The vids just get better every time!

Thank you for these videos Big Ern! I am a ramp agent for your airline, and also a fellow Air Force Veteran! I really appreciate you putting out these videos! Gives great prospective and understanding to what the Captain and F/O are doing before we push you off the gate! Always looking out for you at MCI! Keep these videos coming!

Whenever I watch your videos it brings a smile to my face you remind me so much of my late father he was also a pilot

Watched your video, of your layover trip to my hometown, Boise. If your stay takes you to the Grove again, Goldy's nearby ....is a great place for breakfast, but usually a wait. I live on the downwind leg to BOI ( foothill side). So I see alot of air traffic of all types. Great to see your positive attitude and encouraging young folks to pursue careers as pilots.

Thanks for this insight it is rare to see the bidding process

You have been the dude I have been looking for. I have been watching you for a little while and your great. A Southwest airline pilot (which is what I want to be) who vlogs on KZfaq

You have the coolest job in the world!

I had a layover in KPHX en route to KLAX from KCLT. I fell so deep in love with Phoenix i didn’t make it to LA. I spent my vacation in AZ.

Your posture demeanor tone of voice and all is exactly how i picture senior captains. Its actually one of the reasons i got into aviation. Sadly my voice sounds like a mouse. Thank you for the video

..life in the fast lane..it's bid time ..for our best buddy..Big Ern...keep cranking these out Ern.....priceless..

Another very interesting and informative video. Thanks as always for the "Jumpseat Pass".

Aw, man. Looking at you guys flying more again and having fuller planes is bittersweet. One the one hand it makes hopeful that there really is a time after this crisis coming, on the other hand it's hard to watch as vaccinations are going so slowly here and no end to lockdown is in sight. Greetings from Germany!

YT algorithm just introduced me to this channel. What a find! I love watching people do their jobs. So interesting to see what goes on in the right seat. 👋

Just found your channel today Big Ern! Love it so far and I did subscribe! Southwest is my airline of choice in the lower 48. I am currently based in Juneau, Ak and fly with Alaska Airlines to many different places around the state of Alaska for business.

Great content Ern. Thanks for sharing your bid process and route maps. I’m old school and have my commercial, instrument, multi and F/E on 727. Everything you share puts right in the seat. Safe travels.

Another great video Ern! I’m almost finished with my instrument rating!

I literally got back from a Hawaii and I had an 1 hour layover in PHX and on to HNL/Honolulu and on the way back. I flew all the way from Honolulu to Chicago O'Hare and then on to Seattle from Chicago. We did this because we had better deals on American than other airlines.

I Love Phoenix :):) My parents use to live in the Keirland Commons, It was a 3 minute walk to the Golf Course. We had to move them to Wash. State to be closer to my sisters. I will get back there as soon as I can. I always went in Sept. you most likely flew me :):) Thanks for the videos !!

That was interesting, Ern. I hope you win your bids! Thanks for sharing!

There is a great greenbelt along the Boise river, just a few blocks from the Grove. It's a fun ride if you have the time!

Thank you for sharing your bidding of schedules. Like you and many other cool pilots looking to bidding their trips, Flight Attendants do the same thing in terms of bidding for their schedules. We would get our bidding packages of trips being offered for each month. So, there were and still is trips scheduled for early morning, mid-day, afternoon, evening and overnight trips. And the type of trips domestically and international are always given for everyone to look at. When I first started I was on reserve for about a year and a half. I always found myself working the "A" - Lead position working First Class and always speaking with your guys the Captains and First Offices. Furthermore, I was fortunate enough hold the "A" position flying by attending the Purser Leadership Class that was offered to become a "Purser" Flight Attendant. After becoming more senior and passing that Leadership Class, I was able and held afternoon, evening and overnight "red" eye trips. So, after you making me laugh a little after sharing with us about those beginning early morning trips that had Cancun, you made me remember what it took for me to appreciate bidding my schedules for my years of flying.

This is something that pilots never talk about, it’s an interesting system, you don’t really find in other industries. How much vacation time do you get a year, Ern?

Interesting to see how you bid at WN. At my previous airline it was line bidding. At my current airline it's (poorly designed) PBS. Since nearly all of our trips are day trips of either 2 or 4 legs, most of us bid for days off and highest trip credit. Personally I bid to work Friday, Saturday and Sunday, PM trips with the highest flight time while avoiding 4-leg trips; too much work! Weekend out and backs are my life. 😊 Thanks for sharing!👍

Great video BigE! That bid system is something else LOL I probably would end up bidding midnights and weekends thinking I’m doing it right haha

Next time you're in Boise try the Tupelo Honey restaurant and order their Crackling dish. Best potatoes you'll ever have.

