I have experienced a wide range of QOL on the 88.

When I started, I was ATL based. Commuting to reserve was no fun. They would fly me or sit me short call almost everyday I was available. I was really burnt out the first six months or so. If I had lived in base it would have been much more palatable. Left ATL to go to CVG and held a line off the bat with a much improved QOL (line vs. reserve is night and day different). Now on reserve in CVG after the displacements and have all my weekends off. Even though I have a long drive to work, still a good QOL (had 24 days at home in July).

My observations based on the above:
1 - ATL has so many 88 flights in and out and is such a big hub that you end up doing a lot of "little" trips that as a commuter, aren't really fun. I always hated sitting short call with one day available and get called to DH to BHM then fly in to ATL.
2 - CVG is such a small base with little mainline (let alone 88 flying) that they can't use you in the capacity that I described above. Plus I work weekdays on RSV so there are generally less sick calls to cover (guess that's why I've flown 40 hours this summer).

ATLM88FO went to a guy 4 from the bottom of the list last bid. Looks like they have about 35 unfilled spots there. Whether new hires will have them offered or not is anyone's guess. I believe that there is still some migration of guys to their desired bases post merger. The last bid was fairly big though, and folks are starting to get where they want to go.

Don't know about the seniority thing, but in 07/08 it was 9999 = most senior in the class and 0000 = most junior. Think it is contractual and I doubt has changed.

Looks like the big gaps after the last bid are:
MSPM88B -62
DTW320B -55
MSP320B -48
ATLM88B -35
NYCM88B -33
DTWDC9B -17
MEMDC9B -14
MSPDC9B -11

I'd expect a lot of the above for class assignments, but I'm not "in the know". Just doing some data crunching. Don't know how they are thinking DC9 staffing going forward, so that might be the wild card.

Anyways, congrats and good luck. We are all glad to have you!

AE = Advanced Entitlement.

An AE is basically a systemwide bid that allows you to change positions (base, seat, equipment) via AE (award), MD (mandatory displacement) or VD (voluntary displacement)

There are generally 3-4 of these a year and there is a lot more that could be said about it. If you're wanting ATL, you will be able to bid for it via the AE process. Newhires are NOT frozen (seatlocked) so hopefully you'll be able to get to ATL quickly if you don't get it right off the bat.

Welcome aboard! You don't know how nice it is to see some newhires.

If I were a new hire, I'd make a nest in MSP for a couple of years. It's going to go uber junior, especially on the -88. You're going to have your pick of flying, and will probably even be able to hold the ER after a bit.

If you don't commute, I'd think about buying a place in one of the downtown areas. St. Paul is more upscale than MSP, and it's got some decent places right on the river. It's only 20 minutes from the airport, and there is a fair amount of cool stuff to do. You can even get a condo that's connected to the Skyway.

Avoid the 'burbs like the plague, though, unless you have a family. Unless you have some kind of local connection, you will be personna non grata. I understand that CVG is somewhat similar.

Nu

I wish more guys had your attitude. We've had a lot of S guys migrate to the 320.

I know it's gone the other way too. I just want a line.

I don't think the migration to the 320 is necessarily by choice - especially in the SW bases like LAX - I have been losing seniority for 2 years now - from top 20% down to bottom lineholder/reserve. Hate going to school - epseciallly MSP in the winter - but commuting to reserve is even worse - glad lots of guys are moving up - just not me. You know, it's supposed to get better after 10+ years - although I'm flying with 20+ year Captains in the same boat - oh well - hopefully new hires will push up from the bottom.

I really don't want to learn a completely new way to flying (A320). I'm an old school McD guy. But damn, those airbusses are nice inside. Very very nice.

I think they're NWA's best kept secret. And so many old foggies were hooting and hollering about the 747 -- who cares about that. They'll be gone before I ever have a chance to get to it.

Super premium narrowbody

SHHHHHHHHH! No it's not!

The hesitancy to learn a new or different airplane really cracks me up. If I can significantly improve my quality of life by changing fleets or seats I really don't care who built the jet.

Stay away from the 320. Very, very scary. Can't land it in x-winds without serious pucker factor.