Huck

I'm 5 years also and sitting 75% on the Mighty Dog.

I checked this month and I am still 60 numbers (~10%) from international hard lines.

But I won't move up very quickly because lots of folks come over at 60% for just that reason.

hyperone

Some Guy, I too am a commuter. I HATE night hub turns and sitting reserve in a crashpad in MEM, and am willing to fly almost anything else to avoid either one. What I've found is that I am not willing to chase the money and bid real junior into a seat, and end up with a crappy quality of life.

When trying to determine how to bid, I have always tried to look at the existing bidpacks and try to determine what guys at my appox. seniority are able to hold, and to see whether or not those lines are commutable (granted, things change with the lines all the time).

I then look at the quality of flying of those lines to determine if I would want to fly them. By the way, I would be very wary of bidding for an aircraft that isn't even on the line yet (although the odds of getting bumped for training would be much higher).

When I look at the existing bidpacks, the junior domestic Bus lines look like the 72 lines with a lot night hub turns and MEM out and backs. SIBA is great, but goes senior. The 10 is going away. The junior ANC MD lines are seeing more DH's but the optimizer is making the lines tougher. And commuting to ANC will mean an extra day away from home for every trip on your line (remember, there's no jumpseating into trips available). The LAX junior lines aren't very commuter friendly unless you live in SoCal, and the vast majority of any available Intl flying is RFO stuff (great for commuting, but not being able to drive when Intl ALL the time gets old).

What does it leave you with? MEM maddog. A large variety of commuter-friendly lines, both domestic and Intl. A lot of week-on, week-off domestic stuff. Some night hub turn and out-and-back lines, but also a large number lines with DH's to work with.

Just my bored-on-a-layover, long-winded, 2 cents worth.

fecav8r

I always bid the next seat at 60% and always tried to live one seat behind where I was. Worked out pretty well so far....

FlybyKnite

Let's see the MD has day and night domestic and international.
The Bus has day and night domestic and SIBA.

The real difference seems to be with SIBA you are still doing multiple leg (night?) hub turns while on the MD, despite the multiple time zones, you stand a better chance of being able to have a little longer layover. Although it may be my imagination but many of the pairings seem to be becoming worse due to s-optimization.

And I agree, 60% is a good number if you want QOL.

Albief15

Amen. Glad we got lots of different stuff to choose from--makes for a happy workforce. I used to scoff guys who didn't upgrade...then I got more senior and and went "oh...oh....THAT's why they were camping here...."

You only gotta be junior once....

Some guy

Thanks Hyperone et al (that's for all the French speakers... )

Pretty much confirmed my thoughts concerning the type of trips available in the Bus/MD for a junior guy (<80%), just wanted to make sure I wasn't way off. Agree with QOL/60% rule, however I need the extra cash to support the palatial lifestyle I'm used too . Hoping that the intro of the 75 and 77 will create a lot of secondary movement among WB F/O's (with senior guys bidding Capt on both) during MOAB2 allowing junior folks to move up. Of course when Age 65 happens we may have to bid back. Interesting times to come...

SG

R1200RT

Your choice is really between the Bus and MD-11. I've done both and the Bus sucks. It's a big 727 unless you can hold SIBA (going to the 75 soon) No real choice here.

MD-11 unless you can hold the 777. The 11 will still have better trips for a few years. Seeya on the MD.

KnightFlyer

Trying to decide between the two. What are the Bus-dislikes you ran into? Are they trying to shorten the MD layovers internationally? Will the trip rig change make the MD better?

Huck

It ain't just that. I have repeatedly flown long trips that take you around the world to Asia, then hub turn you 4 nights through Subic, then KIX-MEM direct after ~18 hours on the ground.

I have consistently gotten sick after those trips. I've had strep throat twice in a year. I don't feel right for ~5 days even when I'm not sick.

Don't want to ***** too much but don't ask anybody senior about what you'll be flying - look at what us toads are doing - it ain't pretty.....

(p.s. I got those on VTO)

fdx727pilot

Don't hold your breath. The 777 is at least 2 years out, with the first delivery around July or August of 09, so I don't think it will even be on the upcoming MOAB. As for the 75, most senior WB FOs can hold around 80% in the left seat of a WB, so if it really is the MOAB, I expect them to either stay put, or go to the left seat of their current jet. IMHO, the 75 will go very junior, with newhire FOs and 2-4 year Capts, especially if there are not any good financial incentives for the European domicile. Not many current 72 front seaters will go, as it means another training cycle and a lateral move lockin for the same or less money.