Originally Posted by
Comanche
More time off? Could you eloborate please as I thought vacation days will be much less the first few years whilst part time is not an option I think with the US majors? As seniority will be low, the first few years I'd probably be on reserve and then getting productive bid lines with max days off will be near impossible?
Yes, that’s true about the vacation days. Usually first year one week and second year two weeks. But you can manipulate your schedule much better than you will ever be able to do it at an European carrier. It’s easier to drop/swap trips. That’s of course not possible being on reserve. But time to a line is not too long these days. Maybe just a couple of months on the narrow bodies. You can also go to the widebodies and if you live in base being on reserve is not a bad deal. I know several people who fly maybe 1 or 2 trips a month. You will be on short/long call the other days, but if you live in base you will have lots of time off. On the other hand- if you upgrade early, you will be years on reserve and fly the stuff nobody wants to fly. That’s why most people prefer to stay in the right seat and have better quality of life, more days off and make similar money through strategic bidding. That said, you have lots of choices here.