Originally Posted by seven oh

I'm SCR in PHL. Most of my trips fall into your definition of relaxed. Average trip is a 2-day 1-1 or 2-1/1-2, often with a last leg DH. Almost never get 4 day trips or redeyes, even with 4+ days availability.

Just for fun I'm going to try to answer all of your initial questions. I was a Nov '22 hire, off OE in March (long sit due to sim backlog) so these answers are based on my timeline. YMMV.

- time to hold a line: third month after finishing OE
- ability to bid short call reserve: immediately. first month you will probably be forced into SC with an early (0200 or 0400) RAP. You'll be able to hold later RAPs within 1-2 months as folks come in behind you. I like the 1000 and could hold that along with most days off I wanted at about the 4-month point off OE.
- typical trips & red-eyes/overnights: length/redeyes answered above. destinations can vary widely, i've had several 1-1 transcons and 2-1 or 1-2 northeast shuttle-type trips (BOS, BGR, PWM) over the past few months. good bit of turns too, often CLT or RDU. if you're lucky you get a 2-day late afternoon/evening report with a morning return. if you're really lucky you no show your next-day DH, ride the turn back home and aren't useable the next day.
- ability to swap trips: can't speak to this, i've only bid SCR.
- seniority progression: i'm 65% in base/type after just under a year here. that equates to about top third of the SC list in seniority. i moved up 1,000 spots on the company-wide list on the summer seniority run.

welcome! feel free to DM for more info. I live about 45 mins NW of PHL and grew up here.

Originally Posted by SF20007

Great stuff! Any insight on how they use the 787 at PHL? It’s mostly Europe, right? Are they 2-3 day trips? Thank you.

Originally Posted by cornerpocket

Is ORD still around 0-6 months to hold for new hire FO's?

Originally Posted by ImSoSuss

0 would mean it would be in the class drops and it hasn't been in a class drop for a year and a half. But you will most likely get it in your first vacancy bid. At worst you'll commute for a month or two.

Originally Posted by cornerpocket

Thank you! Between 737 and A320, is it easy to tell if one fleet would hold ORD faster than the other?

Originally Posted by Fly76

737 because there isn’t 320 in ORD 🤭

Originally Posted by N4865G

All very valid points there Sliceback.
All those places seem viable, I would definitely favour a base with the quickest seniority progression and getting out of reserve.
PHL and/or DCA seem to be checking all the boxes, with DCA seemingly easier to be allotted to looking at past several class drops.
Thank you