Very informative... thanks my friend.. cheers

I've been to BOI (It's Boy-C). I flew Southwest from Beewee to LAS with a 3 hour layover at LAS, which felt AWESOME after a LONG transcon flight! 737-700 BWI-LAS and then, the gold livery from LAS to BOI. I LOVE Idaho!!!! Vice-versa 15 days later, but with a no plane change stop in DEN. I've visited 24 states (25 counting DC) and counting! I REALLY loved my trip to ID!!! I went with my GS Troop and we went all around, pretty much. We stayed for a week(?) at Yellowstone, which was beautiful but...EWWW!!!!!! The sulphur stench bothered me, but it was a cool experience! We then drove back to ID and stayed in cabins in the Sawtooths along the Stanley River for a few days(????) and then drove BACK to Boise and stayed a couple of nights before coming back to VA. I LOVED THAT TRIP!!!! On the way into Vegas on WN 1261 (8/4/07) we saw the...GRAND CANYON!!!!! That was my FIRST impression of the Canyon. My jaw just DROPPED and continued to stay dropped ALL the way to wheels down! When it came time for us to come back to BOI, I remember everyone in the car asking the driver (our GS leader) if we would see the Grand Canyon again. I haven't been back to ID since, but I REALLY want to come back! Oh! On the way back to ID, we drove through MT and pulled over on the road so we can all get out of the cars and walk on MT soil! Montana is COMPLETELY different from WY. As SOON as we crossed over, the landscape changed. HOW COULD I FORGET ABOUT THIS!!!!!! After 1261, I got to visit the Cockpit; that was my VERY first cockpit visit! I met our Captain too! The F/O was there too, but I was too shy to talk to him, but he seemed REALLY nice!!!

Love the closeups of setting up the flight management computer. I'd love to shake your hand if you ever get an extended stay in Las Vegas, which you can probably tell from my handle is my town!!

Thanks Ernie, that was really cool!

How are you Earnie, great video as always my friend.

Hey Ern I found your channel a few days ago and I cannot stop watching your videos! I’m an aspiring airline pilot! I’m actually currently a student pilot and I love studying, reading, workout out, and becoming the best pilot I can be! Maybe some day we’ll pass each other in the sky!!

LUV IT! Thanks for the great content as always Ern!! :)

I have an interview next month Capt. Ern. Wish me luck Sir. Love the videos!

great video Ernie! even though i’m 4 days late i still enjoyed it!👍🏼

Absolutely love the videos Big Ern! Would love to hear how commuting works? Pros vs Cons, how you have to fit that into your schedule etc. Thanks! Will be flying WN in a few weeks!

Love your videos, cool to see ya fly into BOI , still can't get use to Big Sky Approach instead Boise Approach.

This was awesome content. Well presented!

Nice video and that hop from Reno to Pheonix must've been longggg😛😂😂

Great pic at 22:08

I will be a frequent flyer into salt lake, Denver, and final into Boise. Based there for work for the next few months. Never flown Southwest Airlines. But have a feeling I will be on Ern Air eventually.

love the tie!!

Thanks as always for sharing, always interesting and enjoyable to watch.

Here you are again . Love the video ! One question : you are not scared of turbulences ?

Welcome to Boy-See 😉 next time you’re in town take one of the bikes on to the Boise River Greenbelt!

Can’t wait to see you in the MAX 8! Curious to see those fuel burn numbers compared to the -700/800NG

Great video. I know very little about flying, but I have to admit, that scheduling process was totally confusing to me. I am sure after you do it a few times, it is a lot easier.

0:08 I'm scared! 0:13 🤣🤣🤣🤣 love the laugh 🤣 so contagious!!

Excellent video Ernie, just found your channel. Was hoping there would be some clean your board and picking up Premium secrets in there 😂 Can tell I’m missing out on some of that international stuff, so I’ll probably bid some of that in the future - Sorry Ernie, but you let the cat out of the bag on that one 😜 For everybody else - what you see is what you get. Ernie is awesome, humble, professional, a great pilot and friend and somebody you definitely want to spend the day in the cockpit with.

Pre-Covid we had PBS. Worked a treat. Now we have nothing. No control, just fly what you are given. At least I still have a job I guess.

Dark art of bidding....

Hi flying with big ern that was a awesome video

That is pretty darn cool. Thank you Mr Finest Tie in the Sky

Another fantastic vid....Hello Ern! Thanks for all your information and beautiful views...enjoyed! Have a great weekend Ern;)) Stay safe! Warm greetings Betsy.

Always interesting! Thanks mate

Love it!!! and there is no Z in Boise...at least not yet. ;)

It’s pretty amazing watching how easily you cruise through all the FMC stuff. I had the opportunity to fly a CanJet sim at FlightSafety in SLC and just left all that alone. Fun experience and glad I nail a cloudy approach to min on first attempt with a nice crosswind 👍

Great video thanks for sharing!

Whaou, looks like it requires a PhD to understand the bidding system ^^ Still got a few questions among all i could think of: 1) How often do you get your week-ends free with that system? Could you potentially get an "à la carte" schedule when you reach the highest ranks of seniority? 2) Do you use the same thing to take extra flights? I heard one could take extra trips to increase flight hours and therefore pay with advantageous hours' remuneration (x1.5 salary...) Anyway, thank you for that "behind the scene" kind of videos. Cheers !

Very interesting video. Could you do a video explaining how aircraft is moved around? It doesn’t look like aircraft fly the same routes.

