Currently on the 320 B and looking at possibly switching over to the ER B. Was wondering if it's worth the incremental pay increase per hour and if there are as many GS opportunities on the ER vs the NBs. Seniority here at LAX is going to be relatively the same bottom 10% across all 3 categories. Are the trips any better on the ER with that low of a seniority number?

 

I would not jump from a large, rapidly growing fleet like the 320 to a flat, perhaps even shrinking fleet like the 7ER. IMO, the extensive training plus sitting around waiting for OE isn't worth all the GSs you would miss on the 320 unless you are really passionate to fly international or the 757. 320 flight deck is way more modern, 321 pays nearly the same and 321 NEO might be even closer in payrate is not even(fingers crossed)

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Following this thread... same questions, but ATL

 

What I really want is the 330 or 350 but we all know how senior those two categories are. Plus I would have to either commute to SEA for the 330 or wait forever for the 350. Looking at LAX ER trips, a lot of Hawaii layovers which I would not mind at all. I'm from the regionals and I'm used to the same 737/320 layovers. Money-wise it looks like a no-brainer to stay put where I am.

Decisions, decisions. Is the ER more junior than the 320/737s over there?

 

I wouldn't bid that fleet for Hawaii layovers. Our first 20 321neo will be ETOPS specifically to takeover Hawaii from the 757.

 

When that happens what the heck will the LAX 7ER fly?

 

Bottom 10% LAX GS opportunities are pretty minimal on the 7ER and likely only to get worse

 

Just going to play a little devil's advocate.

Currently, yes, greenslips are few and far between for west coast 7ER FOs. SEA and LAX 7ER were staffed for the SEA-Asia and Hawaii-Asia flying that was being done before it was transferred to other fleets or eliminated for the time being due to covid. SEA 7ER at its peak was something like 110 As and 200 Bs. FO staffing there hasn't been an issue lately because of that. However, the April AE removed the augmentation out of both bases, which combined with the massive churn in all of the 7ER FO categories, should result in more greenslip opportunities for FOs. That being said, I think it's unlikely you're going to make any extra money on the 7ER vs the 320 or the 73N.

As far as hawaii goes, yes, I would assume the 321NEOs will eventually replace most of the 7ER flying to there off the west coast. That being said, I think we're probably at least a year, and more likely 2 years away from that happening en masse. It will take time to get enough frames on property, and I would think the plane will likely spend a year or so flying domestically as they work out the kinks before they send them to Hawaii. Once that does happen, LAX 7ER is likely to shrink, allowing for a potential displacement bid, and SEA 7ER is likely toast.

Also, anyone either currently on property or just about to come on property shouldn't have to worry about being in the bottom 10% out west. The April AE left ~25% of the total SEA 7ER B and ~30% of the LAX 7ER B positions open.

 

Yup I would stay in the 320 and make cash til you can hold 330 or 350 which shouldn't be too long based on how things are going. 330/350 are historically 95% intl flying along with payrates that are substantially higher than the 320 compared to the 7ER. IMO a month on Virginia Ave plus a long wait for OE is not worth $10ish/hr

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Commuting (presumably) to a month of training that will happen who knows when, to fly a Boeing, incurring a seat lock on the bottom of a dying fleet in uncertain times for ALV pay, uncertain OE/TOE and a future bid pack we can’t predict? Sure wouldn’t be worth it for me, but different strokes for different folks, I guess. At least you can join the 757 love-gushing club whenever the topic comes up hundreds of times in your decades ahead. There have been so many surprises along the way that perhaps a good one is due, but I can’t think of many good reasons to make that particular jump. I’d personally sit tight and wait for a SEA330B slot if hourly pay is an attraction for you. I bet a GS or two will eclipse the 320/7ER income difference easily while you wait. JMHO.