Schedules
 

Just going to ask straight up... How realistic is a week on/week off type schedule? Qualifier is...as a junior FO?

Thanks everybody.

Very easy to do in Guam.

Not likely as a reserve owes 18 days and gets 12 off, so the math does not support week on, week off. As for a line, you might get 16 days off and 14 on, but they will never schedule you more than 6 straight unless you waive something, and then it will likely be 2 four day trips back to back with a 1/7 in between.(737 experience)

virtually impossible for a newbie… once a line holder with some resemblance of relative base seniority (70ish on G-Line) you can PBS bid trip requests so that you bunch together flying to 6 days… and then bid min time between schedule blocks.

Thanks all, I appreciate the feedback. What is a G line? Forgive my ignorance

I'm 62% and bid back to back trips. What this usually gives me is 2 work blocks of a 4 and a 3 day back to back. Doesn't work quite as well in the busy months but it can be done. Highly unlikely as a really new hire. Impossible on reserve on any fleet at any seniority.

G Line is the seniority number that separates line holders from reserve. Everyone below the G line is on reserve (with caveats). Everyone above it is guaranteed a line if they don't bid reserve.

ohhh, anticipating the question. very wise, grasshopper...I mean hilltopper.

He originally asked this in a separate post. He deleted it for whatever reason, making me look dumb. Not that I need his help.

Naaah. It helped some folks understand.

Are FO's in the bottom half of the FO list basically flying Friday-Monday with Tues-Thru off every week?

Thanks

Way too many variables. The base closest to you has someone at about 50% with 7 of 10 weekend days off in May and some reserves (bottom 10%) with 9 of 10 weekend days off. Typically, a senior reserve can get all weekends off. But you're essentially right, all weekend off lineholders are well into the top half of the group.

It's the "spot" your in. Above the "spot" you can get a line. Below this "spot." you are on reserve.

Please don't confuse the G line with the actual G spot. Although they both provide some gratuitous feelings of joy and excitement, it has been observed that one should be above the G line to have an optimum bidding experience. However, if you are below the G line be careful because you may lose your place in the line and feel as though you'll never really find the elusive G spot. If you can't figure it out, you can probably get Colonel Angus to bid for you.

I don't know if Colonel Angus will be able to bid for others. Last I heard, he was heading to the deep south. He likes it hot and humid.

I've heard during the slower months that 18 days off are possible (737EWR). Is this typical to get some months with only 3 4day trips and 18 days off?

In May I bid a low credit line and got 18 days off. I had 19 off last November. It's a trade off though. A low credit line pays a lot less.
Every month the company publishes average, min, and max line values. Every line built must fit between the min and max. In slow months the min is 70 hrs. In busy months it's 77. So basically you'd have to work an extra 7 hrs to get to the min in a busy month. This equates to 1-1.5 days.

I basically bid low credit and then pick up an extra short trip if I need the $$. I'd rather work when I feel like it.

Still, bidding a low credit line in a busy month would yield 16-18 days off depending on your seniority and how you bid.

Hope this helps.

That does help a lot. Thanks.

At my previous airline, I usually had to do 4 4-days to make min line value. I like the possibility of bidding as you suggest and pick up a quick trip if I need the $$

I'm sure it will take a while as a lineholder to accomplish this, right?

What base and approximate seniority are you again to get this? EWR?