Line biding looks daunting... PBS is a breeze

Bidding does look complex, but it’s awesome you get to choose where to go! Thanks!

It’s crazy to see SouthWest and many others flying into Cabo. When I was a kid you could fly SAN, LAX, SFO. It expanded to PDX and SEA. Now flights are coming in from Europe.

Gotta love a view of Lake Tahoe flying into Reno! Edit: I’ve flown into RNO before sitting in the back with Delta and I’m pretty sure they shot the RNAV16R. It surprised me how close to the airport the turn inbound to the runway was. It was a pretty steep turn as well.

Been flying the Aerosoft CRJ on MSFS, been using some of your flows and getting everything set up for the flight. Very anxious for one of the companies like PMDG to put out a study level 737, looks like this would be a lot more fun than flying the more automated Airbuses

Amazing. Living the dream :)

Hey Big Ern. Can you record FO window to ramp “comms” before pushback? Specifically the sound of us tapping on the radome to get your attention. We’re told it’s really loud.

Hey Ern great video! Can you elaborate on why not having PBS allows advantages when it comes to maximizing holiday days off?

Love your videos. New subscriber:)

Hello Ern how have you been? Always enjoy your videos, I see your fellow pilots out in General Mitchell I watch every morning after work at the flight observation parking spot. How are you liking your new plane so far? I do have a question for you. At Milwaukee General Mitchell out on the airport itself we have the security vehicles out on the runways. When they drive around the airport on the runways what are they looking for? I see them drive up and down the runways and all over the airport aimlessly just wondering what in fact they are trying to accomplish or what they're routine is?

Great vid! What is a part 117 int? Since we are so busy, virtually all my roster is preassigned line training....very little left of the pie to bid for. 787 next month so it will be a case of bidding for which prison stay I want (our government only lets us fly internationally at the moment if we don’t leave our hotel room! )

Nice have you ever flown down to Maui (PHOG) or Lihue (PHLI)??

Can you request/bid the schedule to fly in and out of your home city without having to stay overnight in different cities? Thanks

Thanks for covering such an interesting topic. Is there a max amount of hours you can fly per month and if so and you reach that number can you bid for overtime? Always look forward to Friday's. Take care and blue skies.

Big Ern have do you plan to do any Hawaii trips in your next pick on your new schedule?

How about Hawai trips, can you get them from Phoenix through west coast? Thx

Good insight on the bidding. Different world from my 135 side - my 7/7 schedule I know it a year in advanced, crazy how different it is

Portland. So close, just 100 miles or so north and you'll be here in Seattle. Speaking of which, the Southwest MAX's that get delivered out of Boeing Field to Phoenix fly right over my house. Are the delivery pilots experienced SWA pilots or were they just put on the schedule for that flight?

Hopefully you can fly to SJC to say hi.

That bidding is way too complicated for me! 😀

Hey Ern. Hope all is well! How long till you get upgraded to capitancy ?

Awesome video. Did you choose your airline because you wanted to fly the 737 or did you have other reasons?

One dislike!!?? who can't hate this job?

What do you mean by at 8:50 ("Lots of turns in the beginning. I'm not senior for that.")?

Hi Ern, at 15:40 there is a sunscreen on your window. It “looks “ like it’s designed to cover both side windows. If so, where can I purchase one?

I would like to ask a question and I know you will be able to clarify it. When you are doing your load into the box it says climb to say flight level 380 in 10 minutes is that saying you have 10 minutes to climb or is that getting a clearance from ATC in 10 minutes how and why is that worded this way? Stay safe and I hope you can explain in a video sometime.

Thanks for the great video and brief stop in KRNO (where I live). Do longer flights pay more than shorter flights, and does a three day trip pay more than a two day trip?

How are the captain upgrades done is the upgrades based on seniority in company or seniority at base? And which base is most senior? 😁

Ugh I’m about to go to skywest, all of these new crew scheduling terms are more intimidating than aircraft systems lol

Did you score any Basque food while in Boise? If not next time check out Bar Gernika. It’s approximately 50 steps from the Grove.

Love the insight! We just use NavBlue to bid, A LOT more of a headache 😂😂 Also, are those jepp plates specifically for the 737 engine out procedure or everyone?

Ever flown into KPVD?

Question: Why aren't pilots and FA's on the same schedule? Why don't airlines assign you to 1 plane a day and stop switching planes? One 💘

New subscriber , fly to Las from cmh. Often

why in most of your videos the captain spends a lot of time in the back with the cabin crew

How does the promotion to Captain work?

Hey Ern, I’ve always been a fan of Southwest and I’m a pilot who has goals to fly for Southwest one day! Do you have any advice for those who’d like to someday fly for Southwest? What the hiring staff is looking for in applicants? Any I can do to make my resume stand out? I’m going into the Air Force does that help? Thank you so much for your awesome, informative videos!

Shit, I struck gold by finding this channel.

Term of the Day: “Helmet Fire”

Hope you got one of your top preferences for lines in May.

To get those line bids you need seniority. I wish I could be a line holder.