A350-1000 and other Fleet News
03-04-2024, 10:20 AM
#2521
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2010
Position: window seat
Posts: 12,544
I need some advice.
I've been here for 6 years. Spent a couple years on the 320 and a couple on the 330. I've loved it, but I miss being a Captain. For my base, the 737 left seat would put me around 50% and the 717 would be near 60%. The 320 would be around 75%. I'm a short guy so I've heard the 737 wouldn't be too bad. I'm worried about the loud flight deck noise though. The 717 seems great but I know retirements are happening sooner than later. The easy transition would be the 320 but I kind of want to try something new and I like the 737 trips better and would have the best seniority.
Is the 737 really that bad? I've heard horrible things about the plane but from my research it doesn't seem that bad. I really like the trips. Caribbean flying is a new concept for me and I would like to try it. Does the 737 have all the cool features such as CPDLC? How are WATRS? All I really know is NAT flying. Is it an easy flying airplane like the Airbus? I like the idea of the -10 in a few years too. I'm a 1-2 leg kind of guy. I don't care about having a yoke or anything like that. Is the HUD cool?
Anything I should be afraid of when it comes to the 737? How about the 717? If I got the 717, are we keeping them for a few years at least?
I know I asked a lot of questions so I'd appreciate any tips or advice anyone may have for me.
I've been here for 6 years. Spent a couple years on the 320 and a couple on the 330. I've loved it, but I miss being a Captain. For my base, the 737 left seat would put me around 50% and the 717 would be near 60%. The 320 would be around 75%. I'm a short guy so I've heard the 737 wouldn't be too bad. I'm worried about the loud flight deck noise though. The 717 seems great but I know retirements are happening sooner than later. The easy transition would be the 320 but I kind of want to try something new and I like the 737 trips better and would have the best seniority.
Is the 737 really that bad? I've heard horrible things about the plane but from my research it doesn't seem that bad. I really like the trips. Caribbean flying is a new concept for me and I would like to try it. Does the 737 have all the cool features such as CPDLC? How are WATRS? All I really know is NAT flying. Is it an easy flying airplane like the Airbus? I like the idea of the -10 in a few years too. I'm a 1-2 leg kind of guy. I don't care about having a yoke or anything like that. Is the HUD cool?
Anything I should be afraid of when it comes to the 737? How about the 717? If I got the 717, are we keeping them for a few years at least?
I know I asked a lot of questions so I'd appreciate any tips or advice anyone may have for me.
As far as it having better trips, that's something that can and IMO will change. The older 320's and 319's do pretty much garantee a slightly higher legs per day fleet average but that really just means the 320 has more trip variety, NOT that you'll be stuck doing that if you want to avoid that. The 320 with just a little more seniority than what you have right now is IMO just as good in every way and with more NEO's coming will only keep getting better.
If you just really dig collecting types or you feel the pull of Va Ave, go for it. If it were me I'd stick 320 but would consider the 717 over the 737 for superior seniority plus the DC-9 type is a far bigger flex than the "guppy" anyway 8)
03-04-2024, 12:40 PM
#2522
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2018
Posts: 3,265
The 717 will almost def be here for 3-5+ years. They just reactivated the rest of the available parked ones a month or two ago. The 220 has delays and issues I think. IMO the 717 will be here for 5-10. The 73 isn't as bad as people say, but only you can quantify the value of "trying somehting new" and IMO the 737 isn't really worth that but YMMV. It will help you get the job at SWA one day though.
As far as it having better trips, that's something that can and IMO will change. The older 320's and 319's do pretty much garantee a slightly higher legs per day fleet average but that really just means the 320 has more trip variety, NOT that you'll be stuck doing that if you want to avoid that. The 320 with just a little more seniority than what you have right now is IMO just as good in every way and with more NEO's coming will only keep getting better.
If you just really dig collecting types or you feel the pull of Va Ave, go for it. If it were me I'd stick 320 but would consider the 717 over the 737 for superior seniority plus the DC-9 type is a far bigger flex than the "guppy" anyway 8)
As far as it having better trips, that's something that can and IMO will change. The older 320's and 319's do pretty much garantee a slightly higher legs per day fleet average but that really just means the 320 has more trip variety, NOT that you'll be stuck doing that if you want to avoid that. The 320 with just a little more seniority than what you have right now is IMO just as good in every way and with more NEO's coming will only keep getting better.
