NJ questions for new applicant

[altscap]

I would appreciate any responses to the following questions...

What equipment are at what domicile?

Are new-hires assinged by equip. or domicile?

I would prefer to be in SoCal. being a westie at heart, are there any international oportunities on the equipment based in LA?

How's the catering, should I bring a lunch box?

7-7. I'm scheduled 6on-2off-6on-3off-6on now, so 7 on is not much of a stretch for me and 7 off is like some sort of fantasy world I've only dreamed of.

Thanks for the info!!

 

[CA1900]

What equipment are at what domicile?

All equipment types are at all domiciles. They (theoretically) try to spread the crews for each type evenly amongst the domiciles.

Are new-hires assinged by equip. or domicile?

Both. You'll be interviewed based on your domicile preference, and if/when they call with a job offer, it'll be for the equipment openings that are available at the domicile you applied for.

I would prefer to be in SoCal. being a westie at heart, are there any international oportunities on the equipment based in LA?

Nobody knows. International opportunities depend on the equipment you're in. The Falcon 2000, C-750 and G200 will probably do more international stuff than, say, the smaller Citations. But the bulk of all the flying you do will be domestic anyway, with some Canada and Caribbean mixed in.

How's the catering, should I bring a lunch box?

For 7 days? Catering's adequate; hopefully it'll get better soon. But I certainly eat better than I ever did at a food court, that's for sure.

7 off is like some sort of fantasy world I've only dreamed of.

HA! It's pretty nice. I will say that I'm really not much more beat after 7 days at this job than I was after 5 days at a regional. The only difference is that I have a lot more time off inbetween work days, and the hotels are generally better on the road than I was used to.

 

[altscap]

Thanks for the quick info.

Would it speed things up if I tell them I can take the first available slot at any domicle and then move around afterward or do they want to keep you in just one domcile?

 

[CA1900]

No, you can tell them you'll accept ANY domicile, and if that's the case, I'd say that on your application when it asks for a domicile preference. (Or if you've already sent it in, a follow-up e-mail to the recruiting address.)

I'd caution you, though: Switching domiciles is NOT easy. It isn't as simple as putting a bid in and waiting for a month or two -- there has to be an opening posted in the base you want, in the airplane type you're flying, to be able to bid for another domicile. That can take many, many months.

If your present job is survivable, you'd probably be better off putting a bid in for the domicile you want. That way, you'll be able to grab the first slot in whatever airplane you can get in that base.

You'd gain seniority faster by taking the first available domicile, but if you're not planning on moving there, life may get very expensive. Remember, we don't have jumpseat privileges, meaning you'll have to buy yourself a ticket to get to work. If you're on the reserve schedule (and you will be when you start), you won't even know if you'll be working the next day until 6pm the evening prior -- and there might not be a ticket to your destination available, at any price, that late in the evening. If you gamble and fly out anyway, and it turns out they're not working you that next day, you're on the hook for any hotel expenses up until they DO call you. (Once you come out on the first assigned day, though, the hotel will be on the company, even at your domicile.)



I applied last January, and didn't get called for an interview until September because I wanted PBI. There was that much of a wait for slots there.

 

[altscap]

I hear LAX may be move a bit faster. Any truth to that?

 

[CA1900]

I've heard the same rumor; LAX has been one of the harder ones to fill, historically, because of its high cost of living. If that's your neck of the woods, that'll probably help speed things along! I believe LAX and CMH would be the shortest waits, PBI and TEB are about even, and DAL has the longest wait, from what I've been hearing.

 

[altscap]

I wonder if the rumors of a cost of living override will help them out - yeah right, ha ha. Thanks for your advice!

 

[Guitar Guy]

I hear LAX may be move a bit faster. Any truth to that?

I helped someone who wanted the LAX domicile ("dumb-a-cile") get an interview a few months ago. He went from application to interview in under three months. I really believe that the quick timeline for him was due to his preference for LAX.

Of course, that could change as other domiciles become more or less popular. But I'd imagine that LAX is probably going to be tough to fill due to the cost of living out there.

Good luck to you.

 

[altscap]

Guitar Guy,

I've seen a few of your posts. Do you build guitars? I'm a wind guy myself, Brass, woodwind, bandgeek stuff but it all feels the same.

My regional gig will be the death of me at eight days off a month so anything to get out will be a wonder. I lived in LA before, on my own. I'm not above finding some roommates (i.e. hot college babes w/ lots of drama) and living on the cheap for a few years this time around. As long as I get the ocassional int'l flights to keep my on my toes

Where would I park assuming I was at LAX? Thanks for the input!

 

[27 driver]

No, you can tell them you'll accept ANY domicile, and if that's the case, I'd say that on your application when it asks for a domicile preference. (Or if you've already sent it in, a follow-up e-mail to the recruiting address.)

I'd caution you, though: Switching domiciles is NOT easy. It isn't as simple as putting a bid in and waiting for a month or two -- there has to be an opening posted in the base you want, in the airplane type you're flying, to be able to bid for another domicile. That can take many, many months.

If your present job is survivable, you'd probably be better off putting a bid in for the domicile you want. That way, you'll be able to grab the first slot in whatever airplane you can get in that base.

You'd gain seniority faster by taking the first available domicile, but if you're not planning on moving there, life may get very expensive. Remember, we don't have jumpseat privileges, meaning you'll have to buy yourself a ticket to get to work. If you're on the reserve schedule (and you will be when you start), you won't even know if you'll be working the next day until 6pm the evening prior -- and there might not be a ticket to your destination available, at any price, that late in the evening. If you gamble and fly out anyway, and it turns out they're not working you that next day, you're on the hook for any hotel expenses up until they DO call you. (Once you come out on the first assigned day, though, the hotel will be on the company, even at your domicile.)



I applied last January, and didn't get called for an interview until September because I wanted PBI. There was that much of a wait for slots there.

That sucks. I just received my app package and PBI is the only base I can accept. I was curious as to if PBI was a popular base and how long it might take to get it. Guess I will be waiting for a while. I suppose I need to interview first. Thanks for the info.:bawling: