QRH Bingo

lol….
You get 12 of them. If you bid properly, you can build your schedule to your liking once you get 5ish people below you in base.

bureets

Sorry, should have been more clear. I meant to ask was how many in a row are possible. Like how many reserve days in a row and then how many days off. I understand you bid, not familiar with such process

QRH Bingo

You only get 12 of them for a 30 or 31 day bid period. You can string together as many as mathematically possible. Max reserve days on in a row is 6 before you are required to have a day off.

So, as an example, you could work 6 on 1 off, 6 on 10 off, 6 on 1 off = 12 days off, 18 days of reserve.

bureets

got it, that makes more sense. is how you string them together based on seniority?

Web265

Contract min of 12, while on reserve, that's what you'll get
Well, everything is based on seniority schedule wise but, if you set your preferences to 6 day stretches of time of off, theoretically, I think you'll get one stretch of 6 days off, with the other 6 smattered in to meet the need of a day off after 6 duty days.
If you do the math here, knowing you can get 6 in a row, you'll see what we mean....

When I got senior on reserve, I'd bid weekends off, then wed off. Doesn't always work out math wise but you can see the trend I was looking for....

bureets

yeah from a commuter perspective right now until I eventually move to base I would aim for the most days off I could in row, just so i can spend the most time with my family. But of course as a new guy I have to be realistic and take what i can get.

Web265

You also made a reference to bases changing when you're junior. That doesn't happen unless a base closes. Once your in a base, you can't be pushed out by someone senior who simply wants a spot in that base. They won't be awarded that base until there's an opening.
For example, I originally bid EWR but got LGA. I put a bid in for EWR and within a few months there were openings and I moved. Have been in that base ever since (5 years). If I wanted to go to PHL and most of the list is junior to me, I still have to wait till there's an opening before I'll get the award.

Again, if a base closes, you can be displaced. I think it's been twice since I've been here.

Justabusdriver1

bidding most days off in a row isn’t always the best for a commuter. Having max day off in a row often means you’ll only have 1 day off between blocks of reserve. Meaning you may actually be away from home for 3 weeks in a row to be home only one week. Depending on commute for most it’s better to bid in a manner that is enough time to commute home have a full day or two then head back in a worst case scenario where you need a full day to commute. If you have flights all day it just means more time at home. Most people I know want minimum 3 days between blocks so they can be home 1 full day and then part of the day for their commuting ones. It means not being away for weeks at a time. You gotta decide if being away for 3 weeks in a row is acceptable and worth it to have 7 or 8 days off in a row whatever it works out to. Or if you maybe want to be able to go home weekly.

bureets

Pardon the unfamiliarity everyone, I do appreciate these explanations.

bureets

So to my understanding once you get awarded a base, either you stay put in it because you like it or you keep trying to bid for another correct?