717 vs 737 at AirTran

[Flying-Corporal]

Just reread the thread about the advantages and disadvantages of 73 vs 71.

Is the reserve still longer on 717?
Any new info on QOL on either a/c?

 

[Lear70]

Just reread the thread about the advantages and disadvantages of 73 vs 71.

Is the reserve still longer on 717?
Any new info on QOL on either a/c?

Nice Avatar.

Sorry to miss this, been busy with the anti-T.A. stuff.

Yes, reserve is still longer on the 717, but it's back under 6 months, closer to 4 from what I'm hearing on the line versus still 2-3 months on the 737.

The main question is do you want to do 4-5 hour flights? If you HAVE to have overnights on the West Coast, then go for the 737. If you don't like the longer flights, you can bid away from them a lot of the time, as the 737 also does a lot of the same routes the 717 does, but you won't be able to avoid it 100% of the time.

The 737 has more productivity sits than the 717, but that will change as we add more aircraft. There's another large bid coming out for both CA's and F/O's (first CA class in 4 months) so the word is that we aren't going to defer any more 737's for a while and they'll keep coming. Where we're going to put them is pretty obvious (*cough* mke).

The 717 is more highly automated and is easier overall to fly, not that it matters really, an airplane is an airplane.

The older guys are flying the 737 - a lot of the other airline retirees, military guys, and senior guys are on it as CA's so that's who you'll be flying with. The F/A's say they have more fun with the 717 guys 'cause they're younger and more easy-going, but that's just line scuttlebutt and I can think of some 737 CA's that are pretty cool guys, so take that for what it's worth (not much).

The overnights are about the same (duration), and average 14-16 hours. Been seeing some shorter overnights (10-11 hours), but that's par for the course with summer high-season for travel and will likely go back up when school starts again in the fall.

Personally, I'm thinking about bidding over to the 737 when my seat lock is up, just because I think it's going to be a 4 year upgrade anyway, my seniority on that airplane is double what it is here on the 717 (bid better trips) and I'd like to be on that side of the house if/when any merger finally goes through so I'd be (hopefully) additionally seat protected (fenced), but that's just an educated gamble on my part more than anything else.

Good luck!

 

[SkiFishFly]

Personally, I'm thinking about bidding over to the 737 when my seat lock is up, just because I think it's going to be a 4 year upgrade anyway, my seniority on that airplane is double what it is here on the 717 (bid better trips) and I'd like to be on that side of the house if/when any merger finally goes through so I'd be (hopefully) additionally seat protected (fenced), but that's just an educated gamble on my part more than anything else.

Good luck!

Hopefully you are junior to me...

 

[Lear70]

I think so, but only by a couple months. April '06.

 

[Fly-By-Cable]

The F/A's say they have more fun with the 717 guys 'cause they're younger and more easy-going,

...you're welcome

 

[SkiFishFly]

I think so, but only by a couple months. April '06.

In that case:

Come on over! Glad to have you join us!

 

[captain dad]

You guys stroke yourselves more than the guys at the sperm bank.

Nice TA. :laugh:

At least you can save face and vote it down.

 

[Phaedrus]

That's the best you could "come" up with? You suck.

 

[johnsonrod]

Is it true that a number of 737-trained pilots at AirTran have left for SWA recently knowing they would be more valuable with that training/experience? That's just a rumor I heard and I don't have first-hand knowledge...

I hear the 717 is more advanced than the 737-700 in terms of systems/automation - true?

 

[Ty Webb]

That's the best you could "come" up with? You suck.

Actually, I think you mean that he "sucks more than a gay porn site". uke:



Top THAT! :laugh:


.