No doubt the AB has much better trips (IMO), better basing options, and is a more comfortable machine to fly. The big advantage of the 190 is the potential high QOL first year. I had every weekend off by the 9 month point (YMMV) and 2 weeks off at Christmas (AETC style!). I know as an AF guy you're thinking, "I'll probably have weekends off by year 2 anyway" (I know I hought that). It's probably 2 years before you'll get weekends off on short call and 3 to 4 for Long call, depending on the base of course. Line holder weekends off...I have no clue. This is mainly due to the way PBS works. When it's building the schedules and gets to the point where it needs pilots to work weekends, it will do it's best to make every remaining pilot work weekends. You can adjust your schedule and get some weekends off, but that takes some skill and luck as well.

You could be held for up to a year after you get awarded the Airbus. But...you will be paid at the group 2 rates starting in the month of your award (and at year 2) So you'd have the best of both worlds, high QOL and better pay.

As far as getting stuck on the plane long term. It is possible, but not very probable. We need to hire like crazy right now, and as long as that's the case, there will be movement. Now, if there were a game changing world event (Sept 11, 2001) or major recession, etc. yes you could get stuck.

If PHL is a tough commute for you, I'd avoid it.

 

If you bid the 190 plan 1.5 years on it. 6 months to bid off, then held for a year. Like others have said you'll get the higher group 2 pay while having an awesome schedule on the 190. I don't know if they are still pulling guys off of trips for IOE, but my last few months on the 190 I'd get pulled off of about one trip a month, with pay.

 

Thanks for the data. That helps the process.

 

Now that the seat lock is only 6 months I fly with lots of guys who are heading to training on the 73 around the 9-10 month mark. They all seem to be headed down to Miami. So don't count on being held for a year.

Anyone see the 2 pairings in May with redeyes in them? They are ugly.

 

Which red eye are you guys doing?

 

Embrace the redeyes. They make pairings commutable

 

Ew no. You know I'm a finely-tuned machine. Nights are for sleeping.

 

I could only find these two pairings.

 

Wow that is incredible. If guys fly that complete trip then we have no hope at all. Looks like AA is putting safety first.....not.

 

The Raleigh one isn't bad. The DFW one sucks.