Normal Sleep Schedule Possible? (LAX)
 

I’ll be retiring from the AF soon and trying to decide if the airlines are for me. I’m willing to bid for schedules that are conducive to flying “bankers hours” (if there’s such a thing) even if it means making less money? What does a typical schedule look like for someone who bids for sleep over money at your airline? If hired by an airline I’d most likely live in Temecula, California which is about a two hour drive to the LAX and an hour to ONT. Love to hear peoples thoughts on the subject from the various airlines especially from people based around LAX. Thanks in advance.

I can't speak for all airlines but I know West coast bases are conducive for building trips that start with red-eyes to the East Coast. I'm sure with some seniority you can avoid that flying. Also Southwest doesn't do red-eyes.

For most airlines, junior flying will be doing red eye flying from the west coast, or at the very least less sleep friendly schedules.

As you gain seniority this will improve. I think the only option to avoid red eyes entirely is working for SWA but I have heard rumors they too may be adding red eyes into their packets.

Edit. Lol the person above me beat me too it. 🤣

SWA might not have true redeyes, but what’s the difference when you have a 0445 van in TPA and you are LAX based??

AA is not for you. Lots and lots of red eyes out of LAX.

did a 0300 wakeup for a 0400 van time. for a "morning trip, back by dinner"

plane delayed, ramp closed, multiple legs that day also.
"got to dinner" exhausted and grumpy

true Red Eyes: no Feds, pax are asleep, skies are quiet, no management walking around, crew scheduling typically not jacking with you with changes

I have been (UAL) LAX 757 based since the base re-opened, so have gone from 90% seniority to a very comfortable line holder over the past year. Even though I am a commuter, I prefer morning flying even if that means I have to commute in the night before (will not be a problem for you as you live in Temecula). I have done 3 redeyes in that time frame, two of them I picked up because the rest of the trip worked for some personal engagements, and the other one I got begrudgingly from crew scheduling.

If you want bankers hours - I can not recommend UAL West Coast 756 enough. The flying is boring (NYC/HNL almost exclusively), but rarely are you delayed, rarely do you fly more than one leg, and rarely do I not have the chance to get 8 hours of sleep in the 'real' night. UAL 756 is all I know, so I cant answer anything about other fleets.

It can be done with some seniority, may need to be selective about which fleet.

Also redeyes may not be as bad as you think... it's generally easier to stay up late than get up early for most people. I don't mind having the day to myself, drive in after rush hour and arrive on the other coast around 0200-0300 CA time. That's just staying up late, not really working all night. Redeye from HI on the other hand can be brutal... you're already up past your bedtime when you report to work.

Also airline rest rules are better than the mil... you don't fly all night and then work your desk job all day. You mostly get adequate rest following a shift and there's a limit to how many days in a row they can grind you. Bad news: junior schedules can suck. Good news: you won't be junior for very long at the big three/FDX due to hiring & retirements, as long as you don't chase the money on bigger jets. I'd guess after a year or less on 737 and probably 320 you'd be in good shape (FDX is different, need to go ask in their forum).

UPS has that ONT base, but they don't have as much seniority movement right now.

Red Eyes are the best imo. All of the ancillary stuff that makes this job frustrating usually doesn’t happen during vampire hours. I get a nap in the late afternoon and then I’ll sleep 7/8am until noon and I feel decent.

But I’m a night owl.

SWA offers PM and AM flying. The PM trips would offer you a better opportunity for waking up without an alarm (which I like).

Being on reserve will not guarantee a lot of sleep, and a PM block can become an AM….

Once you learn the system and get some seniority working the schedule would offer you opportunities to sleep more…at home.