Class Domicile Drops
 

I would like to request that new pilots in each class, or someone in the know, periodically inform prospective new hires what the class drops are like for domicile assignments. Please and thanks.

Not really such thing as class drops at spirit. If your in the first class of a month you’ll be able to hold about anything except Dfw or LAS on the first bid. Middle of the month can hold FLL, maybe mco and DTW. Last 10 in the last class of a month will see ACY

We’re hiring so many now that a lot bypass it. Count on FLL for sure.

787 phx


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There's a class starting on 28 October. I know the literal definition of the date, but would that be considered the starting class of November or the last doldrum pickings of October? Asking for many friends.

Why on earth would that matter? Seriously. Is this some vacation issue they worry about? I also have friends in that class but if this was their concern I’d tell them to keeps their heads down and worry about today before tomorrow. Yes if it starts in October, it’s an October class.

Yes they’ll be the last class in the bid. The bid closes Nov 3rd. So the bottom 10 or so will see ACY for a month. Not a big deal cause you’ll likely be able to drop your entire month and pick up out of base for that month.

This seems like a very stupid question, given the conversation already in place. But just to be sure, if someone actually WANTED ACY, they’d be able to get it no matter what class they’re in?

I’d give it a 95+% chance...

You'd have no problem holding ACY as an FO, just don't ever plan on upgrading there.

Acy/bwi
 

ACY is a weird base. Would be pretty easy to hold it right out of training, but holding a line would be a different story. That could take a while. High turnover of jr. FOs, but the more senior ones are going nowhere.

One big factor to consider for 2020, it’s the BWI base. It is NOT official yet, but from good sources (and even from common sense), it will happen. When? Not sure. We’re growing MCO a lot, but after that, BWI it’s next. Could be as early as fall 2020.

The question is, will they keep ACY open if they have a BWI base? I highly doubt it. I think BWI it’s good news for NEastern commuters, specially given that it’s connected by Amtrak.

Do we really have that many NE commuters as all the big airlines have BOS or NYC bases and all very junior. Why commute to bwi for spirit? BWI is going to be 90% commuters and junior forever much like it is for SWA. It’s going to suck for everyone based there or not.

I'm pretty sure airlines don't weigh their pilot's commutes very heavily when making domicile decisions.

Completely agree. Just saying for us it’s going to be crappy when it happens

Your post made it sound like I was stating my deepest wish. I personally don’t like to see my seniority diluted over more bases. Specially one I could care less for.

I’m just trying to provide info for prospect newhires.

I agree, BWI will probably be jr. forever.

#acy4life.....

Respectfully, I hope you're wrong. Spirit likes having ACY as a base just to get reserves into EWR and NYC to cover their rears when #+*! hits the fan. Which is often. Granted they could limo them in from a bwi base but that's adding 2.5 hours without traffic to an already hell commute (if going to NY).

I think keeping ACY open at its current small size is in their best interest. With the rate we are growing I don't see any benefits to closing ACY even if BWI comes to fruition. At least I hope!

October 28 class. All got FLL except last 4 got ACY. Probably will have our choice by the time we hit the line.

Depending on your sim schedule, you’ll see 1 if not 2 more bids. Depending on when you finish OE, you will have 1 to 1.5 months of a build up line (formerly known here as a relief line) before you join the fold and bid as a normal FO. During that time it may be possible to drop trips in your assigned base and pick up closer to home.

This is a great time to be a new hire because all the movement will provide a lot more options than the first half of the year when things were a bit stagnant

So why don’t they just open an NYC base if ACY is being kept around to fund LGA and EWR with reserves.

I count roughly 27 departures on any given day between EWR and LGA. ACY currently has 6 (I think it goes up to 10 or so in the peak winter and summer seasons). I do know ACY has a MX base, and 4 or so planes RON there to take out originators, and Spirit is the only scheduled game in town. I don’t think the station is going anywhere, I just think if EWR expands like Spirit wants it to, and if some day slots become available at LGA at a price Spirit is willing to pay, a joint EWR/LGA base may start making more sense, jeopardizing the ACY base.

Which base currently has the shortest time-to-lineholder for FO’s? Or which would y’all forecast it to be in a few months

There’s no straight answer. Our core business is based on leisure travel, which makes us a very seasonal airline. You could be a lineholder during summer and go back to reserve in September/October. FLL is particularly notorious when it comes to high/low season.

Training it’s a huge factor. Training comes to a dead slow pace in the summer. Most instructors and check airmen get “drafted” back to the line.

If we continue hiring at current rates, I’m guessing some bases will see newhires holding a line 3 months after OE in DTW/MCO/FLL? But of course that means starting a class on a favorable part of the cycle. In other words, let’s say you start class in May. Your seniority will stagnate since there are few classes and minimal upgrades. That means you’re at the bottom throughout the summer and by the time late summer/fall newhires hit the lane, it’d be October. At least 6 months on reserve. On the other hand, if you get hired in January, you might be holding a line in June, depending on the base.

Thank you !