Word. In my head, I was thinking, what’s really the difference? Either way, you’ll probably end up flying around two weeks out of the month, so you might as well get full quicker and then try to grab QS, GS, or, if nothing else is available, a YS 3-day. Seems like you could still end up with 12–13 days off.
Again, I haven’t actually done it, so I may be completely wrong.

 

I have never ever filled up when bidding reserve. The only time I've ever seen anyone else do that is if they're trying to get days off at the end of the bid period, so they intentionally fill up early to be unusable. That means they're yellow slipping on X days for free so that they're a pumpkin on future long call days.

 

Your thinking going into this just seems backwards. It's not like you'd want to pass up QS/GS just to fly a YS or get assigned up to FULL. Remember, QS/GS have leveling mechanisms. Plenty of junior pilots get premium (when it's flowing like it is now) because junior is next up before senior can have GS/QS #2. I'm trying really hard to imagine a world where there isn't premium abundantly available because that just hasn't been reality since... well, I can't remember when.

At any rate, setting a goal of 90 hours of pay a month as a RES WITHOUT premium is, to me, a recipe for burnout and fatigue. Heck even for a REG pilot that's a LOT of work for straight-pay in a fleet like the 717.

edit to add: In this hypothetical world where premium isn't available, it also more than likely means RES aren't getting used much. Meaning a lot of unused LC/SC days. Meaning it's that much harder to get full/YS open time. Meaning your biggest problems become personal hygiene and the quality appearance of your lawn.

 

If you are STUCK on reserve, that’s one thing. But if you have any choice at all, a line offers WAY more options for improving your trips. Swap with the Pot is a beautiful thing…

 

Oh, absolutely. I was just imagining the scenario where someone is stuck on reserve and tries to make close to 90-100 hours of pay.

 

so how long to hold a line as a newbie freshly assigned the 717B and is a commuter?

 

I only looked at this month (May), but in ATL Jan '26 hires held a line, and in DTW, it was a March '26 hire. As always, things flex over time, but seniority rises relatively rapidly on the 717.

"Commutable trips" that don't require an occasional night in a hotel/crash pad/lounge chair is some degree more senior, obviously. But you can often improve your schedule with "swap with the pot" at nearly any seniority level. No guarantees, YMMV, Buyer Beware, Etc.

 

In the May bid period:

Most junior ATL717B line holder was hired March 2025.

DTW717Bs are holding lines right off OE.

Varies by month.

 

Still on the subject of the 717A… I was looking at the forecasted staffing reports and trying to make sense of what I’m seeing. The projected DTW 717A staffing for November ’26 is 144, while August shows 151. Does that mean they may end up running a displacement bid for some people?

 

Important point of reference though.... the ATL junior line holder was a few dozen people away on the senility list from a Jan 26 hire (to the 'questioner', we stopped hiring in May 2025, but the last 2025 seniority number is in March - a 9E holdback who got their seniority number 'early' per a LOA). For all intents an purposes to the question asked, a Jan '26 hire is the cut-line for May line holders.

Also, it's worth noting the DTW line holders "off OE" were March hires.