Originally Posted by Grumble

Look at a three day domestic/HI trip $/day…. Then look at say a HKG or TPE trip.

All things being even, which would you rather get paid in a day? 😉

Originally Posted by FlyPanAm

SFO 777 might be the best fleet/domicile in the entire US airline industry right now.

Originally Posted by Turbosina

What do we think the odds are of another vacancy bid this year with NB vacancies?

Reason is, as an SFO resident currently commuting to IAH Guppy FO reserve, I want out of IAH yesterday. So I'm thinking of bidding SFO / LAX / LAS / DEN FO, to make my commute easier. I'm optimistic I'd get DEN FO, given the 100 open spots. Maybe LAX if I'm really lucky. Commuting long-call to DEN should be easier than to IAH, esp. given that I live next to OAK airport and SWA has lots of OAK-DEN options. Although in the winter I suppose IAH would be easier just because of the better weather? Maybe?

On the other hand, I really want SFO Guppy CA. If I bid that and get it, I'd go to training in summer '25. But I'd have to wait till the next vacancy bid to try for a lateral transfer out of IAH as an FO. So I'm tempted to bid for SFO CA, but place it after LAX or DEN FO, just so I get LAX or DEN FO now and make my commute easier. On the other hand, I don't want to miss out on the SFO CA opportunities. But I guess with SFO growing the 737, there should be more CA opportunities in the future, right?

And yes, I do recognize how incredible it is that a guy with 3 months on property can even have these options. My last trip was with a CA who'd been furloughed twice ('01 hire). What a different kind of career experience he's had. Conversely I just bumped into a CA who looked about 25 yo (and probably was.) What a world we live in...

Originally Posted by MrIceCreamMan

If I'm hoping for DEN as a brand-new FO, should I take this to mean there's a pretty good shot?

Originally Posted by khergan

Yes, DEN 737/320 FO is junior and fairly easy to get. If you don't bid it in indoc, you'll get it within the next vacancy or two.

Originally Posted by Grumble

Look at a three day domestic/HI trip $/day…. Then look at say a HKG or TPE trip.

All things being even, which would you rather get paid in a day? 😉

Originally Posted by Hedley

The problem is that he expressed concern about circadian rythem and not being able to handle the back side of the clock. Trips like HKG and TPE are productive and will provide more days off, but all of those trips involve all night flying. If you put avoid duty 0000-0400 on a widebody, it basically wipes out the entire bid packet. I found out that in my 50's that I can't handle it. I wouldn't bid back to that type of flying for tripple the pay.

Originally Posted by Stinger6

I look at the junior lines on the 737 and they look a LOT tougher on the body than the Global WB trips. They start with ANF single leg, min rest and 2 legs until midnight, medium rest and 3 legs to rush hour traffic. Come back in 25 hours and do it again. Take 3 days off and do it again. I'm in my 50s, I need the money, but NB CA is going to be the death of me compared to the gentle pace of the global flying. Global looks like it has 3 circadian swaps a month. NB CA looks like it has 6, with no bunk and no international lounges.

Everyone is different, but I just don't see how NB is easier on the body.

Originally Posted by Stinger6

I look at the junior lines on the 737 and they look a LOT tougher on the body than the Global WB trips. They start with ANF single leg, min rest and 2 legs until midnight, medium rest and 3 legs to rush hour traffic. Come back in 25 hours and do it again. Take 3 days off and do it again. I'm in my 50s, I need the money, but NB CA is going to be the death of me compared to the gentle pace of the global flying. Global looks like it has 3 circadian swaps a month. NB CA looks like it has 6, with no bunk and no international lounges.

Everyone is different, but I just don't see how NB is easier on the body.

Originally Posted by Stinger6

I look at the junior lines on the 737 and they look a LOT tougher on the body than the Global WB trips. They start with ANF single leg, min rest and 2 legs until midnight, medium rest and 3 legs to rush hour traffic. Come back in 25 hours and do it again. Take 3 days off and do it again. I'm in my 50s, I need the money, but NB CA is going to be the death of me compared to the gentle pace of the global flying. Global looks like it has 3 circadian swaps a month. NB CA looks like it has 6, with no bunk and no international lounges.

Everyone is different, but I just don't see how NB is easier on the body.