Living in base SFO QOL
 

Wondering how many days could be spent at home as a senior SFO 737 FO, Junior 777 FO on reserve or very bottom 737 reserve Capt.

Currently living an hour from the airport. I don't mind flying or sitting reserve weekends and holidays.

Thanks

Reserve schedules are built to 12 days off. If the flying is slow you could sit home for all 18-19 days of reserve...possibly. During peak summer holiday flying they will use you...a lot.

Super senior lineholders are averaging around 17-18 days off on the 737 while middle of the road ones get anywhere from 14-16. I disagree with the 18-19 days off on reserve comment. Since our staffing sucks and the only way for lineholders to trade or get days off is to call in sick, reserves seem to be flying a lot.

If QOL is all your concerned about I'd stick with the senior F/O gig. Our reserve system blows and they tend to abuse them on a daily basis. Airport Alert is another gem as well that will see you sitting for 4 hours on property at SFO.

I am a relatively senior bus fo and live an hour from the airport. I bid reserve occasionally (not during summer) and try to hide. I think the most days I have worked on reserve has been 10. One month was 4. My lines typically have 17 days off. It all depends on the staffing. If it looks like they will be short then I will bid a line. To me bidding reserve can be great if it's a choice. If you bid into a situation where you be on reserve for long period of time it will be not so fun.

Hour away from the airport .. are you in Burlingame ? ;) When I was based in SFO (18 years), it could take an hour just to get across the San Mateo or Bay Bridge.

Nah.....marin county. The GGB is much less problematic than the other bridges. At night or early morning it's 45 minutes, other times about an hour. Occasionally it gets to 1:10

Thanks guys

Living close to the airport gives you a great option as a reserve. I live 1.5 hours from my base and me, along with others who live close, use short calls to bump up pay and drive us lower on the fifo list. I've gone an entire month not flying but received three hours add pay for sitting 5 short calls. I'm typing this as I sit on my couch getting an hour's add pay for sitting my third short call this month.

So you must drive a Subaru Outback.

A little known thing about short call...CCS isn't programmed to know the difference between an assigned SC and one that you pick up. As a result, you will get paid for all SC after the 2 freebies.