If you have the choice bid the 737. You can always bid up to the 756 to get IAD, but once on the 756 you will have a 2 year seat lock before you can bid back to the 737. So, if you choose the 737 it won't matter which will get you there first because you could put in a standing bid for both and will be awarded whichever occurs first. If you choose the 756 you are stuck with 756 as your only option (unless you could bid up in equipment size ie. 777, which is unlikely).

Well... I am returning from a disability leave .... ( I miscalculated my ability level on a black diamond and destroyed my knee)...
As for notification... They sent me a message on CCS and I have a full schedule in there all the way through June 21st...In fact it shows my training partner as well, though I don't know if he is in the indoc class...
Have equipment preferences been established yet or does that happen during the first week...?

If your returning from a medical LOA then you'll return to the aircraft and base you were last assigned... Dependent on how long you've been out on medical will determine if you attend BI... Only furlough bypass pilots (not returning from an approved LOA) choose from the BI class drop... Doesn't sound like you fall into that category.

Agreed...I already know my status for equipment and base...I was curious as to whether or not my training partner would be in the initial training. Since his name is already printed on my schedule I will assume that he is not in the class because the assignments have not been determined for those that have not begun their initial training....

When I went through Indoc last summer they told us our training schedule and partner were not set in stone until towards the end of class. They said they put names in as a tentative place holder until the schedule was finally set.

FWIW, my schedule and partner stayed the same as first indicated. Others in class had modifications.

Just FYI, furlough bypassers in my recent new-hire class went to whatever they could hold in the system.

That sounds totally incorrect.

Are you sure they were not pilots returning from MIL leave or LOA?

Could someone return from furlough and then take mil leave? Almost certain the guy said he was furloughed a long time ago but I know he was on mil leave. Thought he was out the whole time. Maybe that's a different story then.

Yup.

And it can get very complicated with multiple furloughs, various LOAs, and MIL all tossed in the mix.

That said, a "pure" furloughee gets tossed into the class drop.

True dat... Your paired up with someone who isn't a new hire or furlough bypass... New hires/furlough bypass don't get added to sim schedules until end of week one in BI. Welcome back.