to the widget soon myself, these have been the best crews I've ever flown with. Great team environment and I've enjoyed the flying while I'm out there. The positives of flying this much on reserve is that you'll get good at the plane and the operation very quickly which has its advantages and I have really liked feeling highly proficient at a new gig.

C340

Going to piggy back off this post.

What is PDX looking like seniority-wise for an FO? How long to be able to bid reserve there, and how long until one could hold a line?

Excuse my "no-121 time" ignorance.

Avgeek7248

been on property over a year and still a ways off from a line. Reserve in PDX is pretty chill. Nowhere near the amount of redeyes and if you’re called in to do actual PDX flying it’s usually an easy transcon to BOS, JFK, MCO, or EWR. I’d say most the time you’re used as a spare in other bases. DH’s to SEA or SFO last month was common. I just bid to avoid any potential red eye and all nighter flying and I’m flying 10 or less days a month outside of March which was more busy.

Tippy

Can you expand on this? are reserves able to bid preferences to type of flying or bid for open time pairings? im a PDX hopeful...

DenainaPilot

In ANC I’m struggling to consolidate on RES. May is the first time I’ve had long call though.

C340

How long until you could get reserve in PDX? Again, apologize for my ignorance - no 121 flying in my past. If I were to finish up IOE at AS, living in PDX, what might that look like? Commuting to sit reserve elsewhere?

Avgeek7248

you’re able to pick up open time trips if they fit into your reserve window so if you’re starting a five day block and there’s a three day trip that you like you can pick it up in crew access and scheduling will approve it and you now know what trip you’ll be flying. You can bid PLC (long call) or one of the short call blocks. You can also put in preferences YES or NO for being given trips. This doesn’t hold much weight as there’s other factors that come in prior to them considering that.

Avgeek7248

To get awarded PDX is pretty quick. Probably could get it within the first bid that comes out for you. In base reserve is very easy. If you’re short call it’s 2.5 hours min call out so you have plenty of time. PLC is 18 hours. Usually if they give me a trip it’s the day or night before I start my reserve block so I have plenty of heads up. If you’re living in PDX and based in SEA or LAX initially you would be better off bidding PLC just so you have the extra flexibility to commute to base for the start of a trip.