Thanks all for the input!! It has been really helpful and given me some things to think about I hadn't thought about before.

 

I commute out of DAY, CVG, and CMH. I can’t speak to CLE, but if you’re primarily out of CMH, I would take NYC out of indoc. It’s an easy commute with a lot of flights that generally aren’t full. It’s going to be on E175s, so can’t reserve jumpseat early, but that probably won’t be that much of a factor for you. I end up getting upgraded quite a bit due to light loads. Traveling between LGA and JFK is not a big deal either, and last time I looked 737I wasn’t flying too many trips out of EWR. You probably won’t get CLT out of indoc, and it will be a tougher commute from Ohio.

 

You do the commute, so I won't claim to know more about the commute than you by any means. However, when thunderstorms roll through NYC this summer, those seats are going to disappear (the codeshares always cancel regional flights first) and OP will likely wish he/she had a reservable jumpseat. I think the peace of mind of having mainline flight options goes a long way.

NYC 737 I had zero EWR trips last I looked, so you eliminate EWR with that bid status and the majority of the flying will be out of JFK.

 

Good point. Caveat: All bets are off during NYC IROPS.

 

true for almost any hub… NY gets way less severe thunderstorms than the south and central hub

 

I wouldn't worry about this. Weather happens at every domicile. This is exactly what the commuter clause is for.

 

Also, we get zero priority on Republic flights, even under American Eagle. You can be beaten out by a Delta guy on a YX American Eagle flight if they check in first. Just make sure you understand the implications of that. Commuting on mainline flights is a completely different ballgame than regional carriers. Your flight cancels due to weather and the next flight is mainline? List for that jumpseat (if not taken by an AA pilot(s)), and it's yours. Your flight cancels and the next one is YX American Eagle to JFK? Sorry, the Delta or jetBlue guy already got it.

I respectfully disagree with those who imply there isn't a big difference. Yes, you're covered by the commuter clause either way, but you don't want to push it on probation with too many misses, deal with the stress, or lose out on the money of missing out on trips.

 

This is interesting, commuting on mainline vs a regional. Thanks for bringing it up. Can we reserve a jumpseat on a WO carrier? Going to DFW or CLT out of Ohio is all on mainline, except for maybe a flight a day to CLT on PSA or ENY.

 

No. Mainline, especially on Airbus', has the best value. It's a SIGNIFICANT value. Peak times and peak season? Commuting was over 50% on the jumpseat. Perhaps 75% or higher? Airbus jumpseat is also better than the middle seat.

 

Also a much more senior airframe with upgrades two years longer then the 737, if that is your thing.