Brace yourself. This career will have you missing more than just birthday parties. Holidays, family/friend gatherings, kids events/milestones (possibly births).
Not meaning to be negative, just want to make sure you understand since it sounds like this might be your first go at a 121.
That being said, it is fairly easy to manipulate your schedule as you get more seniority depending on how long you need off and what time of year.

 

Thanks while new to 121 I am hardly new to life. This will be my "big six oh" Birthday so that is the reason for the hoopla.

I am what some call a late in life career changer. Took early retirement making significantly more than FO pay to follow a dream.

Just need to figure out how to swing this one thing then I can work every day until the day before my 65th five and a half years from now.

 

Just to add on to what others have posted... You'll really need to be a line holder to have a good chance to pull this off. DTW on the CRJ is about the only place that might happen at this point. I seriously doubt anyone hired into the 175 in the next few months will be off reserve at that point. Take the CRJ and transfer to your domicile of choice after March.

You'll get what we call Gold Days which are guaranteed days off with no credit associated with them. I believe if you are hired this fall you'll receive five of them for the next year (we get five every calendar year). Come January 1st use those five days spread out over 8 days or so for the time you want off. Bid the days off around them in your PBS bid. Also be willing to let PBS give you anything during the other times of the month. You'll also want to waive minimum credit and bid down to minimum hours. With your seniority it more than likely will not honor that request but give it a try. PBS is still probably going to load up your schedule with 85+ hours. If it gives you locals in between your gold days post them on the swap board. Split Duties are easy to give away in my domicile. I don't know how it is in DTW. You might want to bid those in higher layers. Also bid one day off between work blocks and the property (which I cant remember what it's called) that allows a higher amount of block in 7 days.

Your best bet is to celebrate your birthday at the end of the month and try to get the end of March and beginning of April off. Stuffing that 85+ hours of credit into a month where you are taking nearly two weeks of is almost impossible.

You'll find that a lot of crew members celebrate holidays, etc.. on the days that they don't fall on. Until you get some seniority in your seat you might want to plan on it.

 

A birthday is just another day. Get your schedule and move it to another day that you have off. Problem solved the shift worker way.

 

True to me a birthday is just another day just the family is planning a big party (aviation theme) going out of their way hiring catering and musicians etc. So would kind of be a bummer if the guest of honor can't make it.

So like I said just trying to figure out how I can best accomplish this one thing getting few days off on either side of April 1 the day they are planning the party. Other than that I will work every day they want.

 

Thanks sounds like solid advice!

 

Or maybe you take a 6 month break right now. Enjoy the holidays and your birthday. If you go to class within 2 months from now you will most likely sit reserve for the holidays, probably commuting and a good chance of not being used. I want everyone to come to SkyWest, but in your situation I suggest take it easy for a little longer. If you are Midwest base, I hope to see you on the line, I have flown with a few second career guys who have been really enjoying SkyWest.

 

I am already scheduled for my interview next Friday. I backed out on an interview in June so I am reluctant to do that again.

Actually I am west coast, Seattle area.

I don't mind being away from home over the holidays just me and my spouse no kids. Sitting reserve in winter in Detroit sounds awesome :-) Well maybe not really but such is life.

Anyway as I don't have a lot of time left to fly for the airlines because of my age I am just going to apply and hope for the best in spring.

Thanks very much for the suggestion good advice but I am have so little time remaining to fly and don't want to miss the boat.

 

How many captain upgrades has Skywest been running per month? I'm trying to figure out how long it will be before upgrade. Using the ANY/DTW CRJ CA bids on the standing bid list to guesstimate. I wish there was some sort of designation on the bid list for the FOs that do not have 1000 121. Would make ballparking it much more accurate.

 

Wonder why bids are taking forever this month...