Originally Posted by
m3113n1a1
Delta's trip mix is horrible. In order to hold day trips on the 737 as an FO in Atlanta you need to probably be top 5% and those guys are all like 20 years seniority or so. There are ways to drop your schedule and pick up broken up day trips, but that takes work and doesn't always work out.
Trip mix varies month to month, but inside 15% will usually get you turns. Inside 10 to avoid weekends.
Im splitting hairs, your overall point that it requires seniority is correct.
However I would respectfully dispute the difficulty of dropping drops and picking up "easy" OT. I started doing it around 30% and had zero difficulty. Wish I'd started earlier. I see folks far junior do it with better results so it sure ain't that I'm the smartest guy in the room.
Love/hate commuting/day turns--something for everyone. Part of what makes this such a great job. I sucked at commuting so moving was a no brainer. Base has more options, I like options. Half the airline (Air Line) commutes, that's a lot of evidence it works
To the OP, the financial options this career provides are fantastic. I don't have to make decisions based primarily on lowest cost. That is a huge change from the reality of my life before. If it is financially doable to move to base, don't let the mortgage rate be THE deciding factor. Many people don't have the financial means to even consider what you are suggesting, we do. Good luck