Previous comments on carry out trips have some validity; however, in your case you are trying to PICK UP a trip. It's probably a good idea, here's why:
1. Trips at start of Nov (any month) are very sparse because the 1st, 2nd, 3rd (and 4th on 320 fleet) are already mostly covered by carry-out trips from the prior month.
2. The absolute best way to be sure to have your required month's line-credit low around your desired days off, is to ALREADY have the max amount of credit on the first few days of the month due to a carry-out trip, when going into the PBS build. Less credit to award randomly = better chance of your days off.
3. You probably wouldn't get a trip awarded by PBS on first few days of month, due to above reasons plus that every one else will be trying to front load Nov. So a carry out trip is your best bet.
4. Carry out trips CAN be changed, and often are... but you are definitely SAFE from this when the next month's bidpack comes out. So, on 3 or 4 Oct when the Nov bidpack comes out, all the carry-out trips from Oct that needed to be "tweaked" to make Nov work WILL HAVE BEEN TWEAKED. You can see this in the open time by suddenly seeing rotations that WERE there for end of Oct being "no op" and replaced by slightly different numbers. I can see it very easily using Icrew Max app.
5. Also, carry out trips CAN be changed... and usually are if they are "good pilot trips", but NOT if they suck balz! If they already jam 4 pounds of flying into a 3 lb sack, well, there's not much Delta can do to it. If they end right now with a 30 hour layover in Gucciville, followed by a DH home, you can be SURE that crap was a placeholder and it will be replaced with 3 turns to Birmingham.
6. Carry out trips should be hardening up about now, grab one at start of Nov. HOWEVER... if you will be RESERVE in Nov, I have no idea how carryout line interacts with a reserve line but suspect it's basically free flying you did for them to no benefit for you, and all bets are off!

 

Anybody going to be at the free happy hour at the training hotel today?

 

Free happy hour?

I'll commute in for that!

 

Unfortunately, I've got a D period tonight

 

So...get down there for a few free pops, before the sim!

(and maybe a doggie bag for your IP will help get you through in time to make last call!)

 

Hey, I see what you did there! By capitalizing the first three letters of assumption you created a double meaning. A double entendre I believe the French call it. It creates a debonaire, but world-weary response to your nemesis, the evil T. My wife might call it childish and point out your arrested development, but I appreciate your creativity.

T. I've got a few years on the Airbus and many more on the Boeings, both big and little. I've got to say, I love me some Airbus (as much as my fav the 777). The yoke argument seems logical to a Boeing guy, but not so much if you've been on the Airbus.

 

Nice...
Now to figure out how to play this best for taxes.

It should actually work quite well given all the new job expenses.

 

Thanks, Roadkill--this was exactly my question!


I'd also wondered about this--the "Thanksgiving Factor." The days I need are early in the month, and over the weekend. As the new guy, of course, weekends are typically tough to come by. I wonder if this will work in my favor in Nov & Dec (when I also need an early weekend off), when everyone else is trying to fill up early and have the Holidays off...?


Thanks also, Check Essential, for the pointers on Reserve vs Regular days off!

 

A MEMO FROM RICHARD

At Delta, we believe long-term success requires that our people, customers and investors win together.

...

In that spirit I think Capt. Donatelli should approach Mr. Anderson and constructively engage him with the following request:

Due to the enormous past sacrifices of all Delta pilots and the critical role we have played in this company's recovery from bankruptcy and subsequent phenomenal profitability, it would be entirely appropriate for the Delta pilots to be included in the 4% April 2015 pay increases.

This would be a large gesture of goodwill on the part of management and a small down payment toward the Contract 2015 negotiations which coincidentally will also begin on that same day, April 1, 2015.

This small gesture, when applied simultaneous with a company-wide wage adjustment, would have the added benefit of somewhat "flying under the radar" of both Wall Street and the other employee groups.

This request seems entirely appropriate and completely equitable.
Let's see if constructive engagement is a 2-way relationship or if it only works when management wants something.

 

From my experience, trying to game the reserve system to fill up early is futile. They will keep you at the bitter end of a long leash, and give you a very dull knife with which to cut it. But also FWIW, I am junior in category, and have gotten a lot of Thanksgiving vacations. It seems to go pretty junior, especially if you bid it for your primary. I even forgot to bid one year and got it. I guess PBS doesn't know about turducken.