Allegiant Air
#5861
Banned
Joined APC: May 2017
Posts: 733
With the seasonal shifts in flying, can your base change at company discretion? I am curious b/c I may like to apply once hiring resumes, LAX would be my hopeful/preferred base. However, I don't understand these virtual bases and am a bit hesitant because they seem like they might dip into the pocket book a bit too much...
VBD is different. It's a "base" you can bid where you're always on TDY. A lot of them actually give up their permanent residence and just move around, living in hotels on the company's dime. We call it the homeless base.
#5862
LAX is busy in the summer (3 jets) and not so much in the winter (2 jets). So they TDY people in for the summer, and sometimes TDY people out in the winter. Usually the TDY out are CAs since most FOs are new hires and bid out as soon as they can, creating an FO shortage. So if you want to stay in LAX, you would probably get senior quickly and not have to worry about involuntary TDY. Sometimes senior people bid TDY because its a nice change of pace and pays a bit more (hotel, rental car, and $1500 perdiem). Florida is busy in the winter, and the west coast is busy in the summer, so the smaller bases are most likely to TDY. FLL, PGD, LAX, OAK.
VBD is different. It's a "base" you can bid where you're always on TDY. A lot of them actually give up their permanent residence and just move around, living in hotels on the company's dime. We call it the homeless base.
VBD is different. It's a "base" you can bid where you're always on TDY. A lot of them actually give up their permanent residence and just move around, living in hotels on the company's dime. We call it the homeless base.
LAX is actually starting to get a fair number of FOs that want to be there and are waiting for upgrade. So, while the bottom few spots are easy to get, the ability to move up the list quickly is not as prevalent now.
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#5864
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2016
Position: A320
Posts: 195
Oakland is possibly the least popular base due to the outrageous cost of working in California and as a result always has been a junior base for FOs. You'll most likely be able to get it right out of training. However, it is different on the CA side because it is full of locals who are happy being there. Therefore it will be hard to upgrade in OAK unless there is growth. Generally there is very little flying in OAK except for the few months in the summer. It is a great place to be on reserve assuming you live in base otherwise not such a good base if you want to fly a lot. Usually there are only two lines so the top two guys get all the good stuff. On the other hand you will rarely get called on reserve so it's nice if you feel like doing that. Rumor is that another plane will be added to OAK sometime in 2019.
#5865
Oakland is possibly the least popular base due to the outrageous cost of working in California and as a result always has been a junior base for FOs. You'll most likely be able to get it right out of training. However, it is different on the CA side because it is full of locals who are happy being there. Therefore it will be hard to upgrade in OAK unless there is growth. Generally there is very little flying in OAK except for the few months in the summer. It is a great place to be on reserve assuming you live in base otherwise not such a good base if you want to fly a lot. Usually there are only two lines so the top two guys get all the good stuff. On the other hand you will rarely get called on reserve so it's nice if you feel like doing that. Rumor is that another plane will be added to OAK sometime in 2019.
So planing to apply whenever the next window of hiring is and be the next Oakland lifer.
#5866
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2016
Position: A320
Posts: 195
You're welcome. As a matter of fact I heard there are two relatively senior FOs leaving the OAK base soon. I think once the second plane gets to OAK sometime after the transition things'll get rolling again in OAK. I'll keep you informed on when hiring is about to begin as soon as I hear something.
#5867
Most Days Off
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Position: Gear Puller
Posts: 19
The point of our VBD pilots (virtually based) are to cover seasonal shifts in flying. Right now for example we have a lot of VBD pilots in LAS as the transition from MD80 to Airbus has a lot of guys in training. This summer I’m sure we’ll have a bunch in Myrtle Beach for example. This is generally how staffing levels are controlled across the system. Usually, they don’t grow and shrink bases with permanent vacancies. Occasionally, if they need to they may voluntary/involuntary TDY someone for a month.
#5868
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2016
Position: A320
Posts: 195
Per diem is 24/7 at $2/hr while you are on VBD. That is $1500 more or less each month. Plus you will get a hotel room in that base for the entire month.
#5869
Most Days Off
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Position: Gear Puller
Posts: 19
Yes, you can commute from your VBD base. You still get your min days off in that base. You are free to do whatever you want once you are off duty as long as you are back for the next duty.
Per diem is 24/7 at $2/hr while you are on VBD. That is $1500 more or less each month. Plus you will get a hotel room in that base for the entire month.
Per diem is 24/7 at $2/hr while you are on VBD. That is $1500 more or less each month. Plus you will get a hotel room in that base for the entire month.
#5870
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2016
Position: A320
Posts: 195
Not hiring at the moment, I heard possibly some classes in the summer. Last time around the mins were around 4000TT and 1000 pic turbine. This changes all the time though and there are always exceptions.
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