Airline pilot schedule flexibility?
 

I know once you get seniority, the schedules become more flexible, but how many years is considered seniority? 10 years?

Its not a one size fits all kind of thing. Seniority means pilots are hired after you in the seat/aircraft/domicile you are in are below you for bidding so you get the earlier choice.
If you take the first available upgrade you move to the bottom of that list for bidding/vacation etc.

It depends on growth and attrition. At regionals, movement is normally faster because people leave for other jobs. If the industry is doing well, you might have regional growth and attrition at the same time, and might get to "good' seniority in less than a year (good seniority probably being better than 50% in your bidding position).

But you could also sit reserve for 20 years at a major if there's no growth ...few people ever leave majors, so you essentially have to wait for people senior to you to retire.

What they all said.

One of the problems is that if you want to move on, you have to move up, which means bidding aggressively with regards to upgrades, which means that you may never really get to enjoy the benefits of your seniority. The mistake too many make is staying put because they like their schedules.

If you want to move up to make it to a major, you have do make the schedule sacrifices. Once you do get to a major, there may be 12,000 pilots there. You will be a fair ways from "good" seniority and "good" schedules as most people define them, but you can also coast along as an FO if you wish. If you have married well, you will also have more flexibility to drop trips. If you are the breadwinner...not so much!

It depends on what you want. Some hate working weekends. I prefer it. Whether or not you commute will affect your schedule and your outlook. Where you commute to/from will do the same.

You are wise to ask these questions now....

[QUOTE=OnCenterline;1665303]What they all said.

One of the problems is that if you want to move on, you have to move up, which means bidding aggressively with regards to upgrades, which means that you may never really get to enjoy the benefits of your seniority. The mistake too many make is staying put because they like their schedules.

I don't see this as a mistake.

If you want to move up to make it to a major, you have do make the schedule sacrifices.

I'm good.

Once you do get to a major, there may be 12,000 pilots there.

About 99 percent of the pilots working for Republic want to leave. I wonder how quickly i will move up the list if they get what they want.

You will be a fair ways from "good" seniority and "good" schedules as most people define them, but you can also coast along as an FO if you wish. If you have married well, you will also have more flexibility to drop trips. If you are the breadwinner...not so much!


Curious what you are insinuating here. If you are paid a 75 hour gurantee for not flying on reserve versus flying 100 hours a month on the line how much difference in money are we talking? I am seriously asking if anybody has the figures.

It depends on what you want. Some hate working weekends. I prefer it. Whether or not you commute will affect your schedule and your outlook.


I choose to not commute so reserve is almost tolerable at a regional airline.

You are wise to ask these questions now....

What he said. I am not trying to argue. Just trying to show there are two sides to the coin and this is the route i choose to take. I don't quite understand why everyone is deadset on a major. If you want to make tons of money or have a family to support by all means do it. But being young and single and only 1 mouth to feed i think 60-100k will work out just fine for me. Sorry on centerline. Didn't mean to dissect your post. Just wanted to take advantage of it.

Along what the other people said, "it just depends......"

At USAir, pre 9/11, 13 years on property and you could be a junior CA or super senior FO. AFTER 9/11, that super senior FO is NOW a JUNIOR FO, smallest equipment, smallest pay check, on reserve.

At UAL, some pilots when right to holding a hard line, minimal reserve. If they were lucky enough to not get furloughed, back on reserve. After they furloughed AGAIN in 2008, about 10 years on property was junior FO.

At one regional I've worked at, same/similar. MAYBE a month of reserve, then a pretty rapid rise to line holder with 14+ days off easily. Fast forward to the 2008 poop storm. The 3 year FO that was about to upgrade is now on reserve. The bottom reserve CA has about 5 years, and STAYED bottom/reserve for 2-3 more years.

I work for a legacy carrier, on second year pay. Difference between a line holder crediting 85 hours and reserve is $1500 a month minimum, not including per diem or international over-ride. On third year pay, it will be $3000 a month. I personally choose reserve, because I get much more time at home that way....and because now, I can afford it.

Living in domicile makes a huge difference.

The problem with the regional sector is that they have no control over there own product or destiny. That alone is reason enough to get on with a major. Don't get me wrong, financially, I was comfortable at Comair. Granted, we were wholly owned for a long time, but the lost autonomy from the purchase by DAL changed everything. When someone else is calling the shots, you never know what will happen when. Further, if you want more options overseas (not for everyone, I know, but it is for some), time in larger equipment helps.

I'm an example of the quotes above. I am 99%+ in seniority at FedEx. I've been there for ~1.5 years. We haven't hired since FEB 13 and we've had less than 200 retirements in that time. I've got friends that have more relative seniority at SWA and they were hired only a few months ago.

So what does that mean? I am a commuter on reserve and will be for the foreseeable future. I work/commute 5-6 days more per month (16-17 total) than a line holder.