I think we will still see them on the coasts. With 15 737 Cap openings in both EWR and SFO along with 5 A320 Cap openings in each, I don't see those getting filled. This is especially true when you consider that at least some of the 139 other 737 Cap bids and 50 A320 Cap bids elsewhere in the system (17 in CLE holy cow!!!) will be filled by folks lateraling out of EWR and SFO which will require backfills. So, you will really need more than 20 folks to bid for 737/A320 Cap in EWR and 20 folks to bid for 737/A320 Cap in SFO that didn't bid for Cap just 4 weeks ago. I don't think those 20+ openings now available in each location are going to find enough takers as I don't think that many folks will have changed their mind from 4 weeks ago.

This is a good start in balancing the flying out of the coasts, but I do not believe it will be enough. Once this bid closes then the "clean up" bids that they mention will undoubtedly address any more unfilled Captain vacancies. The good news for the FO side of the house is that this balancing will also have to happen in the FO seat to match the staffing with the Captains, so folks trying to lateral out of the Coasts in those seats should have a much greater chance to do so sooner.

do they have to? If they’re systematically dead heading captains out to the coasts, can the captains not pick up trips with native FO’s

While they don't have to keep the Cap and FO staffing in perfect balance, they don't build Cap only and FO only pairings in non-augmented flying. So, they will need the staffing levels between the two seats at each domicile to be close enough to allow the pairings built in PBS to be covered. So after you account for the increased Vacation available for the more senior Captain seat, you will see that the staffing levels across each of the BES's for 737s and A320s has balanced staffing for Caps and FOs

that’s what I’m asking. They don’t or contractually they can’t

No snapshot today?

nope, Monday. Sure would be nice to post one on the opening day though.

They offer TDYs all the time to address staffing differences. There are some benefits to volunteering for them (perdiem, $25/day, etc), but as far as schedule construction goes, they are considered a pilot at the TDY base at the their seniority.

Good points. Great post. I think (hope!) we are finally moving towards more balanced bases.

I actually believe there will be unfilled CA vacancies on this bid. Narrowbody reserve is a goat rope and our reserve rules are abysmal. I'm a EWR NB CA, live in base and its pathetic, especially covering LGA. I personally know of several people that are bidding back to the right seat from narrowbody captain reserve. QOL vs pay is something everyone needs to consider. Money isn't everything.

I honestly don't get all the angst about reserve living in base.. pick up flights, make your own line ..Definitely not as flexible as a lineholder but very lucrative nonetheless.