Soooo many stories out there of getting hired one or two classes earlier, or one or two classes later. Mine, some weeks before my class date I broke a bone in my foot. A week before class I asked the doc if he could take the cast off early and I could wear sturdy high top boot to finish the healing. He said that should work and took the cast off. The first weeks were indoc, systems, and static sims. By the time I started the full flight sims where I needed to put pressure on that foot it was completely healed.

Several years later in a round of CAL furloughs the line was drawn under the junior pilot in my class. Had I slipped my class date I would have been furloughed in that round.

Unfortunately, I now have a permanent limp. Good news is I have an S.O.D.A. to use my cane to push on the rudder during an engine failure. ☺️

Ugleeual, and all,
Agreed on taking first available class. Just curious if on selection day you can ask the question about which will start training soonest? Probably not worth asking, but curious non the less. Thank you for the direction and replies.

APC225,
That's a motivating story. Hopefully, I won't duplicate those efforts. ��

Natty, I am sensing some confusion on your part.

You get a class date, that's it. Day one of class you bid for aircraft but your seniority is fixed by Oldest (most senior) to youngest (God save the ball) at 9AM on day 1. After that you get bids etc, and hopefully get a chance at the fleet/base you desire, but whatever your choice, you seniority is fixed after day 1 9AM.

Welcome.

ReadyRSV,
Thank you for the info. I think I am being misunderstood. Let me explain my question differently. I understand everything you wrote and also that you live and breath based on seniority. according to a previous post, all platform training is slowing down except for the 756. If I have the option based on my age, and I want to start platform training not long after BI, I'm guessing 756 might be a good option, based on the previous post. For example, on day one of BI, if I ask the instructors if training is backed up for either aircraft that we can select from and they say the 756 has a two month wait, then I might select 737. Hopefully that makes more sense.

who cares if training is backed up? you get paid from day one, in fact you make more if your training is delayed vs the guys that start sim training/IOE immediately. sit back and enjoy your paid vacation.

There are reasons to be done with training. For instance, if your wife is pregnant and the due date is in 8 weeks, you might want to start training ASAP to get it done.

Yes that will work, IF your goal is to be OUT of training ASAP. Your seniority will be the same either way. Also, they are very patient about explaining what to do, especially if this is your first airline! Although sometimes you get anything you'd like, as long as it's EWR 737!

Welcome aboard, don't forget, free coffee at the Starbucks in the hotel lobby if you show your badge!

Thanks for all the replies and the welcome aboard / free Starbucks (great gouge). I hear you on the the 737, my class bid is 12 737 and 4 756.