Expected Days off - Eventually??
 

Hi All,

I'm looking for some info about maxing days off. If one was to go to a junior base (DFW or IAH) after getting hired, and be willing to extend their time as an FO, how long could you reasonably expect it to take to get a good schedule if you wanted to maximize days off?

How many days off could you expect to hold after 1, 2, and 3 years with current hiring?

How about for Captains after upgrading?

I know there are things you can do, such as having a vacation day touch a trip, etc., but I'm trying to figure out max days off you can expect with a regular line. You hear of airlines where pilots are getting lines with 17 or 18 days off, just wondering if that is possible here and after how long.

Thank you very much. I appreciate your feedback.

As a Mesa FO, I am scheduled to 95-98 hours per month. Usually 11 days off. Sometimes 12. There is NO ability to drop a trip (or even a turn). There is virtually NO ability to swap. The reserve grid has been in the negative for most of the year (basically freezing your schedule - you get what you get). There is no end in sight to that situation due to lack of FOs.

At this point this is NO schedule flexibility. I see no end in sight. Staffing gets worse each month.

This is for informational purposes only. Good luck with your decision.

There is no trip-touching with vacation. You only get that with hard-line bidding.

My line for the month is 14 days off. I would love to see the reserve grid get better. Hope springs eternal...

In IAH, not that long for now. Looking at the PBS schedules for December, it looks like 9 months before you get nearly all weekends and Christmas off. A few lines have 15 days off.

Unfortunately, in the regional world, nothing is forever. Your FO schedule is a balance of planned flying, available FO’s and the number of FO’s coming out of training. Same with the CA schedule. Last May, we were hurting for FO’s in IAH and FO flying schedules were packed. Now, we are hurting for CA’s in IAH and CA flying schedules are packed. Things can reverse.

If you live in IAH currently as an FO, bidding reserve and Call Me Last currently results in little flying. That means you mostly sit at home with a few days of ready reserve and possible scheduled flying - and get paid 76 hours.

That is a TOUGH schedule. Hope it gets better. I'm trying to find a good home at a Texas base. QOL and schedule are my top priorities. Thanks to all for the feedback.

So what about DFW CRJ FO? Bidding reserve and call me last? Same results?

Call Me Last technically exists in the new contract, but it’s a shell of its former self. It’s comparable to the NFL doing a coin toss to determine who makes the playoffs because 12 other tie breakers couldn’t do the job (never happens).

For the foreseeable future, DFW and IAH FO’s will be working their tails off. Reserve won’t save you.

I’d consider coming to Mesa if their health benefits was to get a major upgrade. Wouldn’t be able to afford it at the current rates. I live in Houston and would love to help you guys out. Any December slots left?

What if someone wanted to take family vacation for a week and planned it months ahead. Would it get denied?

FO’s bid reserve to get time off in IAH. Since so many FO’s are coming off IOE, technically, they are called first until they are consolidated. FO’s that are already consolidated just don’t get called very often.

So, you say you can’t afford to come to work here. I don’t understand your question.

You would have to purchase a week of vacation and bid the time off.

I cannot with the family rates someone posted on the thread about a week ago. I can barely afford the ones on the exchange now. Healthcare is really high. Wish it would get better.

It still baffles me that in the current environment people are still picking Mesa because of the certain bases... You do realize that Endeavor will positive space you if you can’t make a first flight correct? And with the AA WOs offering boarding priority parity with mainline pilots commuting is easy. I’m not bashing on Mesa, the airline is what it is. But it is baffling to me. Pilots that work here regularly try and steer people clear yet here you are.