We only had 21 (only 1 for IAH the rest for EWR) spots for new hires on the Q in the last vacancy and they've already had one split class. So if you go to the Q, chances are you will be on the bottom of the list for a very long time and in EWR. The Saab in IAD is definitely the most junior but you probably won't hit a full line (not standup or buildup) for at least 6 months maybe more. Also, remember you will be seatlocked for one year from the completion of IOE so don't expect to bid the CRJ quickly (you wouldn't have the seniority to hold it anyways).

That's the thing I think many people misunderstand. It doesn't really matter how many people are hired below you, but rather how many above you upgrade. They can hire all they want below me but all they've been doing is increasing the number of reserve lines. Granted they've added planes and lines down here since I started but we've gone from 6 reserve lines to 20 so it's kind of like walking up the down escalator. I've been on the Q in IAH for going on 9 months and I still can't even sniff a line. I got a couple build ups here and there but they were mostly reserve days. I'd likely be a year or two at least away from holding a hard line down here and maybe 6 months to a year away from doing it in EWR. There are guys in my crashpad who are Saab FOs hired fall of 2010 who just got a line for the first time this month. Of course, as always, YMMV.

Seats assigned based off performance during training or just randomly assigned?

Seniority and operational need

Seniority, oldest gets first dibs and on down the line it goes to the youngest who gets the scraps.

Aircraft is assigned during training based on vacancy. Right now as of our last vacancy we only have Q and Saab slots, mostly Saab. When you get to class you pick aircraft/base in order from oldest in class to youngest (same hire date so someone older is more senior in class)

I'm pretty sure the last class was just assigned by age; eldest to the Q and rest to the saab. I could have misunderstood though...apparently it doesn't take much.....

Gotcha! Thanks.

Estimate 10-15 flight hrs a month on reserve?

DTW has been 75+ but that is on the jet.

That sounds a wee bit high to my knowledge, at least this time of year. I think staffing has finally started catch up. Should be north of 15 hours though.