New hire commute from OKC
 

Looking for advice on commuting from OKC. Hoping to get hired this summer and eventually want to get based at DFW. But unless I can snag the S80/DFW, it looks like most new hires are going to LGA/PHL/LAX/MIA. Like most commuters, I'd be hoping to hold a line as quick as possible and bid for an aircraft/base that is more "commuter friendly".

All I know so far is:

OKC-LAX: 2x non-stops per day, longer time on reserve than LGA or PHL, no idea on other commuter factors like report/finish times, length of trips, etc.

OKC-LGA: 2-hop via DFW, hold a line faster than LAX/MIA, early report times/late finish times, serve 3 airports, crashpads are expensive.

OKC-PHL: 2-hop via DFW, hold a line fairly quickly (E190), better/cheaper crashpads, no idea on commutable lines.

OKC-MIA: 2-hop via DFW, lots of commuters competing for jumpseats, serve 3 airports, longer time on reserve than LGA or PHL, no idea on crashpads or commutable lines.

I've heard commuting to reserve sucks, and 2-hop commuting to reserve REALLY sucks. And of course the big question: how long until I could hold DFW? I've heard anything from 1 yr to 2 yrs. Hoping that time shrinks with all the retirements/hiring in the next year.

Thanks for the help!

You probably won't have PHX as an option in training but line holder goes very junior there. The junior trips are 4 day trips that start with a redeye. Depending what time the last flight to OKC is, they may be commutable on both ends. Hotels in PHX are $50-60 except for the 6 weeks spring training is going on.

Thanks Viper. I didn't think about other bases like PHX or CLT becoming available after INDOC.

How many of those 4-day trips do you fly per month?

Something to consider for the 190...

I used to bid DH trips on one or both ends. Often times day 1 was just a DH to MSY, MSP, BOS or wherever. They'll positive space you from anywhere to get there (1 leg from a hub, you've got to get yourself to the hub). A 4 day trip becomes a 3 day trip, essentially.

Lots of DH on front and back end. I was a 2 leg commuter to PHL and that helped soften the pain.

4. They pay between 20:40-23:00. Some months they are rollover trips (part in one month, part in the next month.) I also have pretty good success trading trips around to get days off I want. As a reserve you're pretty much stuck with the schedule you get. It's possible to trade but I haven't been successful in the last year.

Moving to base will save you a LOT of time and headaches over a career span. Unless you have pressing reasons to stay in OKC, a lifetime of commuting vs. not commuting is a life changer...
I commuted to LGA as a new hire, but after 4 months of that been living in base since.

Years of AA reserve vs lineholder in months at DL, UA, SW, Fedex
hmmm...:(

Guys trying to make informed decisions and don’t need BS thrown at them.

E190 is roughly 4 months to line holder in PHL. Hiring 730 and right now 730 from the bottom will put you in the top 50% on the 190 in PHL.

Depending upon base 320/737 line holder is within a year. In some bid statuses it’s around six months.

Ask any new hire with a year LOS what base they’re in and if they can hold a line in their base or any other base.

Commuting from OKC, other than to DFW, is gonna be a bear. CLT has two flights. One main line and one RJ. AM and 1300(?) departure.

Thank you for a kinder response than I would have given.

I'm a new hire sponsor and I have had multiple guys come off OE and straight into a line. Most were in LGA, one was in PHX. PHL 190 is very quick to a line like Sliceback said.

Based on hiring, and based on how many guys leave to other bid statuses as their new hire lock-in expires in the upcoming year, there's the possibility that an E190 new hire might be in the top 50% a year after they're hired.

Light years away from spending years on reserve.