Superbad123

I have a new hire commuter question (recent CJO). I live in Texas. It seems like MIA, LGA, PHL and more recently LAX are some of the junior bases. Depending on new hire drop availability what domiciles are the best for commuters? My buddy who got hired last year had a difficult time covering the three different airports that constitute the LAX domicile (ONT, SNA & LAX). Each airport is separated by about an hour drive with very little public transportation. Is it better to stay East, unless you are willing to move? Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

LuckyNow

I'm a bit out of the loop with initial qualification, but the way it used to be was 2 weeks of indoc and go home and wait for your ground school. The 320 utilizes much more home study and you complete that before coming back for sims. The 737 used to be 2 weeks of ground school, then 2 weeks (10 total) sims, which includes the ride. They switched to a different training material provider (Aerosim) and I'm not sure if they're doing that as home study now too. Someone who's been through recently could probably comment.

I'd plan to be finished with training 2.5 months (give or take) after your first day of indoc. I have no idea if the single list and the training events that might be associated with being able to bid new bases will slow anything down. In the past few years it's been common to have 3 or 4 weeks off between indoc and ground school.

As stated previously, there are 767s in ORD, but as a new hire you'd be about 2000 numbers junior to the bottom reserve and it's a dying fleet, so I wouldn't get your heart set on that one.

andrewtac

Where in Texas? Miami is an easy commute from Houston.

Marlin

IAH-- Clt DCA MIA LAX..pretty easy , lots of flts on UAL and AA... DFW-MIA is a pain, might be better with the jumpseat reservation system, but lots of commuters and training deadheads. Pretty quick movement , so should be able to move around pretty easy... stay away from the 190 if you can
Welcome
Joe

DesertDog

Keep an eye on PHX. It may become jr. as senior FOs bail for greener pastures. Commute is reputed to be easy with good JS relations with SW & frequent AA flights.

DD

dash8

PHX open seat loads are very unreliable though
seems like there might be lots of re-routing thru there when any other hub transcons take delays or cancellations

iPilot6

Thanks. If things work out, all I have my heart set on is 737. I was just curious about what was going on with that fleet. Thanks for the training info, definitely was curious how long it could last.

PRS Guitars

Really? Why?

Sliceback

Heart set on the 737? What's wrong with the people we're hiring?!?!

Clint

You will have two important dates. Your hire date is the day that you begin indoctrination, and this drives your pay (annual pay increases on this date). Your class date is the day you begin training and as mentioned this drives your seniority number.

On or before the first day of indoctrination they will give you a list of available bases, planes, and training dates. Can't speak to LUS options, but expect MIA, LAX, and LGA bases with Airbus and 737 options. Everybody in your indoc will be listed in order of age and the oldest picks first choice and so on down the line. You want the earliest training date in order to get the highest possible seniority number, even if it means a base you don't want (they're all so junior you should be able to switch -- I moved from LAX to MIA before I even started training).

I can't personally speak to the LAX commuter bases, but I haven't heard too many people have issues with them. I commute from DFW to MIA and aside from one major storm that wiped out an entire evening of flights, including my ride, I've never had a problem getting there. The key is making a plan early. I use the jumpseat system to ensure a ride, but I've only had to use it once or twice (if there's room in the cabin, they'll give you a seat). The one time weather crumped it for me, I called scheduling to explain that I had a seat, everything was cancelling, and they got me a positive space seat the next morning and adjust the start of my reserve time -- wasn't an issue.

Your summary is still very accurate. 737s were supposed to be moving to the same pre-study system as the AB to decrease ground training, but I don't know that they'll converted yet.