MCO Base Timelines
 

Hello all,

Tampa is home and looking to settle down there soon and start training with UAL. I've noticed that MCO is a senior base, but also looking at some seniority numbers being posted in other threads (I think FO in MCO now is around 16,500ish).

Trying to learn the system with friends but question: what is the timeline right now for someone being able to bid and hold MCO FO if that is where they want to remain the rest of their career? Trying my best to use the search function and understand the meaning behind the numbers. I've heard it can be a few months but also can be years. Just trying to do some family planning is all. Appreciate the answers and any guidance. Thank you and looking forward to joining the team shortly!

As of right this moment, less than a year probably. Can't say specifically as there are too many variables.

Thanks for the reply. I've been hearing similar. Also hearing about everything can change quickly. Do people still recommend just bid the metal you want to fly as soon as you can to eventually get to the base you want that has it? that is the plan for now. Will commute as required until ideally can hold FO in MCO. I've seen and heard that MCO is very senior for CA though unfortunately, so not sure how long I will be an FO but that is fine. Thanks for the reply.

If you want MCO, definitely try to bid the 737 in indoc since that’s the only fleet we currently have in Florida. The transition from say EWR 737 FO to MCO 737 FO is quick and painless, but if you wind up on the Bus or the 756, you’re going to be equipment locked out for a couple years (bidding CA would release you from that, but MCO CA is too senior for that to be a realistic strategy).

Most junior pilot to be awarded MCO FO on the recent vacancy was a 162XX seniority number, which is about 1000 from the bottom of the list these days. Figure that’s about six months worth of hiring, then tack on a few months for your lateral to activate, and I’d say with medium confidence that you’d be flying out of MCO (as an FO) within a year of starting indoc.

MCO CA currently looks like it’s going to be a long time.

25 FO seats added in MCO on the newest vacancy that opened today.

No CA seats. Anyone smarter than me care speculate why?

The kind of people that bid MCO CA are generally FL locals that decided driving to MCO to be a 737 CA was a better deal than commuting to fly something else. They’re probably not going to turn around six months or a year later and change their minds and bid something else. To me, it’s a textbook case of a base where seniority is going to progress slooowly, with more of that movement coming from retirements (vs. bidding out) than your average 737 base.

Makes sense. No growth just replacement. Thanks.

Great info about MCO. Thanks everyone for the comments.
I've got an interview coming up with UAL and am mainly interested based on MCO. Copy all that it's probably doable in 6-9 months and Capt is a longer look.
What's the flying like out of MCO? Better or worse than other 737 bases?

The flying varies from month to month, but we see a little of everything. I haven't noticed a lot of international layovers that seem to be more prevalent in EWR or IAH. Also, the mix of TPA and MCO trips seems to vary a little every month.