Not a super important question but a curiosity nonetheless. How easily/how often can you bid on a base? I know you can live anywhere and commute to your base but do you ever see senior pilots change bases throughout the year to live where they want and avoid commuting entirely?
Mason,
That varies from airline to airline. Some only have “Vacancy Bids” when there’s a need, some have contractual bids at set dates thoughout the year, some will let you bid every month and others will let you base trade with another pilot.
What’s key to remember is, like EVERYTHING in the airlines, while you can bid for anything you like, your seniority determines whether or not you’ll get it AND there needs to be a slot. In other words say you want to bid an FL base for the winter. First there needs to be a need and an opening and second, there needs to not be someone senior to you who wants it. If there’s no slot or someone senior to you wants you, you’re not going anywhere.
Adam
Mason,
I am in a sense a snow bird pilot. I live in Virginia and am based at IAD. In the summer I live in Michigan, I simply commute during that time. I have not found it to be worth bidding to ORD as the bids are not that frequent and I could end up being stuck with an ORD base will into the fall.
Chris
Mason,
Each airline seems to have different policies for switching your base. Like Chris said, most majors seem to have the opportunity maybe once or twice a year. Skywest is very flexible with it. You can switch your base every month if you wanted to.
Hannah
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Is that typically a thing that comes up that unions advocate for come contract time? (more frequent bids)
Ben
Not in my experience Ben. Once most pilots get to where they want they stay there and wouldn’t want to waste negotiating dollars on it.
Adam
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