All you Bus types out there- is the quality of life that much better on the bottom of the bus vs mid seniority in the Boeing right seat? I'm looking at about 50% on the 727 vs. 80% on the bus. Just wondering if it's worth the training cycle and headache. I know it's a pay raise, but quality of life is more important IMHO. Looks like the bottom feeders on the bus can avoid reserve and even get a "good" VTO. Is this reality or b/c of the increased lines during peak? Advise appreciated.

 

Upgraded from 72 F/O to Bus within the last year. Life have much deeper meaning for Mongo now. Much improved S/A and technology tools make flying much more enjoyable (read not having to mentally interpolate where the runway is, with an off-airport VOR, in the Wx). Quiet cockpit--wanna buy my ANR headset? I'm very junior, but RA lines just fine with me--as long as you live locally. If you're a commuter, different story completely, subject to your seniority. Now, with HKG potentially looking for STV-bait, I fully expect to head over. If it's spring, summer, or fall, I might volunteer for 3 mos. If it's winter/holiday season, I'm junior enough to get sent invol for 1 month. Oh well, no big woop--water under the bridge. Bottom line, I would HIGHLY recommend upgrading ASAP. Pay improvement is nice, but other enhancements are the icing on the cake. Finally, in my definitely-biased opinion, 'Bus training was MUCH more user-friendly than the 72 program.

 

You do realize that it sounds like he would be senior to you. I tell everyone senior to me I hate the airplane and trips--quality of life is bad! Stay where you are. If he's a junior guy asking the same question, then by all means you can tell him he should upgrade ASAP!

 

Whatcha gonna do when your FMCs fail? You could do what a UPS crew did a few years back when their FMCs failed during a DOMESTIC flight. They declared an emergency and diverted the nearest airport!

 

Good point--what the F/O meant to say was...I plan to bid HKG F/O and you should too!

 

Fly the airplane, wind the clock, and rely on all that great 72 experience I am glad I received!

 

I love it. Just moved to Memphis 2 months ago, bidding around 95% or so. Havent' gotten a line I bid since I trained in the bus, but since I'm a local the reserve lines I'm getting are just fine. I've worked two days this month, spent one day away from home. Plus, the airplane is great to fly, easy on the brain, and I haven't met a CA I didn't like yet.

 

You do realize that the one month invol can directly follow the 3 month vol .

 

Don't mean to call you out, but almost a year ago, I was under 40% Boeing, but would have been >90% Bus. Currently less than 75% Mad Dog, but would be >90% Bus. Might want to double check.

 

Dead last on the 11 is better than any place on the bus list or 727. I have been in all the places you are talking about. I was a Bus type for a year.