njd1

Not to get into the bowels of bidding as I'm still in training but I'm like you -- I don't care about weekends. I just want max credit and as many days off as I can get, preferably with continuous blocks between trips (4-5 days).



Care to enlighten me on your preference(s) strategy you use to achieve that schedule? If you don't want to publicize, please PM me.

TheWeatherman

Once I held a line I got 15 - 17 days off a month without even really trying. As somebody mentioned earlier, that is what efficient schedule making and good contract rules get you. Now if you fly for Skywest, you only get 11 to 12 days off a month as a line holder and credit about the same hours as us. Don't underestimate the power of a good contract, its all not just your hourly pay. The Union did a good job with this one.

blindfayth

Curious if Endeavor guys get the same amount of time off as you guys. I'm still trying to decide where to go in September.

glassnpowder98

I would imagine the guys on the 900’s with their typically longer legs see similar schedules to us. However if you find yourself on the 200, you’ll be flying a lot more shorter legs at lower credit which typically results in less days off. I started with Chautauqua on the 145 out of New York, which once those airplanes went away, Endeavor took over the flying. I was averaging 12-14 days off a month and 75-85 hours of credit. As much as people talk about Shiny Jet Syndrome, the aircraft definitely has an impact on QOL

Captain Slow

I’m MCI based, live in base, roughly a year and a half on property.

I drive to work so I don’t care as much about long blocks between trips but they normally appear anyway. I bid very simply.... the days off I need followed by high average daily credit and trips greater or equal to two days in length (day trips cost me a bit in gas). It works out well almost every time and I don’t spend eleventy billion hours on my bid every month like some people do.

blindfayth

That sounds awesome.
A couple questions:
1) Were you able to get MCI out of training?
2) How long did it take you to hold a line in MCI?
3) What's the jr captain hire dates in MCI? (Reserve & Line Holder)?

Thanks in advance,

bf

flydiamond

True story. Fortunately Endeavor is almost 75% 900 flying.

ChrisPilot1

I’ll second that we have some pretty efficient trip pairings and I too get 15-17 days off per month right now.

However....

When it comes to a commuter policy / occurrence policy , there is not much leeway.

We get 4 callouts in a 12 month period and management has been using much scrutiny on pilots using this policy lately . Also if you call in sick you get an occurrence unless you get a doctors note, so if you have a cold you have to go pay a doctor to write you a note to get out of an occurrence. And I believe this can only be used once in a certain period? Correct me if I’m wrong.

Talking to a skywest pilot they have 0 policy on these things. Not sure about other regionals. If you can’t make it to work you tell them and they simply say “have a good day” or if your sick....”we hope you feel better”. Obvsiously if people abuse this I’m sure they will say something , but I’m already 3 occurrences in from not making a commute once and a second commute ( on a Republic plane ) being delayed into base for weather.

Live in base and your life will be so much easier

Captain Slow

I was east coast based for six months out of training before I held MCI. I held a line as soon as I got here but your mileage may vary. Right now people are getting it out of training, but that can all change pretty quick. Just depends on movement by the time you get through training.

You’re not wrong. That said if you do burn your four commuter “freebies” you still have six more occurrences before you get a letter. I mean that’s 10 times in a rolling 12 month period. You can also use the commuter clause if you drive to work, which is pretty neat (flat tire? You’re good... just show up when you can). I’d rather have union representation and a commuter clause/sick relief program in writing than whatever the company decides to do the day that I’m sick or can’t make it to work (that leaves the company a bit too much discretion in my book).

The sick call relief with note is at least once every six months, maybe twice... I don’t have the contract in front of me though. I did get sick earlier this year and didn’t get a note, just burned an occurrence and slept all week. Not really a crisis by my standards but I rarely don’t make it to work.

GoJuice

How do you all think the QOL would be for someone commuting out of STL at Republic? I have been accepted into the LIFT academy and would like to move back home eventually.