New Hire Class Drops
#1001
Roll’n Thunder
Joined APC: Oct 2009
Position: Pilot
Posts: 3,277

Just to add to what schwifty said, you can bid on another domicile on day 1 of indoc (should you be so lucky with timing), but only on the same equipment. These usually convert fairly quickly because there is no training involved. However, you cannot bid on a new fleet (equipment) because there is a 2 year "Category freeze" (aka seat lock - or more accurately, a bid lock), that can only be broken in a couple of specific circumstances.
1. As a NH, if you want to bid a domicile that does not have your original equipment, you can bid for that starting at 1 year, but any remaining NH seat lock is added to your new 2-year seat lock. IOW, you will be seat locked in that new equipment until 4 years on property.
2. Your very first Captain bid will break any seat lock. But again, any remaining seat lock is added to your new 2-year seat lock as a captain.
3. If a new equipment/domicile combination is opened, anyone can bid on it regardless of seat lock.
Keep in mind, per the PWA, if you still have a category freeze/seat lock on day 1 of the conversion window (usually the 1st of the month following bid closing), you cannot bid (other than to change domicile on the same equipment). The company can waive that at is sole discretion - it can happen, but not that common. Because we have infrequent and irregular bid cycles (4-5 per year on average), and the conversion windows are either 210 days or 365 days, it is possible to be awarded a bid to a new aircraft and/or domicile, but not actually convert until nearly 2 years on property anyway. Bid accordingly.
1. As a NH, if you want to bid a domicile that does not have your original equipment, you can bid for that starting at 1 year, but any remaining NH seat lock is added to your new 2-year seat lock. IOW, you will be seat locked in that new equipment until 4 years on property.
2. Your very first Captain bid will break any seat lock. But again, any remaining seat lock is added to your new 2-year seat lock as a captain.
3. If a new equipment/domicile combination is opened, anyone can bid on it regardless of seat lock.
Keep in mind, per the PWA, if you still have a category freeze/seat lock on day 1 of the conversion window (usually the 1st of the month following bid closing), you cannot bid (other than to change domicile on the same equipment). The company can waive that at is sole discretion - it can happen, but not that common. Because we have infrequent and irregular bid cycles (4-5 per year on average), and the conversion windows are either 210 days or 365 days, it is possible to be awarded a bid to a new aircraft and/or domicile, but not actually convert until nearly 2 years on property anyway. Bid accordingly.

#1002
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2014
Posts: 480

One correction to note #1: you can bid to another aircraft in a base that has your current aircraft if you cannot hold your aircraft on the AE. So say you get awarded NYC 7ER, and you want SEA 7ER. If you can’t hold 7ER in SEA you can still be awarded any other airplane in SEA with the requisite added lock. Realistically with the massive hiring we have going on and openings in every base this won’t really come into play for quite a while (unless maybe we start getting new hires put into WB spots).
#1004

One correction to note #1: you can bid to another aircraft in a base that has your current aircraft if you cannot hold your aircraft on the AE. So say you get awarded NYC 7ER, and you want SEA 7ER. If you can’t hold 7ER in SEA you can still be awarded any other airplane in SEA with the requisite added lock. Realistically with the massive hiring we have going on and openings in every base this won’t really come into play for quite a while (unless maybe we start getting new hires put into WB spots).
#1006
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2015
Posts: 3,035

I think the key qualifier is whether the NH can hold the same equipment in a different base. If you are a NYC7ERB but want to do SEA73NB and on that AE (12 months and 1 day after the NH's start date) the NH could have been awarded SEA7ERB, the NH is not eligible to be awarded SEA73NB, regardless if more than 12 months (but not 24 months) has passed since starting.
#1007
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2010
Position: window seat
Posts: 12,462

44/58 is crazy. Given the number of NYC and not many people wanting to stay there, I imagine the seniority progression if you DO stay would be rather quick compared to ATL.
If you wanted to live elsewhere, would commuting be "less bad" since you could make a better schedule sooner?
If you wanted to live elsewhere, would commuting be "less bad" since you could make a better schedule sooner?
You will also need more seniority (especially as a commuter, but even as a "local" aka also a commuter but by car in most cases) because the domestic trips there are especially bad. Early report, late release, 3 airports to cover. No matter where you are on the reserve lists, you're always number 1 for something so you better always be ready.
NYC used to be a commuter's paradise even for relatively junior domestic. Then came the uncontrollable wildfires of the "optimizer" and its been scorched earth ever since.
The ER, even after it became a single category with 767 domestic, used to be significantly better almost all the time. Now its barely better some of the time.
All that said, if you have a flexibile mentality and can "roll with it" you'll be fine there and will at least sometimes notice your faster seniority bump. If you become a contract ninja, glued to your phone, on top of that flexible mentality, you'll actually be able to make some lemonade once in a while. And by the time you realize you can't take it anymore, you'll be able to bid out anyway.
#1009
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2015
Position: UNA
Posts: 4,219

116 does not include the 20 or so flow through that were previously withheld came over this month.
~450 since October 1
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