Base seniority, commuting and communists

[jtrain609]

Heya everybody,


So here's a question for everybody. I think I've already decided what I'm going to do with this one, but I figured I'd throw it out there for everybody.

Another member has pointed out to me that if I manage a base trade from Newark to Cleveland I'll be able to hold a relief line almost all the time, and if I don't hold a relief line then I'll end up with a floating reserve line no matter what. I'd be bidding 14 out of 40 in the reserve pool in Cleveland, where I'm bidding 77 out of 120ish in Newark. There are 12 relief lines in Cleveland and 2 floating reserve lines, so I would always have one of the two.

The way things break down right now is that the company put a bunch of guys behind me in Newark and a bunch of guys behind me in Cleveland, but percentage wise many more in Cleveland. Cleveland is a smaller base, but over there I'm sitting in the top 35% of the reserve pool where in Newark I'm sitting at about 64% of the base seniority. Because there's no movement anywhere in the system (no hiring) I know that things are not going to get any better in Newark.

Right now I'm a long way away from holding a relief line and having any idea of what I'll be doing in a given month. Currently I'm holding the days I want off in Newark (I try to be in Newark for weekends, so it's easy to hold Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday off), but if I were to do a base trade to Cleveland I'd be able to hold a relief line, which means I would be able to know what I'm doing instead of sitting on my butt for 5 days at a time doing nothing (like I'm doing now).

There are some problems, though. If I were to get into Cleveland, it's an assured two legger commute all the time. Right now I'm having to leave at 10:00 a.m. the day before reserve starts to make it to Newark and still be able to pull the commuter clause. If I were to go to Cleveland, I'd have to two leg it and leave it at the same time, so it would seem I lose some security in not being able to pull my commuter clause if I can't get to work. Even if I were to try to ride FedEx or UPS it's a two legger (or possibly a three legger).

Also, Cleveland could be described as the bottomless pit of despair with my company and it's almost assured that I wouldn't be able to get out of Cleveland until the next perm bid comes out.

Oh and to add insult to injury, I don't know what days I'd get off. I can put in requests for certain things off, but in the end scheduling can build whatever schedule they want that's legal. So I could work 6 on, 1 off, 6 on, 1 off, 6 on, 10 off. That might sound beautiful, but I think Emily would kill me if I disappeared for 3 weeks. Unfortunately I'd have no control over that issue.

The advantages would be that I would actually be flying instead of coming to Newark to sit on my duff and argue with people on the forums, which is pretty much all I do right now. Well, that and read subversive reading material and dream up plans for the revolution.

So what would you do? Go to work to work, have a line and give up possible days at home and make your commute harder or continue with the same commute and go bat #### crazy sitting around for days at a time? And here, let me summarize this for you in case you didn't read or forgot everything I wrote.

Pro's:

-Having actual flying, knowing what I'll be doing and where my overnights will be and whatnot.
-Cheaper crashpad

Con's:

-Two legger commute all the time
-It's Cleveland
-Less control over what days I have off (not a huge issue, just that I get home)
-Not knowing what days off I have until the 28th of the month previous
-Can't pull commuter clause

Please do take note that all things are not equal on this list. I HATE sitting around on my butt not doing anything and wondering when or if scheduling will call me to work. Nothing bugs me more about this situation than having to leave home to go and do...nothing. In addition to having a smaller paycheck, I just get bored.

EDIT: I really didn't have anything to add about communists to this post.

[Velocipede]

If its an easier commute, hang tight. Unless you're going to save a boatload of money by NOT having a crashpad. Then, its a dollars and cents decision.

[Screaming_Emu]

The logic is sound, but you're really the one who needs to make the decision. I for one don't mind sitting around on my ass getting paid to do nothing. That being the case I'd probably be more inclined to stay in EWR. But I can see that if I were in your shoes I would probably want to do something different.

[jtrain609]

Word. I should also clarify, I'd be trading an already crappy commute for an even crappier commute. This one already turns into a two legger most of the time when coming home, this would just assure that it always would be a two legger instead of just half the time.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

Con's:

-Can't pull commuter clause

If you would commute to CLE from home without having it meet the commuter clause then I would rule it out right there.

If you are willing to leave earlier from home then it would add the pro of meeting commuter clause for every trip (loads permitting) and add the con of a few hours lost on the front end of the trip. But if you're starting at 10AM then the day is basically shot anyway so might as well start at 7AM and get the commuter clause met and lose that stress.

That's the way I'd do it anyway.

[jtrain609]

How can you pull the commuter clause on a two legger. I wasn't aware that you even could beacuse the clause only works from the second leg eh?

[Velocipede]

Train,

I've done a 2 leg commute ON LINE and it sucks. Off-line? Nuts!

[jtrain609]

Oh no doubt! I'm already doing a one legger online and as I said, I'm leaving at 10:00 a.m. the day before reserve starts to get to my base beacuse there are so few flights going to Newark from Salt Lake.

Honestly? I'm biding my time until I can get to LAX or ONT, or if we expand our Delta service and open a Salt Lake hub. Then I'm going to bid reserve for the rest of my life and never go to work. For now though it's trying to figure out how to make a bad situation work as well as I possibly can for both me and Emily. Like I said, I think I know what ima do, but I wanted to see what all ya'll say too

BTW Not arguing with you, just clarifying things as you guys post things up here so you can have a clearer idea of what I'm working with.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

How can you pull the commuter clause on a two legger. I wasn't aware that you even could beacuse the clause only works from the second leg eh?

