Originally Posted by
rbigred300
Trying to decide between the 717 and the 320 in NYC (assuming I have the choice in indoc).
What are the opinions on differences in how fast seniority and QOL would move on each aircraft? Also at least right now it seems like a new guy could make a lot more money on the 717 due to inevitable GS trips.
Pros and cons:
I was looking at the bid package for both and I saw a lot of 4 leg days on the 717 vs a lot more nice 2 leg days on the 320.
It sounds like you wouldn't be on reserves at all on the 717 (unless doing rolling thunder) and on the 320 it would be at least a couple of months if not many months. I would expect reserves on all the weekends and holidays on the 320 for a while but I am guessing that coverage is better and perhaps you don't get called ALL the time? 717 it sounds like you get seniority fast enough that you control your schedule for the most part.
Layovers on the 320 seem to be consistently large cities vs a lot of small ones on the 717
Comfort of plane: 717 sounds nice but everyone say that 320 is great (quiet L, spacious, nice tray table for food...)
The 717 deliveries are almost complete. We have 82 A321's coming over the next 3-4 years with only 4 sims. I have a sneaky feeling, Delta's planning being what it is, that the A320 fleet is going to be quite lucrative in the near future, and movement is going to be fast and furious. The 717 will be staffed adequately within the next year or so, my opinion only, and the company is going to be playing catch-up on the 320 for the foreseeable future.
Also, if you're going to be commuting, the A320 trips over the past 6 months have been way, way more commuter friendly.
I've been watching the bid packages over the past 6 months on the 717 and 320 in NYC, trying to stategerize a Captain bid, and as a commuter, the A320 was the only answer for me.