American interviews and class dates
 

...Based on "projected end of training date" shown on your class' drop (day you choose bid in Indoc). For a couple of us in my class, the training dept had to reschedule our GS. I'm probably gonna finish training last in my class of 24, but my class seniority is still 8 of 24.

To clarify, the drop is age-based. Older guys have the 'opportunity' to abrogate their seniority by a few numbers if they pick a plane that finishes training later. Their choice, and it's always a potentially dangerous crapshoot to do that.

That's good to know, FredFlyer, thanks.

Exactly. Just 1 number has in the past and still has potential to make a huge difference in a career.

So, I'm assuming multiple people will typically have the same "projected end of training date". Does the seniority revert back to age, and the oldest to finish on that projected date is the most senior?

correct

as mentioned above..I moved up some numbers in class due to my school projected date ending before some S80 classes etc.

Same here.
I was number 3 in my class by age.
When it became my time to choose I was faced with the choice of getting an aircraft and base that was more preferable to me, but becoming number 24 in the class.
Or taking a base that was less preferable to me and becoming either number 1 in the class or number 6 in the class depending on equipment.

It was an extremely tough decision, but I went with my general rule that has been learned the hard way over 17+ years in the regional airline biz. That is, seniority is worth more than anything in certain situations, more than money, more than base, more that aircraft type.
One seniority number can mean the difference between holding the base you want or a long commute, holding weekends off or no weekends off, holding a CA seat or being FO, being furloughed or being employed.....etc. etc. etc., and these downsides have the potential to last for YEARS. I have seen it happen to guys I know.

I decided to take the much less desired base and aircraft and jump up to number 1 in the class, than take what I wanted and become number 24 of 25.

The new hire lock in is only 6 months, after that it is 2 years, so that helped ease the decision for me.

It was worth it to me and I don't regret it, some others made the opposite decision to me and dont regret it either.

One decision gives guaranteed pain early on with the potential (but no guarantee) for major upside later. The other decision gives lesser or no pain starting out, with the potential (but no guarantee) for major downside later if you are ever wishing you had an extra couple of seniority numbers.
Basically either choice is a gamble, and you will never know for sure if you made the right decision until retirement.

Finishing later, does give the advantage of having time off at home between indoc and aircraft GS, but that is where the advantage ends. The downsides are, loss of seniority (with all the associated potential repercussions in years to come), the potential of being on probation longer, and also being on first year pay longer.

It is kind of a jacked up system if you ask me, but it is contractual, and there is no getting around it. It is what it is.

good perspective, and maybe less pain than you think since youre right, 6 mo lock is nothing, its over pretty much right after youre done OE ;) Most places take usually 3 months to get you from indoc to OE line check, so 3 more months of a bad situation is well worth it. Well played.

I'm sure everyone would answer this question their own way, but as an experienced 121 guy, would you do the same thing if you lived in the base that would put you to at #24 of #25 and let you sit reserve at home? Essentially, are those seniority numbers better than getting a first domicile where you already (or want to) live?

Actually it is a little longer than that because: "A pilot who completes required training after the effective date of an award shall begin any applicable lock-in on the first day of the contractual month following the completion of training, but no later than the first day of the second (2nd) contractual month following the commencement of training."

Plus you can potentially be withheld for 6 months after an award.

So 6 months plus 2 months plus a potential 6 months withheld.
However, at the company's discretion they can also release you from a lock early if they are hurting for people in a particular status. Early lock-in releases have happened recently too.
So worst case scenario 14ish months locked and withheld from beginning training.
Best case scenario, awarded a bid while still in training and released from the lock in by the company (yes it has happened).

It is a lot to weigh, but like I said, I don't regret it.