Even from someone delusional as me you won’t see SEA350 or 330 for years. Enjoy fast seniority on the A220 or go fly the A320 to get “warmed up” for the A330 or A350.

10 years does sound about right. Could it be “slightly” reduced as they expand SEA350 with 35K/359’s and WBB driven junior with a 787 order (that would theoretically be on property by the time your anywhere close to touching SEA350/300)? Yes. Maybe 7-9 years at best. Management has said SEA (+LAX) will lead this 5 year international growth era into Asia. Lots of things to be excited about in SEA for the future. Welcome and have fun with it!

 

Currently, Both SEA 330/350 FO's are senior to 64% overall seniority. It's the most senior WB base right now. SEA 350 Opened in June, so it may be a little senior to what it will be in future years as we take more deliveries, and Asia builds destinations.

All that said with known retirements and no growth, you are looking at 12 years to reach 65%. With 2% growth, that would drop to about 8 years (end of 2033). Obviously, if the awards get more junior, that will shorten that timeline to an unknowable degree. I give zero chance of a NH getting a WB in the foreseeable future, if not ever. If it helps, there is a fair amount of history and data available here.

Getting a NB out of SEA is possible, if not on the initial award, relatively shortly via a base change. Many NH's have good luck swapping bases very quickly. No guarantees.

 

For anyone being told it’s going to take 10 years for wb fo or 10-15 years to make captain please know that this is what happens in normal times and it’s still going to be a really good job. Plus that 10 year number is based on what happened yesterday and today. Growth changes that, early retirements down the line change that could be worse, could be significantly better. There’s a lot of current pilots who have chosen to wait 10-15-20 years to upgrade on purpose and it’s still been a great job
welcome aboard and enjoy the ride good luck!

 

oh we know. Just managing expectations that when they go fly with the 24 month 320 Captain, they understand what’s going on. Which as mentioned above is a return to equilibrium.

 

Which is why ill never turn down a round of drinks, dinner or whatever. I'll gladly pay it back some day!

 

God those 2 year upgrade people have it made….

can’t wait to be a 20 year FO. Because everyone who ever dreamed of this career certainly wanted to be a 2022 hire’s ***** for 2 decades.

 

You should focus on getting through the interview first

 

if SLC opened a WB I feel that would become the new senior WB base for awhile along with driving down SEA seniority. Hell I’m not predicted to hold 350 PLUG for another 6 years and I’ve been on property for a 2.5 years now. It’s back to normal.

 

you won’t have to worry about that. You’re not on the seniority list nor a CJO holder. You seem like a peach.

 

Here's what Delta is going to look like for newhires... Expect no rapid movement, those days are already over and were a product of the crazy covid times. It'll take a solid 6-8 years before you can upgrade in our most junior bases. What does life look like as a newer FO, seniority only gives you more control over what days of the week or what vacation weeks you get. You can imagine like anything it takes mega seniority to get weekends, holidays, summer vacation, avoid redeye types of rotations. Almost universally across the board the lines look the same and trust me I look all the time planning my next move. You can count on a solid 15-18 days off regardless of seat, base, or NB equipment, but the days off part tends to change if its high or low block season although its stabilized moreso with there being less of shoulder seasons vs what the industry saw say over the last decade or so. Still a good job per American job standards but in the 121 world it's the new average. You'll have no issues making 200-300k after about 3 years on property in a NB counting your 401k... Find a job anywhere in America that'll give you that and keep you home every night and I'd bail to it in and instance.