Smokey23

The difference is that you are seeing a sunrise at the beginning of your duty day, not the end...and that makes all the difference (at least to this cat). Your scenario is still pretty ugly, and if it bothers someone that much, well then you bid PM trips. At the western bases, PM trips tend to run a bit more senior than AMs, but not that much. I always tell SWA outsiders who may be looking in, that the AM/PM choice is the first one you will be able to control, even with your minimal new-guy/gal juniority. Also if you are LAX-based, the typical early-to-late afternoon PM report times along with the late evening releases would probably serve your drive-commute better than most AM start/finishes.

A 'normal' sleep schedule is a pretty big ask at most any airline--you'll almost always have some early shows or late finishes in your schedule. The difference with most SWA trips is that very few feature some of both over the course of one trip. Most everyone is naturally inclined toward either a morning person or night owl rhythm....or the occasional vampire (I hear jetBlue is hiring)....just decide which one is a better fit for you and bid accordingly.

PotatoChip

At 60% in seat at JB, and I haven’t flown a redeye (other than a premium pick up) for two years. We fly a lot of them, but it isn’t that hard to avoid.
Hope SWA doesn’t get saddled with them, but a lot of people do like them (commutability, etc). Personally, I’ve had enough redeyes for one life. Now if it’s for 48 hours in Prague, I may reconsider.

PotatoChip

To the OPs question; good luck.
You won’t have a normal sleep pattern without seniority. Period. Might take six months, might take six years.
It all depends on what level of variance you’re willing to accept, and what sacrifices you’ll make to your schedule to allow for that.
I try to stay on a pretty standard sleep pattern, but I do wake up at 0300-0430 to drive to work most weeks. It can make for a tough first day, but I try to bid for an easy day one to compensate. I’m willing to not bid certain destinations and trips if the layovers are too short for me to rest, workout and eat. 12 hours is great for some people, others want 20.
West coast bases will likely have more redeyes, and you’ll have to eat at least a few as you gain seniority.
My suggestion is to try it out, you can always bail if it’s not for you and find a flying job more suited to your lifestyle.

Halon1211

Breeze or Avelo doesn’t have any that I know of and they are west coast, plus you get to wear extra stripes on your shoulder at Avelo.

John Carr

I don’t mean to be crass.

But if you’re going to base a multi million dollar career doing one of the easiest jobs on the planet all based on a sleep schedule, your priorities may be better spent elsewhere.

Embrace the bank robber hours too…

TheDuster

Aren’t or weren’t you JFK based? LAX is redeye central at B6. Redeyes coupled with back side of the clock east coast and DR flying.

ShyGuy

Day trips from Temecula? With these gas prices?

Sorry, I don't see how driving 4 hrs daily total roundtrip is worth doing a day trip for.

John Carr

Sure, drive from Temecula/Murrieta, do day trip, drive home. Basically reduce/min rest yourself…

135tankerdriver

[QUOTE=John Carr;3438138]I don’t mean to be crass.

But if you’re going to base a multi million dollar career doing one of the easiest jobs on the planet all based on a sleep schedule, your priorities may be better spent elsewhere.

Embrace the bank robber hours too…[/QUOTE

From what I read studies show poor sleep and Alzheimer’s disease are correlated. For me trying to get solid sleep with a bankers hours schedule is challenging enough so I’m trying to see how bad my schedule will be if I’m based on the west coast and if the juice is worth the squeeze. Between my mil retirement and my wife’s salary I could move to texas and never work a day in my life if I want so trying to decide if the airline life is worth it.

Flightaware

[QUOTE=135tankerdriver;3438265]
Allegiant could give you the schedule you’re after out of LAX. It’s all day trips, AM/PM with a few random midday trips now and then. No guarantees that you’ll get all of one kind of trip or the other though until you have some seniority, 90min reserve callout, and that commute twice a day will suck! Lots of senior guys bid reserve and live out near ONT and hardly get called though.