To add on, frequently reserve pilots fly (on average) better trips than junior line holders. The reason being junior line holders are definitely going to fly the crappier trips while reserves will get a mixed bag when stuff drops into open time (irops, senior sick call, whatever)

Just me, but I wouldn’t bid to a commute where I would have to sit reserve. Being in base opens up more options and QOL by making reserve a tolerable (sometimes even enjoyable) setup.

One final thought, take a look back and see where the unstacking level is for your new category. If you’re frequently getting forced into weekends/holidays and that’s a priority for you, then it’s not going to be fun being junior. If you’re above the unstacking line (which changes month to month) then you’ll have a better QOL, especially on reserve as you’ll be on X days during weekends & holidays (higher sick calls, more reserve usage, etc)

 

I've done both (and didn't commute) - the money is better on the wide body, even being more junior on reserve. But above about 85-90% in category (on the widebody) you're going to be working more regularly (because likely going to be working weekends, whether reserve or line holder). But if you can sit reserve M-F you're less likely to work (outside the summer, in the summer, everyone on a widebody flies)

Being pretty senior on a narrow body was nice, I got very good trips that went to places I wanted to go, and paid good hours for the days flown. What was also nice in my base was either bidding or WS one day trips that paid well. (8 hr turns to the caribbean for example).

 

Additonal considerations (with answers):

Vacation Bidding - Seniority rules, but unless you can hold Christmas/Summer on the NB side you won't notice.

WB reserve in the winter is a good deal if you live in base. If you are junior and commute, you may get a line, because of all the senior guys bidding reserve. Heck I'm a WB B commuter and occasionally bid reserve.

Finally - If you have never tried WB B, give it a shot. I've seen some pilots who hate it and leave at the first opportunity, including taking a NB A just to get out. Others wait too long to discover they love the long trips and international destinations. Worst case is you are stuck in a seat you don't like for a few AE cycles.

 

You are totally right, I could have asked the question better
I have really good control over my schedule now but as I look at the international schedules it’s seems like almost everyone top to bottom is getting roughly the same schedule of two weekends off a month.
Pay is obviously higher but I like quality of life more than money
I do enjoy big blocks of time off, I tend to not like working a 4 day almost every week in the summer especially, and in the winter I struggle finding open time to keep the credit up.
Finances 68.5 hours as a block holder is fine on 330/350 or 72 as a reserve is fine, I won’t need any green slips
I have young kids, christmas is important but I don’t know if one day per year is worth it, my current schedule has always been terrible in December trying to get it off. Day before or after would be fine I think.
Hope this helps

 

Reading the above, to me, it really sounds like you should try the WB-B. (Not including the 7ER).

As far as getting Xmas off being junior on a WB, from my experience (albeit as a junior in category WB-A) it can be done fairly easily using vacation, IVD's and your APD. This last year I had a week of vacation in December and moved/slid it to the second week. I could not get it over Xmas. But with the use of an IVD and my APD I was able to narrow my on call days down to Dec. 24, 25, 26. Other than something popping up last minute there were no trips I could be assigned. The shortest trip in my category was 4 days. Other than something popping up last minute I was golden. You do have to pay attention to longer trips that can be broken up but that's easily doable. I was home for this last Xmas and every year I have been on the 330 (about 5).

Denny

 

Thank you for your post

 

I'm 90+% 330B and was off from a few days prior to Christmas through a few days past the new year (had to bid a line to do it). Maybe more lucky than good, but I'll take it. Reserve coverage has generally allowed to me to freely move my reserve days or drop my entire schedule. Even in months I can't drop a particular trip, there is almost always someone willing to take it off the swap board. My schedule/control is not appreciably different that that of a guy who 70-75% in seat.

If you live in base...WB B. You may get to the WB and realize you'll never want to leave. You may miss the occasional event here and there, but you'll make more money while having more time off. I can't even see jumping to NB A until I'm super senior. The added workload associated with domestic flying just doesn't seem worth it for a relatively small bump in pay.

 

I fly with a lot FO’s that feel exactly this way. Heck, the number one FO in Seattle is a good friend..............and is senior to me!

Denny

 

Don’t discount the ER. It has the best of both worlds. If you prefer Domestic or international, you can always sample the other if and when you like. Or not when you decide one is not for you. Save that bid eligibility for what you want to do next when you figure it out and not get stuck with something you hate doing.

 

Wasn’t discounting the ER. I agree with all you say above. Based on his previous posts, I formed an opinion of what I thought would be his best fit. Widebody B in any category above the 7ER.

I was speaking strictly in regards to a bidding strategy to get Xmas off (or any personally important time) while junior in a widebody category. On the 7ER because it does/can do a lot of domestic short trips, it’s not a good category to use the bidding technique I described in my post.

I loved my time on the 7ER in both seats. I’m also very happy as an in base junior 330A.

Denny