Depends on what fleet you are asking about, but generally speaking every fleet has lines with trips that range from base turn lines only (sleep in your own bed every night), to 3-4 day trips (lots of reports), to the round the world 10-14 day trips. How much seniority is required for each trip type varies by fleet, time of year, and Covid/pre-Covid. This is not Atlas/Kalitta/ABX, etc. I would say the vast majority of folks don’t fly long 10-14 day trips. That said, it minimizes time lost commuting if you do fly them. On my fleet (MD11) I have not had a hard time holding what I wanted/needed in my time here. That said, it’s been a time of rapid (for UPS) growth and significant retirement numbers my entire time here. The past is no guarantee of future performance. However, as of now I would put continuing growth at better than 75% odds. Retirements can’t stop unless the age 65 rule changes.

Thanks tnkrdrvr. I'm hoping for MD11 if I get the offer. Gotta pass the Hogan first!

Good luck with the Hogan! All I can say on that is be relaxed and don’t over think it. I think that works.

I commute out of EWR. I heard there are a few Z lines that start and end in EWR (with sandwiched DH’s to/from SDF). I’m sure these come and go, but are these generally senior trips because of the double ended DH’s?

Yup, a lot of people live on the east coast.

Currently no Z trips start in EWR and only 1 Z flt ends in EWR. PHL has quite a few but senior as mentioned. You would do better with 757 domestic or MD11 if want to spend time in EWR.

I've read all about deadhead deviation, but how many trips have commercial deadheads that you can bid? Is it a lot or a little? Can you essentially build up your bank enough to be able to just buy a ticket with that money for your commute to and from work? I'm currently enjoying my commercial DH's at my current ACMI and using miles to take vacations with the wife is much better than non-revving. I'm living in DFW and would like to stay here. I know a number of UPS guys do live here and that there's quite a few daily UPS flights here.

What about reserve QOL? Do most guys get a crashpad in SDF or ONT? Better to just pay for hotels or rent a room somewhere? Nightmares of rotting in a crashpad during my regional days are coming back to haunt me though.

Lots
Yes you can and many do

Seems most get crashpads. I hear they are harder to get in ONT
We make enough $ to spend a lil extra on a nice crashpad that you dont dread spending time in.

As far as reserve QOL. I will let a reserve guy comment on their current situation.

For clarity,

You can’t just use your bank for random commutes. You must have a scheduled CML DH which you can deviate from using your travel bank to cover any cost overages compared to the index price of the scheduled flight. You also have to keep the deviation within 2 days of the scheduled flight, or something like that. Positioning, you can start from anywhere. Depositioning, you can only go to an airport within 300miles of your primary residence or listed secondary. Mid trip CMLs, you’re basically limited to changing the departure time. Only exception to the above: At Christmas they’ll let you use your bank $$ to fly home if your trip ends within a couple of days of the 25th.

I wouldn’t say there are “a lot” of trips with CMLs. A “fair amount,” is a better description.

Use it or lose it - travel bank money only stays in your account for 4? bid periods (32 weeks). Sorry, don’t remember the exact length.

You keep your miles. There are a few guys that get upper level status solely from CML DHs, others game it with linked credit cards and/or other strategies to build it up. I’ve never been able to get above Gold at delta and that’s with using the skymiles AMEX a lot. IMO, most guys here don’t have anything above entry level status. Take home is that we don’t CML anywhere near as much as the ACMIs do.

Living in DFW area is excellent for commuting and deviating.

Probably everyone that does reserve gets some type of living accommodation in base. Never heard otherwise. Keep in mind that our reserve isn’t a punishment, many senior people bid it especially those that live local so you might not even have to worry about doing too much of it. Regardless, you won’t have that regional experience with the higher disposable income. I often hear guys talk about how they golfed all summer on reserve, for example.

My experience with SDF Crashpad prices:

$150 gets you a bunk space in a 2-4/ room scheme.

$200-250 share a room

$350 your own room in a 2-3br appt.

$4-500 nicer version of above in nicer area.