ImSoSuss

The way our trips credit, which is not good, you will range between 12 to 15 days off a month as a lineholder. 15 days when you are near MMG and 12 days if you are over 90. If you live in base reserve is not a bad gig and you will typically get more than your standard 12 days off by not being used from time to time. However this may all change with the new bucket system.

Legs per day and the length of duty day is not great here but will probably be an improvement for someone coming from SWA.

FastNeatAvg

What’s the normal credit at AAL v block? What is MMG? I live 30 min from DFW. Bucket system- good or bad?

What do WB FO have? Same 12-15 days off?


I’ve seen a lot of folks at SWA forum saying go now, but SWA has 18-20 days off for lines and 15/16 reserve days off.
Is the huge issue the “while I’m at work” discussion?
Appreciate it fellas as always.

It’s a big decision, but my primary concern is lifetime earnings of course, but more so time off/schedule flex to use said $$. Previously it seemed at 31 YO- WB CA is 27 years away, NB CA 2-2.5 DFW, WB FO is 7 years- about same time as SWA upgrade.

Appreciate the responses.

CRJCapitan

In the new contract, LC MMG would be 73 hours and SC would be 76 hours. Average line value would be between 74-82 hours (which can be flexed to 86 certain months of the year).

WB FO's I've seen seem to have 12-17 days off with 15 being the average (and lots of hidden time off built in there given a three day could depart at 9 PM day one and return at 6 AM day three).

Through extrapolating the seniority projector based on current the (recent) junior WB CA being around 3600, this would put WB CA at being attainable in 2047 (24 years). This would be at JFK. Roughly 2600 is the junior WB CA (787) at DFW, which would be attainable around 2049 according to my best estimate based on current data and seniority projections. Keep in mind, AA will be getting 30 more 787's, so this will likely change for the better.

HalinTexas

It ain't all about money, although that helps. It certainly isn't about the airplane you fly, necessarily. I'll fly a C172 if you pay me enough.

One man's pain is another's pleasure.

I've been in this industry for almost 30 years. I've been at AA for a year and a half. Other than instructing at AA and AAL, this is the first time I've lived in base. I got DFW in training. Most of my flight time is in B737s from -300s, -700s and -800s. I've flown L1011s, the smoothest, nicest ride; B757s the most fun; to turbo props and B737s. I don't care so much about the plane as long as it's taken care of. Living in base, a base you want to live in, should be your primary goal. You can earn more money with less work and have the quality of life you seek if you don't have to commute. My worst commute was DFW to HND.

AAL is easiest job I've ever had, except for those that make it hard, but ATA was the best job I ever had. Made less money and commuted from DFW to SFO, MCO, IND, MDW, LAX and finally OAK. I enjoyed, most the people I worked with at TZ.

Work to live, don't live to work. and NO WHINING!

Ihavenoidea

Is 15-18 days off with around 80 hours credit on the NB side even possible at AA? Also interested to see if there are any recent SWA-AA transplants that (were) are commuters at both airlines. Just wondering if the loss of 3-4 days off per month at AA has been a noticeable change in your time at home?

CRJCapitan

I'd say 15-16 off with 80 credit is common and 17-18 with same credit possible if you are senior.

PRS Guitars

Just one data point

2 years ago, I worked 13 days for 89 hours (so 17 or 18 off…can’t remember). I was 25% DFW FO at the time and worked quite a few crappy 6.5 to 8.0 hour 1 days, and a few 18-19 hour 3 days. It was self inflicted (I got what I wanted in PBS). I would not do it again, it was brutal. Also, I don’t think there are many trips like I flew that month in the recent bid packages.

When I was LAX based, I tried to average 6 hours a day and it was possible back then as a %50-%30 FO. They have 2 day 11:30 to 12:30 trips in LAX and LGA, they are easy 1 leg a day transcons. DFW doesn’t have trips like that.

ImSoSuss

18 no, 15 yes. The way our pairings credit don't expect much more than min-ditty period pay (5:15) times the number of days of the trip. Not getting the 2:30 min day and over 10 hour 1:1 that is now industry standard will ensure AA remains industry trailing.

PRS Guitars

Depends where you are based. DFW doesn’t have many trips that are higher than ACD, LGA has quite a few, and they are easy transcon trips.

CRJCapitan

He is right that the trips are not that efficient on credit and you should expect 5:15-6:00 per day on the vast majority of trips.

The rigs are more complicated. The 2:30 rig would almost never apply as it is (at least not by more than a few min). One of the relatively few points I agree with APA on is that the 1:1 rig would lead to less efficient SCHEDULED trips. The rig could be sweet on bad weather days with delays, but we'll see how it plays out among each airline as to whether it's a worthwhile tradeoff.