Expected Days off - Eventually??
#1
Thread Starter
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
From: Upright
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.
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.
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
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.
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.
#3
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.
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.
There is no trip-touching with vacation. You only get that with hard-line bidding.
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 0
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.
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.
#6
Thread Starter
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 396
Likes: 0
From: Upright
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.
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.
#7
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.
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.
#8
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.
For the foreseeable future, DFW and IAH FO’s will be working their tails off. Reserve won’t save you.
#9
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Captain
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?
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