JChiggins

Yeah, you know how difficult it is to find information on any of these companies? That my whole point to asking others about it.

Direct Law

Any sample rosters you can post. Whats the most days off in a row you can get.

SladeTin

Completely dependent on seniority and base. I’ve seen senior guys in big bases routinely get 10-12 off in a row each month. I’ve also seen junior guys never get more than 2 off in a row. It’s a safe bet to say you’ll not be able to get a large block of days off in a row each month for a while.

CAirBear

For simplicity sakes 4 days. That will only happen ONCE a month. The reality of this airline is 2 days off, MAYBE 3 in a row. It’s a ton of 3 days on, 2 off, 1 on, 1 off, 4 on 2 off, 5 on 1 off, 2 on 2 off. etc. It’s complete garbage.

Take it from someone who was here for 2.5 years and is now at Spirit. It’s laughable how much less I work and ridiculous how many days off in a row I have. I mean it’s stupid.

Cue the “your not at home every night”
Home boys 🙄 Cool story. I actually have a life again.

It always amazed me how many guys I flew with that would live 45-60 mins from the airport. So your telling me you drive 1.5-2 hours a day in your car (4-5 days a week), you go do a long out and back, and your really enjoying your time at home? I mean really? Really?

To each their own. There is no reason in hell this place can’t have industry standard 4 on 3 off. Cry me a river “well we’re different”.

I had hope for PBS and to see what it would resolve, but after 2 years and 600+ grievances I’m good.

SladeTin

Exhibit A for anyone that thinks they can commute and enjoy this job. It simply doesn’t work. I agree entirely that schedules could be more “normal” here now that the fleet transition is done. This isn’t the same airline as it was 4 years ago when we didn’t fly at all on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. There’s flying to be done every single day now. But nonetheless, the schedules remain as is. If you don’t already live in a base or want to move to within a short drive of one, do not consider this as a destination. Your sanity will thank you for it.

ecam

I'll add to this. Don't come here because you think you'll work less than a conventional airline. If you're less than 50% seniority in your base and seat CAirBear's story is accurate. Expect 11-12 days off a month and lots of single days off. The "I'm home every night" crowd that is willing to work more and get paid less than normal airlines for that is still in charge here and willing to sell out the junior pilots to keep the day trips. I'll be gone before it's signed but the next contract battle is going to be a doozy of a fight between the senior minority of the old allegiant guard who want more pay and day trips at the expense of work rules and the newcomers from the regionals who are the majority now and want better QOL.

Flight Deck Ape

I looked back at my schedule since February 1st and only THREE times have I been originally scheduled with at least 3 days off in a row. TWICE during this same time frame I have been scheduled to work 5 ON-1 OFF-6 ON-1 OFF-6 ON. You are left with no choice except to call in fatigued.

Day trips are great if you are senior. You can work Monday-Wednesday with 7.5+ hrs per day and have a nice stretch of days off off every week. If you are junior, it is absolute hell because you only get the low credit day turns which often only pay around 4 hrs. You’ll work twice as hard and have lots of single days off just to get the same credit as a senior guy getting 20 days off a month.

Our terrible bidding software is one of the primary reasons that I am actively looking to leave. It’s just sad because this really could be such a great job but management just doesn’t seem interested in complying with the contract in getting an industry standard pref bid system. I don’t mind working 5-6 days in a row but I want at least 4-5 day off after doing that. Often I am lucky if I get 2 days off in a row before it starts all over again.

Perhaps life is different in one of the small bases but this has been my reality in one of the big Florida bases and I am a line holder FWIW.

dutch rudder

Lots of people are ****ed because they’ve been stuck on the bottom for 2 years with little movement. I get it!

My post from last year, I hope it helps:

I was hired into a large base at the beginning of a large hiring wave. I was on reserve for about 5 months, which consisted of minimum days off and I was called about half the time. I had a lot of single days off, however, I lived in base and wasn’t really trying to avoid them. I actually enjoyed flying a couple days then having 1 day off. Post contract, the single day off issue is partially fixed – 6 days off each month are required to be consecutive (4 off and 2 off, or 3 off and 3 off, etc). I have found that most guys living in base don’t mind single days off sprinkled in. It’s a different story for commuters.

After I escaped reserve, I would average 13-16 days off per month with relatively short and inefficient trips for the first year. However, short trips can be very enjoyable… away from home for less than 5 hours. A few people directly above me were getting 17-19 days off. The second year my schedules were consistently 16-18 off every month with minimal solitary days (maybe 1-2/month, not trying to avoid them). Could I have commuted? Yes, but I wouldn’t have enjoyed my life as much. For reference, at the end of my second year, I was top 20% of FO’s in that particular base and equipment. Keep in mind; I was hired at the onset of a huge hiring wave and lots of movement from right to left seat.

I am now in 3rd – 4th year in a different (less senior) base. I dictate my entire schedule… from more than half the month off consecutively, to not working more than 1 day in a row, and everything in between. If I have less than 18 days off, I screwed up. Average 19-21 off with decent credit. Easily commutable from anywhere on the planet.

The interface of our bidding software is ok; the way it solves is bad. Once you figure out how it solves and you are not on the bottom of the list, it works (there are tricks). That being said, I want new software with traditional solving capabilities.

The question you must ask yourself: Am I willing to sacrifice (move to a base or crash-pad) for a few years to get what I want? Once the Airbus transition is finished later this year, I expect the hiring boom to start again. You may be in a good position to ride the wave.

navy1998

So my question is this, assuming living in base with a 30-45 min commute, is it better QOL than say your average non-pilot job (i.e. corporate desk job) where they work 5 days a week 8 to 5 only getting weekends off (so between 8 and 10 days off a month)? I know unless you make it to a high executive level, the pay will definitely be better.
I ask this as that is my only alternative. Current regional life and being gone from home isn't working for my family (and I'm a mid range line holder getting average 14 to 17 days off) and I know mainline life isn't much different other than pay.
I'm a retired Marine Corps officer with BS in aerospace engineering and MS in Electrical engineering with 20+ years leadership experience so can get a good job out side but that's not what I really want to do. Any thoughts?

SladeTin

Impossible for anyone but yourself to answer. My wife is a 9-5’er M-F. She complains about how much more time off I get than her. I complain about how she always gets weekends and holidays off. I guess my point is that each have their benefits. You are the only person that could answer which one appeals to you more.