If you just really dig collecting types or you feel the pull of Va Ave, go for it. If it were me I'd stick 320 but would consider the 717 over the 737 for superior seniority plus the DC-9 type is a far bigger flex than the "guppy" anyway 8)
03-04-2024, 01:19 PM
#2523
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Position: NYC 7ERA
Posts: 2,079
03-04-2024, 05:55 PM
#2524
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 5,631
03-04-2024, 07:51 PM
#2526
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Position: NYC 7ERA
Posts: 2,079
Flew the ER as a FO so it's been basically an easy long course. 44X on Wednesday.
Won't miss LGA.
Better legroom in the ER (I'm tall)
I hated the Airbus FMS and MCP. I will take VNAV/LAVS/FRAG but the FMS can deal with a tailwind over "managed" anyday.
I can actually stand straight up in the 757 1st class Lav.
Bottom 1/3 of the bid pack sucks less. (I'm 80%ish ER, 77% 320 last I checked)
Manning was far worse on 320. I could basically do 2-3 GS a month on the 320. So better money. But never a blue day on the RES grid to move/drop a trip or move Xdays.
No blue days now on ER but everything is above 75% reserves required. Maybe 2 days over 30% on the 320.
Won't miss LGA.
Better legroom in the ER (I'm tall)
I hated the Airbus FMS and MCP. I will take VNAV/LAVS/FRAG but the FMS can deal with a tailwind over "managed" anyday.
I can actually stand straight up in the 757 1st class Lav.
Bottom 1/3 of the bid pack sucks less. (I'm 80%ish ER, 77% 320 last I checked)
Manning was far worse on 320. I could basically do 2-3 GS a month on the 320. So better money. But never a blue day on the RES grid to move/drop a trip or move Xdays.
No blue days now on ER but everything is above 75% reserves required. Maybe 2 days over 30% on the 320.
03-05-2024, 03:38 AM
#2527
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 19,635
03-05-2024, 04:04 AM
#2528
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2012
Position: CRJ FO
Posts: 4,601
Flew the ER as a FO so it's been basically an easy long course. 44X on Wednesday.
Won't miss LGA.
Better legroom in the ER (I'm tall)
I hated the Airbus FMS and MCP. I will take VNAV/LAVS/FRAG but the FMS can deal with a tailwind over "managed" anyday.
I can actually stand straight up in the 757 1st class Lav.
Bottom 1/3 of the bid pack sucks less. (I'm 80%ish ER, 77% 320 last I checked)
Manning was far worse on 320. I could basically do 2-3 GS a month on the 320. So better money. But never a blue day on the RES grid to move/drop a trip or move Xdays.
No blue days now on ER but everything is above 75% reserves required. Maybe 2 days over 30% on the 320.
Won't miss LGA.
Better legroom in the ER (I'm tall)
I hated the Airbus FMS and MCP. I will take VNAV/LAVS/FRAG but the FMS can deal with a tailwind over "managed" anyday.
I can actually stand straight up in the 757 1st class Lav.
Bottom 1/3 of the bid pack sucks less. (I'm 80%ish ER, 77% 320 last I checked)
Manning was far worse on 320. I could basically do 2-3 GS a month on the 320. So better money. But never a blue day on the RES grid to move/drop a trip or move Xdays.
No blue days now on ER but everything is above 75% reserves required. Maybe 2 days over 30% on the 320.
03-05-2024, 05:24 AM
#2529
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2014
Posts: 907
As someone who went A320 to 7ER all of this is very accurate. I miss the comforts of the Bus. Hated the box and disliked the performance on the A321 though. I’m much more junior on the ER than I was when I left the Bus, but it seems like the 7ER is a better staffed category compared to the Airbus.
it’s perfectly fine as far as comfort goes. Yeah the tray table is “nice” I guess but it’s way down on the list of things I care about. I much prefer flying a yoke than a stick. It makes you feel more involved in actual task of flying.
I know most people at Delta love the Airbus. To each their own though!
as an aside, from the little kid in me, it’s cool to fly a 756/767 for a legacy airline before they go away.