If your first flight gets you into the intermediate airport with two good flights remaining to the base, you have the commuter clause from the intermediate airport. If you had two flights with good loads to the intermediate airport followed by two flights with good loads to the base I think that would be a normal, full commuter clause worthy setup from SLC.

Where would your intermediate airport be on SLC - ? - CLE and where is it when you can't do nonstop from EWR?

[jtrain609]

It would end up being MSP, ORD or ATL I believe. It could be any of those three depending on how the loads look to be honest with you. MSP is probably the best bet since the SLC-ATL flights can get booked up FAST and I can check loads on Red Tail through SONIC, so at least I'd know what I'm dealing with.

I've done it a few different ways when coming home. I've gone through ATL, DCA (DCA turned out to be real crappy last time I did it) and I think IAH so far.

[Chris_Ford]

Relief line = line = lineholder = pick up trips = make money = build time = better QOL in the end. Even if the commute sucks.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

It would end up being MSP, ORD or ATL I believe. It could be any of those three depending on how the loads look to be honest with you. MSP is probably the best bet since the SLC-ATL flights can get booked up FAST and I can check loads on Red Tail through SONIC, so at least I'd know what I'm dealing with.

I've done it a few different ways when coming home. I've gone through ATL, DCA (DCA turned out to be real crappy last time I did it) and I think IAH so far.

Yes, MSP and DTW seemed like good ones because you can view those NWA loads. Also, if you got to DTW and didn't make the flight to CLE from there you could probably rent a car and drive it, (if you absolutely had to).

[jtrain609]

Originally Posted by Chris_Ford

Relief line = line = lineholder = pick up trips = make money = build time = better QOL in the end. Even if the commute sucks.

Screw picking up trips! I've got a girl to see back in Salt Lake!

But I agree with the rest of your equation.

[Chris_Ford]

Let me rephrase.

Reliefe line = line = lineholder = not enough open time = RA days = ability to pick up trips to replace RA days (before the reserves get the APW)

That's what I meant, sorry.

[jtrain609]

I like your style.

[Chris_Ford]

Seriously, get off reserve. Your commute might suck but you're commuting to actual trips. You can pick up that open time if you need any extra cash, you're not tied to the phone. Commuting ain't so bad when you actually have a reason to commute.

[jtrain609]

I know what you mean. It's real hard to get revved up about getting on a 4.5 hour flight to leave Emily when I know that the only thing I'm going to be doing is sitting in my crashpad chatting with my internet buddies and staring at open time. I'd chat with my real buddies, but they have real lives, with real jobs that don't involve doing NOTHING for 5 days straight.

[Alchemy]

I think you should seriously consider CLE.

Commuting to Reserve is the pits. Although it is a 2 leg commute, I think CLE might be better for you even though CLE in winter is hell on earth.

From the sound of things it doesn't seem like it could get much worse than things already are.

With a relief line, QOL would obviously be better because you'll be flying and staying in single occupancy hotel rooms rather than festering in a crashpad somewhere (which gets old really fast).

With MSP and ORD, you've got two midway stopover points with plenty of options. Heck even STL, MCI, or DEN might work sometimes?

I can't believe no one does SLC-CLE! Maybe that flight will materialize with the supposed "CLE expansion" coming next year. It'd need at least a 737 or CR7 though as it's beyond the range of the 50 seat RJ's.....

[ClearedForOption]

Hey.... Cleveland Rocks.

Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame
The "Flats"
USS Cole
Housing is dirt cheap.
Awesome food... lots of middle eastern and asian places that kick arse
Great Music Scene
The other JC is there... John Carrol U (jesuits rock)
and on and on.

[stuckingfk]

How does one check loads on NWA if you don't fly for them?

[JEP]

Originally Posted by jtrain609

It would end up being MSP, ORD or ATL I believe. It could be any of those three depending on how the loads look to be honest with you. MSP is probably the best bet since the SLC-ATL flights can get booked up FAST and I can check loads on Red Tail through SONIC, so at least I'd know what I'm dealing with.

I've done it a few different ways when coming home. I've gone through ATL, DCA (DCA turned out to be real crappy last time I did it) and I think IAH so far.

If you get stuck in MSP, pick up the phone. I have a couch with a big screen and WiFi access.

[jtrain609]

Originally Posted by stuckingfk

How does one check loads on NWA if you don't fly for them?

Because Northwest and Delta are codeshare partners with Continental, we have access to their computer systems to check their pre boarding totals. It's kinda nice.

[DV8Pilot]

Avoid a two-leg commute at all costs!

[jynxyjoe]

i hate commies

[greaper007]

Originally Posted by ClearedForOption

Hey.... Cleveland Rocks.

Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame
The "Flats"
USS Cole
Housing is dirt cheap.
Awesome food... lots of middle eastern and asian places that kick arse
Great Music Scene
The other JC is there... John Carrol U (jesuits rock)
and on and on.

I'm with you on that one Cleared. I grew up in Cleveland (well 12 years or so) I'll add a few things to that list.

My absolute hands down favorite bar on the planet "La Cave Du Vin" very high end beer/wine and a very arrogant elitist staff that really really knows their beer/wine. It's also relatively cheap. It's also in Coventry which is a cool neighborhood in its own right.

I don't care what anyone says Cleveland Pizza is really good.

Put-In Bay in the summer is an awesome time also.