I'm DFW Saab and usually bid 2 day back to back trips and sometimes 3 day trips so it is either 4 or 3 off or 3 on 3 off. Depends on what schedule works best for me and what has the best transition. This month the schedules were kind of screwed up so I do 2day trips for the first half of the month, 1 week off, and then a 2 day followed by a 1 day trip for the next 2 trips.

Pay at eagle is about average. If I switch to the jet I'll make about $600 more per month but I will also go back to being on reserve with only 11 days off and who the hell knows what kind of schedule. I got lucky when I got on when I did because I only had to sit reserve on the Saab for 1 month and have had a line ever since (except when I puposely bid for a composite line). If you do go to eagle I strongly suggest going turboprop for the first year...after all it is the same pay but you will hold a line much faster (about 3 months now I think). I could intermittenly hold a line on the CRJ in DFW now and would be almost at the bottom of the ERJ. I dont know what the standing in the other bases is because that is not where I want to go. For the time being, I am staying Saab. After all, who wants to do another long term training event?

 

Im an FO with eagle on the emb, have been on reserve for a while and average 7-10 nights per month away from home. I live in base so that makes it easier. I still do a lot of flying, but its a lot of day trips. Not too bad for a JR FO

 

With Express Jet, line holders are min guar. 12 days off a month. With having all of our domiciles in CAL hubs, it makes commuting pretty easy, mostly 1 leg for most people. With our bidding system and online trip trades, I would say that in an average month with 4-4day commutable trips, I get to spend 16 nights at home, with the occassional bonus overnight at home. (reserves are guarenteed 11 days off in a 30 day month and 12 in a 31 day month). Plus, we also have a "12 hour call out" that makes up 10% of our reserve lines, where you get 12 hours to show up for work once called by scheduling (GREAT for sommuters!) There's guys in my class (bout 1 year at XJT) holding 15 or 16 days off!

Jared, with only one day off between trips and only 10 days off in the month, don't you run into a lot of 30 in 7 issues????

 

At Mesaba (before I was furloughed), I was able to bid lines with 14-16 days off. I lived near base so when a trip was done it was nice to go right home and have that night at home rather than wait to morning to commute home. Now that i'm not at XJ anymore, I'll have to commute to my next job. Its part of the job and its what you make of it. If you have an understanding significant other, it helps a lot in the "away from home" factor.