YellowBusMarine

Tried the search function and didn’t get anything useful.

Is there a one-stop shop to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each fleet? I know one person’s garbage is another’s gold, but I’d like to get some input I can use to make as informed a decision as possible.

Thanks I’m advance.

unstabilized

Doubt anyone has an entire world view of this.

But as a 737 guy, I can tell you about that.

Been based in the midwest for about a year. Seniority progression has been good in the past year I currently am bidding about 50% in base.

Can bid commutable trips, trip trading works well. Occasionally can drop trips.

Trip mix is generally 2 legs per day (sometimes 3, and rarely i’ve seen 4), 20-24 hours of credit for a 4 day. Some trips have 1 red eye on the go home leg which is nice for commuting purposes. Also, some trips exist that have a redeye in the middle and it’s normally a short AM flight, short layover, work the redeye flight outbound on the same calendar day (dayover).

Fair mix of domestic layovers, you’ll normally get a long layover on one day and a short on the other two. Depending on the base you can get a lot of latin america/carribean flying if that’s your thing. I avoid it for the most part. I’ve hit most of the system including the Azores, but not hawaii, south america, or alaska on this fleet.

So overall, decent QOL. Not the most efficient credit but plenty reasonable. You’ll find commutable trips generally have bad credit/short layovers but that’s just how things are unfortunately.

Half wing

If you have 30 years of seniority, the 787 FO seat is fantastic! 8 years or less commuting to global reserve and your relationships are actively deteriorating. You will be allowed about one conjugal visit per week.

three1five

I’m not quite at 6 months yet but FWIW, when I was hired people were speaking of getting lines at coastal bases right off OE on the 73. At the same time had a friend waiting almost 6 months (paid) for OE to begin on the 756. Presently, the left coast 73 bases are overstaffed for FOs and many are having trouble consolidating. I am closer to the G line on the 777 in SFO than I am in either of the left coast 737 bases, and those junior 777 lines are about the same for commutability and days off as the junior 737 lines. Global vs basic reserve is a consideration…but not for a lineholder…

Point being times are weird and anything you hear now probably won’t still be true in 3-4 months.

Brickfire

This ^^^^

Corollary: What was true 6 months ago let alone 6 years ago is no longer true. There is not reliable information about what X choice will likely mean to your life 12 months hence.


But... if you bid 737/A320 and want to move to something bigger you can. If you bid 777 or 787 you're staying there two years.

YellowBusMarine

Thanks. All that makes sense. I’m looking at 737 vs 320. No interest in commuting (especially for reserve), so not considering WB. I’ll be driving from DFW to IAH short term, but we will move to DEN or DC eventually.

RaginCajun

Not if you bid the next seat over when you are sick of sitting rsv.

TyWebb

As someone who's contemplating a move to IAH, why are you only considering DEN or DC? Worries me a little coming from a Texan.

Swakid8

As a Texan nothing is wrong with DEN or DC….

TyWebb

Cool thanks

I was asking the OP because he said he was living in DFW but didn't list IAH as a consideration for moving