So if those rumors are true, this could add another 100 captains in Detroit and Atlanta, right? Or did they take care of that on the last AE? I was 100 numbers away from holding 717 Captain on this last AE and I would be excited to see this happen to add more captain spots and maybe I’ll get it this time! I live in base and could care less about being the plug (for those whose think I’m crazy).

 

Originally scheduled for 8:58, weren't you? Overachiever. 😁 And you clearly didn't have one of those old-school Abu Gahrib Amish seats.

 

I just did 12:32 in a 339. 6:46 in the seat, 5:46 in the bunk. My QOL, back and butt are fine. Seats are comfortable with lots of room to stretch in the cockpit and bunk.

I'm hoping for a few cockpit yoga eBrief videos.
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If someone does get assigned the 717 in class, does the 2-yr seat lock still apply(excluding upgrade) or is there an exception in place similar to United's where the lock isn't applicable if moving to a bigger airframe?

 

The rumor is quite an exaggeration. There are currently 58 B717s in service with plans to bring back 6 more. The total being 64 and that’s it. It was originally supposed to only be 48 post COVID.

At a peak there were 91, with 88 being usable. They have since parted out or sold 20 or so of them. I think most 717 positions have been accounted for, but it will continue to be a revolving door for the foreseeable future.

 

no exemption like united’s

 

Can you sit up in the bunk? Is it pretty quiet?

 

I thought there was an exemption for moving to a preferred base with the remaining seat lock being added to the new seat lock like an early upgrade. Maybe that expired with the 1 year seat lock though.

 

We do not have an exemption for moving up to a larger plane like United does. What you can do is one of 4 things if you don't like your initial base assignment:

1. Be awarded a transfer to another base on the same equipment on any AE that comes out after you are hired. No change to your seat lock.
2. Be awarded a transfer to another base that does not have the aircraft you are currently on. This cannot be done until after you have been on property for 1 year, and it still can take many months for the conversion to actually occur. If you do this your remaining seat lock is added to your new 2 year seat lock for changing aircraft.
3. Be awarded a transfer to another base that DOES have your current aircraft but you do not have the seniority to hold your current aircraft in the new base. Same 1 year, added seat lock rules apply as #2.
4. Be awarded your first captain position. Anyone at any point can break a seat lock to be awarded their first CA position. Any remaining seatlock you have is added to your new 2 year upgrade seat lock.

A word of caution about #2 and #3 - the timing of bids (AE's) is very sporadic, and you can be highly screwed by bad timing. So if you want to jump after 1 year, the AE must close AFTER the day your seat lock expires. So if your lock is up on Jan 15, and an AE closes Jan 14, you're hosed and are looking at another 2-3 months before you can bid out, plus up to 9 months from that point to actually train and convert to your desired base. So potentially someone could be trapped in an undesirable base/commute situation for almost 2 full years even with the 1 year bid out rule. That is why it is important to prioritize fleets that are in your desired base, because even if you don't get that base right off the bat you'll be assured of a faster transfer in to your desired base since you just have to wait for the next AE to make the jump with no training required.

 

number 2 is what I was thinking of