Thx so much guys for helping with these questions. I currently have a pretty good job, but would love to spend more time at home and less in hotel rooms. I need to do the online video interview and see what happens.

According to this website, there seems to be a sim ride. What sim?

Thx again

MD80 FTD.


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In addition to what others said, on reserve, you will get the minimum days off every month. That's 12, except for 3 months a year when they can give you 10. As a line holder, I'd say it's pretty average to get 14-16 days off depending on your bidding strategy. Some senior folks don't mind doing one quick round trip every morning. Others bid doubles and inside turns for big daily credit, and work all day but only 10-12 days a month.

As said, there isn't much going on in LAX outside the summer. Reserves hardly ever work there. Then summer is crazy (and they usually TDY people in too). There's a good chance you could sit reserve at home anywhere in the LA basin or OC every day, and maybe have to drive in 3-4 times a month. If you're Inland, forget it. You're an hour from LAX? Is that in traffic or no traffic? That one time they call you at 0600 for a 730 show, and you're in Riverside, you're hosed. See ya in 3 hours. Our reserve report time is 90 minutes TO THE AIRPORT PARKING LOT, though, which is golden. The parking bus can take 40 minutes from the lot to the terminal when there's congestion. Hint, hint.

I'd guess you could hold a decent line there as an FO in about 6-8 months. It's a new hire assignment, and most new hires bid out before they're even out of training, so they only spend a few months there. So if you stay, you'll move up quickly. Also, LAS opening for AB has cleared out some senior commuters there.

You said you can't afford to stay an FO for long. Have you seen our pay rates? Most FOs here are making what they made as regional captains by 2nd year here. And if you're willing to go to an undesirable base, you could probably upgrade in less than 3 years.

Just to clarify about upgrades:

Most junior MD80 CA award is SFB, April 2016 hire.

Most junior Airbus CA award is OAK, Jan 2016 hire.

These are awards from a couple months ago but not on the line yet.

A Jan 16 hire is about 65% overall seniority. Attrition has slowed so you would need about another 450 new hires behind you if hired today to achieve a similar %.

Our economy is due for the usual cyclic recession so I'd plan on a 5+ year upgrade if hired today and if it happens in 2-3 then great.

With that being said FO pay isn't too shabby and the QOL is great once you get a little seniority.

I disagree with your upgrade estimates. There will be massive growth coming once we are all airbus at 110 airframes, which is the new proposed number by Q4 2019. The whole company will be completely airbus by November of 2018. The announcement will occur within 4 weeks.

I estimate 2 years will last for awhile.

Two to five years seems to be the consensus. I know that the current economy has many accustomed to quick upgrades. History has shown us that when the music stops, those estimates go out of the window. Fifteen to twenty year upgrades were a reality in our industry’s not so distant past.

Come here because you like the business model and plan on being an F/O for a while. You’ll be much happier. If you happen to upgrade in 2 years, then that’s a bonus.


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The transition needed to be expedited years ago. The recent Fresno incident is a good example of why it's necessary. It's beyond embarrassing at this point. Just spend the damn money and be done with it FFS!

I agree. Because of our unique fact among other airlines, that many FOs choose to wait and upgrade in base, I think the junior bases will always have shorter upgrades, maybe 2 years. Bases like IWA? Pretty much already 5 years. So it's all relative.

I'm not a sky is falling type of guy (unless pieces start hitting you in the head), so I refuse to believe the good times are about to end here. In 2008 and on, we made it through the worst recession in in almost a hundred years with flying colors. The funny thing about LCCs is that when the economy sucks, legacies shrink, and we grow, as price becomes more important than service level and frequency. I think we have a good chance of doing well in the next recession. People will always go on vacation, they will just take shorter, cheaper trips, closer to home. And we've got their vacation package.

I totally agree. it's getting beyond ridiculous and the 80s are dragging down the whole company now in terms of reputation and cost. In my humble opinion, it's approaching a severe liability level too. In other words, if we ever have a serious incident, the lawyers are going to have plenty of evidence that the issues were known and ignored. Not to mention summer 2018 will be just as much of a debacle as this year if they don't get those heat restricted 80s out of Vegas. They need to finish the transition asap, not drag it out until 2019.

Hello again all, sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I'm looking for an update. I live 10 mins from CVG, I've been driving to CMH for my regional for quite some time, and it's getting old. I'm just curious how long it would take to get back to CVG with Allegiant. I take it I would have to commute to another base for awhile, but if it's longer than a year I'd prefer to just stay where I am. That's the only thing that has kept me from applying thus far. Thanks again all for the info in this thread...it's been very helpful.

Most junior CVG FO is a 7/2017 hire date. It has opened up some because of IND opening this month.


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