upndsky

I start class soon and wanted some insight on the different bases. From what I'm reading on this forum, the last AE had a lot of guys leaving JFK for ATL. I am just curious why ATL is considered the better base. I'm heavily leaning towards the ER in JFK, partly because as a regional pilot I'd like to do something a little different for while.

As background, I commute from RDU and I'm about equidistant from JFK and ATL, so commuting time isn't a factor (not counting delays). When you add in LGA, there's around 25 non-stops to NYC each day. I also did the EWR commute for many years, so I'm very familiar with the weather and the delays. I always enjoyed the flying and the crews up there. If it wasn't for the lousy schedules (non-commutable), I'd still be based there instead of IAH.

On the other hand, I don't really know anything about ATL. For the foreseeable future, we're not moving anywhere, so that's not a factor in considering a base. I'm strictly looking at schedules, commutability and the ability to hold a line.

So, is there something about ATL that would make me lean towards going there instead.

Thanks.

Adola

As a guy once told me years ago: "Other than the people, the climate and the culture, ATL is terrific!"

DAWGS

upndsky,

Welcome aboard.

Based on the above quote I would definitely reccomend NYC. It is the more junior base just because 1) you have to report to three airports depending on which equipment you are on 2) cost of living compared to other bases 3) climate. There may be many other reasons, but for me those would be the biggest. Due to the NYC juniority you could hold a line much sooner, especially on the 88. The ER could take some time but all respective equipment would be quicker than any other base. Most of the pilots I have flown with out of NYC are commuters, so you would be in good company.

Atlanta is more popular because you have the most choices without a commute. You can fly anything here once you have a little senority. Cost of living is good and many good places to live inside or outside of Atlanta with a reasonable drive into work. Climate similar of course to RDU.

I would think you have a good plan to go to NYC especially since you are familiar with the commute. Atlanta will be the best option if you decide you want to move.

best of luck,
DAWGS

Xray678

IF you will be commuting to either place then JFK would not be bad. It's more junior than ATL. But if you want to live in base, the NYC area is very expensive. I love it up there, grew up right outside the city, but the cost of living in ATL is hard to beat.

Bucking Bar

In your shoes I'd go to New York in a minute & enjoy it.

StripAlert

NYC 7ER has the most commutable schedule in the system, and you'll get senior there faster than just about anything except NYC M88, which is completely *not* commutable for most folks. Really the only advantage of being based in ATL for you would be the ability to drive in if you have to, but you're going to need a crash pad there for all the early shows, even once you have a line.

Flying

Great info in this thread...thanks! So it sounds like the consensus is that NYC ER works best to optimize seniority, and therefore QOL, for a commuter? Since you're recommending NYC for a RDU commuter, is it safe to say you would also recommend that to someone commuting from the middle of the country (like MCI)? It sounds like the cost-of-living/triple airport coverage/climate all wouldn't matter as much to a commuter as someone living in-base. We have no direct flights into JFK from here, only off-line flights into LGA and EWR. With all of the ground transportation options mentioned in "Latest and Greatest," would you all still recommend the NYC commute?

upndsky

Thanks for all the great info. Looks like JFK 7ER for me, if it's available (I should be around the middle of the pack).

Bigflya

Upndsky, are you in the Mar 5th class? If so i'll be there and will be about the middle of the pack looking for JFK 76-ER. Hope that we get slots. Reading other threads it seems that the 88 is way short and the 76 had many bid into it this AE in anticipation of the merger and possible fences.

StripAlert

Tough call. Delta's commuting policy is that you have to have 2 flights separated by at least 2 hours that will get you there a reasonable time before your check in, and which indicate actual availability (or on which you have reserved the jump seat) within 24 hours or scheduled departure. Only you can assess the options and decide how commutable it is for you based on your comfort level. I spent a good month before indoc looking at the loads on various single- and multi-leg routes both on- and off-line before deciding it was doable for me.

Not having any company flights is going to sting you a bit, though. You always know the seat situation on Delta, whereas you'll have to rely on available seat displays on the other carriers' customer websites, which may not accurately reflect actual sales, if it's even available. (Other option is to call reservations and bug them.) The biggest drawback is not having the ability to book the jumpseat, which is a huge stress-reliever in the commute.

In order to stand long call from home, you need lots of daily flights to rely on to get you there. If not, plan on a crash pad, and if you're going to do that, ATL might be a better bet if there is better DL service into there (and mainline, not RJ's).