James,
I am willing to listen. How is it worse?
The company needs FO's at certain bases, including DEN. They put out a vacancy, but everyone can bid. What is left, including backfills, goes to new hires.

I don't understand how this is worse. But I will listen.

That was in response to an earlier comment you posted, which I guess you then edited. It was more of a generalization WRT the way the airline staffing levels.

So, never mind.

Before this latest vacancy I would say neither. 737 and A320 both were considered overstaffed and this week we have vacancies. I would probably choose 737 just based on the size of the base. The 737 has almost 400 pilots and the A320 has 182 FO's. This latest vacancy has 11 vacancies for IAH 737 FO but they are filling 35 position with the back fills (I assume several others bid out to other bases and their seats were filled).

Looks like they are both being filled by relatively junior people. It really is a roll of the dice. Good luck.

The 737 deliveries are drying up. The Airbus is the new "growth aircraft". I would expect more opportunities on the Airbus going forward with the deliveries of new (to us) aircraft.

Deliveries are not the only reasons for movement in 37; senior guys are taking vacancies on heavies as the old pilots retiring from them.
37 is by far the best for seniority, bases and trip choices.

44 more FOs than CAs on Houston Bus. 52 more CAs than FO on Houston 73. Bus is going more senior on this bid. This year junior folks coming into 73. Last year they went into Bus, in Houston at least. But anybody's guess is as good as anybody else's with regard to crew planning. FWIW over last 2 years new hires have had a shot at every base but ORD. Probably the same over next 2 years. Or not.

Good news is you only have to be junior once.

Current 320 FO (July new hire) and can't remember the answer to this question - how long is the seat lock for your aircraft?

2 years to lateral within the same pay band (bus to 73). No freeze to move up to a higher pay band. No freeze from FO to CA. Contract has the stipulation allowing variations to this if the company needs it.

Thanks for all the great insight, I appreciate it immensely!
Cheers,
Fetch

That's because it's 1950's technology with some lipstick on the pig. I know I flly it! It was like taking a step back into a time going from the 767 and 777 lol. I flew the 300/500 back in the 90s and it was outdated then. Now there's glass but still the same tired old systems. It's a fun little plane, but I don't blame people for moving up/out as soon as possible.