Originally Posted by
Gunfighter
The most successful DFW commuters have a spouse at AA. Do yourself a favor and consider NYC7ER, NYC330 or LAX777 if seniority permits. DFW-ATL is one of the toughest commutes in the system.
or get an AA travel partner?
for the newly arrived. commuting when you are 30 doesn't seem so bad. When you are 50 it will likely grind you down.
Once I added up just the time I spent on a plane commuting...it was almost two weeks a year. toss in the schedule and category bid concessions, and we are talking about some serious wasted time over a career.
Flew with a new hire living in dfw...listened to all the reasons for being there, and none were so unique as to not be available in any delta domicile.
the unstated reality in all of the conversation was, if you want to live in dfw as a delta pilot....you are probably working for the wrong airline.
for new pilots, beyond reasons of extended family and/or substantial spousal employment, its a tough calculation to rationalize.
My advice was if you are going stay there, sit down with your wife and at least make it as an informed decision about what not living in a domicile holds for your future.
The downside? you will likely spend as much as 15-20% more time away from family. perhaps more if the delta/offline commute options fall victim to economic or network 'adjustments'.
if you have/will have kids, the commute schedule demands will complicate child care. doubly so if your spouse is employed....and travels with work.
You will likely surrender a million dollars in career earnings.
Your seat bid will always be impacted with the commute variable. Bidding junior and spending time at home on reserve isn't likely to be workable. and the older you get....less so. (see recent scuttlebutt on reserve pilots not being in position for SC).
In all domiciles, but doubly for atl....the options for non-line flying work are also going to be negatively impacted. (cpo, standards, training...etc) Opportunities that could provide a far more 'normal' work schedule and home life.
not to mention the stress factor the commute choice will place on your personal relationship.
The upside? Unless you live on the beach someplace its difficult to argue outside of extended family support and/or spousal employment there is anything so unique about the metroplex that wouldn't be mostly available in one of the delta domiciles.