How senior is CLE on any of the aircraft? How long do you think a new hire would have to wait for a reserve line in CLE and what aircraft would it be best to be in?

 

CLE is only a 737 base. It takes about a 1 1/2 for some to get there. With the slowdown, maybe longer. Trips aren't very good, but if you live there who cares.

 

Thanks Otto & EWR for the info. A few more questions for those who may have the answers:

- what is the "response" time from call to show for A & B reserve
- read earlier that you could "bid down" from the 756 to the 737, but not
"bid down" from the 777 ... anyone know for sure
- for 756 international trips, what's the average hours per trip
- for 756 domestic, average hours per trip

thanks ... can't wait to join the CAL team!

 

-9 hrs to push for A, 3 hrs for B, 72 hr gua for A, 76 for B
-There is a two year seat lock for bidding down on any aircraft. You can always bid up.
-756 trips go from pathetic (jr) to really good (sr)

 

SEPDA,

CONGRATS and welcome to CAL. I sat and will sit reserve for Dec and Jan in EWR. PM if you have any more questions or post them here to help others if you like.

TO clarify the seat lock...you can bid up at anytime. This means bid to a better position. You can bid from 737 to the 777 as a FO and then bid back to any of the aircraft as a CA. This is when you incur the 2 yr set lock.

I am 737 so I can't answer the 756 stuff but I hear the Sr. guys go to Europe and etc...(good trips) while the Jr. guys go to less desirable places. However, most flight leave in the evening and return a day or so later in the morning which makes them more commutable than the 737. If you are going to live within 2 hrs of EWR, you will be money. I have a friend who has 1.5 yrs with the company and is at 40% on the 756 out of EWR.

Hope this helps.

 

I think most of the 75/76 trips to Europe are approx 15-17 hours for a three day pairing. Usually quick going over and longer coming back due to the headwinds. Most hotels are pretty nice but the strong Euro is hell on the wallet. Loads are pretty good both ways. 76 trips are real senior whereas 75 trips are fairly junior. IRO's on most if not all flights due to the length of the return trip, so the IRO's will most likely DH over and work coming back. Since DH pay returned to 100%, DH'ing is much more palatable. Getting paid to be a food and movie critic is not so bad either!! Welcome aboard everyone and have fun!!!

 

I don't think so. Would would need at least 3 years with the company to be 40% in EWR on the 756. I just came off it, so I kinda know.

 

The junior stuff is the UK & Ireland. It's shorter, so it pays less. Some only 13 hours for a "3 day". The longer stuff like Berlin, Rome, Athens, pays more because it's longer and will be up to 20 hours for the 3 day. The 767 pays more because it's a widebody. IRO can suck if you are not in first class. Be careful with the IRO stuff. Sure you're paid widebody FO pay as IRO on the 767, but do you want to spend 8 hours sitting in coach flying there and 3 hours sitting in coach flyingh back. Widebody IRO can go more senior than some of the good FO trips on the 757 due to pay and destination. As IRO you will never "fly" the airplane, you'll do the takeoff and landing in the jumpseat. You are "third in command". IRO is not bad, if and when you get a first class seat. One has to be open for pilots to get it. No IRO's to places like Ireland, Lisbon, and most UK destinations- flights under 8 hours each way (or scheduled to exactly 8, even though it always takes longer).

The Euro is great compared to the Kroner and Pound. The Euro sucks, but isn't the worst currency you'll see. I took my own food to the UK, Oslo, and some expensive cities like Geneva. Top Ramen and hot water from the coffee pot in your room. Canned tuna. Trail mix. Living the life of a real airline pilot!

Some hotels are good and some are not. European hotels are different than in the US. All rooms are small and can be like closet (even the real nice hotels). Manchester is an exception, some of the rooms are huge and some have 30-40' ceilings. It's an old insurance building converted to a hotel. It's like the Winchester mystery house, if you've ever been there. Air conditioning is rare. I've been in hotels without air in 90+ degree weather. Fitness rooms are rare too. Although some have really nice fitness room, most have nothing. Coffee and irons in your room are standard in the US, but not Europe. Some have it and some don't. Some you can request an iron, but some you have to pay for ironing services. I just wore it wrinkled.

I just spent two years on the 756 flying to Europe and I enjoyed it. Mostly because I had never been there, so everything was new (I had flown 10 years domestic) and I played "tourist" everywhere. The red eye flying sucked, but the pairings were commutable. You are fatiged most of the time as an international pilot. You land at 2am Eastern, but it's 8 or 9 am in Europe. You've been up all night and now that it's morning and everyone's getting up, you go to bed. But if you sleep 6-8 hours or more you'll be up all the next night and be tired when you have to fly back. I just took a couple hours nap when I got in and then got up and out. Then I stayed up until almost midnight in Europe, so I could sleep until my wake up call to go flying.

Some people don't like it and some would never do domestic again. To each his own. Have fun.

 

Where people fly varies and may have nothing to do with seniority. Some people hate Lima, Peru and some love it. I flew with a guy who is from there, so that's why he bid it all the time. I flew with another guy who likes the "professional ladies" there, so he bids it. I fly with guys to Europe who are senior, but bid a junior destination because they like it better. Shannon, Ireland pays the least, but is one of the better overnights. Nice hotel, big flat screen HD TV, free wireless, Dolan's Pub, etc. Some of the domestic flying on the 757 is the most senior, because those guys don't want to do the red eye stuff. One guys lives in LAS and always does EWR-LAS two day trips. It really does vary. The 756 doesn't have too many undesirable destinations. The worst trip you can get is an Orlando turn day trip. It's only worth 5 hours, but some guys live near the airport and love it.

 

Thanks for the clarification Otto. Like I said, mine was all hearsay and from friends. However, you make me want to go fly the 756 with all that you just spelled out. Thanks man!