You don't make more money flying the 190 vs the 737 or A320 if you are okay with LGA or LAX. Holding a line after about 4 months is normal now if you want one.

 

Yeah. I have no preference for the 190, I'd plan to drive to LGA for a 737, I have the type and from that little snip of "experience" I liked it. 190 to 320 would just offer PHL and living in base. But 4 months to a line will make the 2 hour drive a moot point.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I currently commute and am aware of the issues with it. I don’t plan to commute forever but the wife and I are expecting another baby soon and we live close to her parents. The help they provide while I’m gone is enormous. Once all the kids are out of diapers in a few years we do plan to move to a base.
CLT and DFW are the easiest commutes from our home near MEM with the most direct AA flights. Any of the bases are commutable via FedEx and all but LAX have at least one direct flight per day on AA.

From the comments it sounds like LGA might be the best for me with the low time to hold a line, though PHL has one extra flight per day making it slightly easier to commute in network. If I get LGA then I’ll just have to find another crash pad and then figure out the NY area transportation system until I can get to CLT or DFW on long call.

 

Do you live in PHL? If so 737 is not a good move for you, they don’t have them in PHL so you could be looking at 18 months (if withheld) before getting PHL AB. I too had the 737 type (never flew it). I wouldn’t put that in my decision matrix though.

Edit: just saw that you’re not even hired yet, so disregard above because it could change...

 

Whatever you decide. don't delay accepting a class even for one day based on a base or aircraft. Outside of anything like a bad family illness, you'll regret it forever.

 

No sweat. All info and insight is appreciated.

 

Okay I’ll admit I didn’t read all 6 pages of this, I skimmed them (Cliff Notes style) and didn’t see one reference to why certain bases cover multiple cities without any type of credit. This is absolutely CRAZY!!!!

At my regional I was based in LAX, but had to cover ONT from time to time years ago. None of the bids for LAX included ONT flying and visa versa as we also had an ONT base. Yet, if I, a LAX based pilot, was assigned a trip (and this is basically for reserve or reassignment), the COMPANY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY TRANSPORTATION AND I STRESS, AND, CREDIT (see that ONE MORE TIME) CREDIT for GROUND TRANSPORTATION TIME. So the company had to not only provide us Travel, they had to pay for the transit time (in the form of Deadhead that counted towards DUTY DAY as well). Why in hell is this place not held accountable for any of the above.

This thread is evidence to the fact that the PILOTS are forced to cover AA’s planning and schedule. NOT OUR JOBS.

ANOTHER APA 1970’s joke of an aggrement.

Make so all cities that we cover are bases not included under ONE base. Separate the bids and let seniority make it so. JFK only flying can be bid, LGA flying only can be bid, and EWR only flying can be bid. (As an example...MIA, LAX, and DCA should all have the same benefit). If someone on reserve or a reassignment are given flying in bid base other than their own, it should be on the COMPANY, not the PILOT, to cover the transit time and credit. This is highway robbery that AA has benefited off of for WAY to long and I blame the pilots and the union for allowing it. It virtual basing with COMPANY laughing all the way to the bank/assignments.

 

If it's the regional I think it is (and a Super one at that), your situation was because that particular carrier had two separate bases at LAX and ONT. It was no different than you being sent from IAH to cover a CLE trip.

Major airlines have had co-terminals forever. United has one in Washington and New York. The be-all-end-all of Delta has co-terminals in New York. It's not uncommon and has been around for years.

 

Yea but United gets cross town pay and terminal direct parking at satellites.