Continental question
 

For those Continental folks.... What are the chances of a new hire getting assigned to a wide-body right away?

If the chances are good, what are the monthly schedules like? The reason I'm asking is that my wife and I want to live on the west coast, so I'd have to commute, but if you only have to do two long trips a month, it seems like it wouldn't be too bad.

What do you think?

Previously we had 777 slots for new-hires in EWR. You will be on reserve for years, (777 or 757/767), and have 12 days off that the company will roll at their leisure. The 737 out of IAH is much more commutable than EWR. EWR trips start early and end very late. You will be on reserve less in EWR as IAH is pretty senior. Best bet for commuting as a newbie would be stick it out on the 757 out of EWR as they have very commutable schedules and you'll get to see just about every city on the European continent.

Thanks 757.

Since I'm new to the airline lingo.... If I get EWR on the 757, I would be on reserve a lot? Reserve would mean I am in town and ready to go? How many trips a month can you expect flying the 757 out of EWR? 3-4?

Thanks

As a lineholder I'd say at least 4. As a reserve the skies the limit. We have one of the crappiest contracts out there as it applies to our schedules, (see PBS), and the treatment of reserves. Basically you will be flying a lot as a reserve or junior lineholder. I'm speaking commutability as far as being on the 757 out of EWR.

As a junior line holder on the 756 sub base (flying both the 757 and 767) you will get 6 trips to Europe and 12 days off for quite a while. When you are senior enough to hold FO or IRO (International Relief Officer) on trips worth 16 or more hours you will get 5 trips or 15 or 16 days off a month. I would guess at a minimum a year or two (depending on growth and retirements) to hold 15 or 16 days off a month.

You will only hold 757 and not 767 on a regular basis until you are at least above the 40% in the base. That may take two or more years.

Hope this helps.

EWR 756 Captain

I'm 50% seniority on the 757 in EWR and I get about 6 trips per month. I hold about 13 days off. Some 2 day trips and some 3 day. I avoid one day trips. On reserve you will have to be within two hours of the airport. If you're coming from the West coast, you'll probably going to need a crashpad. I'm from the SF Bay Area and I moved. I live 1.5 hours from EWR in N.E. PA.

Thanks all. Good info. You all fly more trips/month than I thought. It sounds like commuting would be pretty tough. I can see why you moved!

The hope of living where you want and commuting easy with 18-20 days off per month is not too good. Maybe if you were a senior widebody FO that lives nearby. Most of the senior FO's have 20+ years in. It's a big difference from 12 days off on reserve and 6 of those days are changed by the company. They can "roll" your days off at their whim. You can't even plan stuff on your days off, because you don't know when they are! Most pilots get 737 EWR, so plan on that and hope for what you want.

That would be a dream for me :)

Just Wondering ...
 

Anyone out there know a secret to getting CAL to "move" on your app without anybody at CAL to help?? Thanks.