How many days off should a 737 Jr line holder in LAX expect roughly?

 

Low-mid teens

 

Hi everyone.

I apologize in advance for my questions, since I have been called "DERANGED PERSON" by some high achievers here in APC...I wasn't aware that asking so many things will make you fall under the Insane or Mad category, my bad.

Anyway. Clarification about base assignment please.

So, first day of class you are awarded type and base, based on age, I know that.
Assume that is not what I want. People say here that you "might get it even before training is over" or "short after"... So how that works exactly?
I'm focused on this because "I live nowhere now"...moving back to the US exclusively for a new life and working at UAL. No house, friends or family. I have no city or place to "commute to/from". Total FREEDOM, but with some minor logistic challenges. I'm trying to understand and find out the probable timeline(steps more than time) and process of 'base assignment and change" at the beginning, to be aware of how things will run during the first months ( and decide If I might take a short/long lease somewhere, do AIRBNB or hotels, etc etc)

So again (my hypothetical timeline)
I get a base that I don't want the first day of INDOC.
INDOC will finish and simulator follows at DEN. (737 for me, I know that for sure)
A few weeks go by for INDOC...some other weeks are going by for simulator...all this time I know my "unwanted" and awarded base...
Line training will start and then obviously, the normal flying....

Now...
At what after the first day, during training can I bid/ request the base that I want (SFO, LAS or MCO) and how is this "awarded" to me?
As soon as another vacancy opens in (SFO, LAS or MCO) after I joined, do I have the right to requested? Even if I did not finished training or never set a foot in my original awarded base?
If the base that I want is awarded to people that join the company 1, 2 or 3 classes after mine (SFO for example, not very popular)... Can I "trade" with them right away?
Once you are awarded a "transfer" from one base to another, it is anything "special" provided by the company? (like block of days OFF, cargo allowance, etc)

Thank you for the answers and sorry if some questions might look silly, but I never worked for a big Airline in the US, with all the biding, seniority or contract stuff to comes with it. All new to me.
And not residing there yet, makes things a bit more complicated.

Regards,

Tangalanga

 

We have this thing called "Vacancy bids". It comes out a few times a year so people can bid out of their current seat or base. The current active bid is 2306V. It opened on the 3rd of FEB and will close on the 14th of FEB. During this 12 day window all pilots can submit their transfer preferences and the computer will process them in seniority order. 2306V means the year of 2023 with an activation month of 06 and it's a Vacancy bid. So if you got a base transfer award during this bid, you can expect the transfer to take place in June. The last bid 2305V took place in late December and will activate this May. If you are in training and 230xV comes out during that time, you are eligible to bid another equipment/base or both.

Timing is important, if there's a vacancy bid after your initial newhire bid, you can bid again right away and potentially be awarded another base/equipment during training.

There are exceptions but yes.

Some class drops have only a handful of 737 Vacancies, you never know until the morning of your class drop, don't count on it.

 

There are two ways to switch your base. The first is the easiest, if a Vacancy Bid opens while you are in training (we have one closing tomorrow so you just missed it). The steps do this they will show you when you access. But basically click a box and wait for the bid to close. New bids appear every couple months. Now that summer flying is just about upon us they may slow down to every 3 months. Just to refresh what new hires can bid on.
The second way is via the base trade program. This occurs monthly. This process, while easy too requires some one willing to trade with you. A very junior pilot may realize they’re not the only one wanting the same trade. I’ve seen many a trade window pass without anyone to trade with.
Good luck! Heck half the excitement will be figuring out where to live!

 

Tell me about choosing a place girl/man!!!! My head is going to explode!!!! Trying to get my priorities right!!!I have a white canvas to paint my near future, but thinking long term as well!!! .... Cali and its beauty, culture and nature, but very expensive, Florida, its nice WX, but MCO not very appealing, LAS is nice, but I need the ocean, same for IAH...etc,etc,etc Anyway,it is a first world problem to have, so I'm not complaining. Very excited about it for sure and the future of United.

Thank you for your answer. Quick question about the "vacancy" and related to the previous post from Seminole00:

Understood that, I'm missing tomorrow's closing bid, a vacancy that comes in effect June 2023.
So, it is always the same when a Vacancy opens regarding time? I mean the Vacancy will "activate" about 3 months in a half after closing that bid? Or this time varies?
I'm just trying to speculate or guess around how many months you might have to stay at your first base, in case that trade doesn't work and the only option is by a Vacancy award. (I am guessing X time until next vacancy bid closes, plus about 3.5 months for activation?)

Thanks again

Tangalanga

 

tldr......

 

This is basically correct. They usually open about every 6-7 weeks and then folks will be activated, generally in seniority order, within a couple months after it closes out.

 

Thank you for the great answer and the post- edition to cover everything, I have a much better idea how it works.
Good advise about the 737. I'm counting on it because probably I will be top 5 in seniority, if not top 3 (honestly I hope not to be the oldest guy haha). But, after what you have said, I will have a plan B regarding type, you never know what can happen.
Thanks again.

Tangalanga

 

My advice is mostly this:
It is unlikely that you will get a useful or accurate picture of how all this works from an internet message board. Feel free to keep asking specific questions, but I’d focus on the big picture:

Once you start you will have 2-3 months in Denver. Accommodations (mostly) accounted for. This should give you some time to arrange whatever accommodation you’ll need in your assigned base.

After that I’d budget for 4-6 months until you can get to your base of choice. It could certainly be less than that, but I’d make sure I have done plan that accounts that amount of time.

The only thing you truly need to show up on Day 1 having decided is the order of your preferences. You want 737, great. I’d still think through plans B-D. You want SFO, great. Still have an order of preference for the other bases.

You can figure out the rest as you go.



A lot of the stuff you are asking about is covered in the first week of Indoc. You might be the minority who doesn’t know what a Vacancy Bid is, but you wont be the only one. A decent amount of the people coming straight from the military have little to no knowledge of how airline scheduling or bidding works either.