FL370esq

In order to be available for selection by a new hire, a vacancy must have been offered to the pilot group first and that vacancy has to remain unfilled before a new hire can be placed in it. Unlike M88 Captain slots, B777, A350 and A330 FO slots are grabbed before they reach the bottom of the seniority list. Ergo, I just don't see those going to new hires any time soon. However, they certainly have trended much more junior in recent bids.

For perspective, based on the big May vacancy bid (Advance Entitlement in Delta-speak), the most junior pilots in those big 4 (I added the B765 as it pays the same as the A330) are:

B777: LAX (Nov 2014 hire)
ATL (Apr 2007 hire)
DTW (Mar 2001 hire)

A350: DTW (Sep 2007 hire)

A330: DTW (Aug 2015)
NYC (Nov 2014)
SEA (Aug 2010)
ATL (May 2008)

B765: NYC (Sep 2016)
ATL (Dec 2014)

sailingfun

There were no unfilled 7ER slots in ATL so it's not available to new hires.

kansas

My opinion...commuting to reserve is awful. Commuting to a line is better. Still not fun but better. I bid something that allowed me to hold a line quickly.

M88 and 320 are the best bets for that now, with the 717 close behind. 737 and 7ER, it will take substantially longer. 88, 717, and 320 all have nice room up front though 320 is hands down the best.

Many opinions, do what's best for you and what you want, and you'll be happy! I was in king airs for a long time too. I'm a taller guy and I think you'll be happy with the room
In whatever you choose. Welcome.

TED74

Based on anecdotal evidence, it's also getting awfuler. Greater use of short call by the company could be increasing the pain.

Denny Crane

What kansas said. Commuting to reserve sucks. Do it for as short a time as possible................if you want more time at home that is.........

Denny

BobZ

Commuting to domestic reserve is most unmanageable.

A pure international reserve category slightly less.

flyinhawyan

It looks like six daily flights to NYC (albeit on RJs) and American also has about five daily flights, so you should be covered if you choose NYC. Also, one of the NYC assistant chief pilots commutes from ORF. So maybe you can talk to him about commuting up there. I think NYC would be the quickest way to get a line, unless you want MD-88 in ATL.

Abouttime2fish

Last I knew, MD88 Atl was 2-4 months until you could hold a line. It will vary with seasonal flying depending when you finish training.

HarlsBarkley

Just lurking here, but I operate the ORF-JFK Delta Connection flight quite frequently. We nearly always have 2-3 commuters on board and have never had to leave anyone. I’ve never seen a 100% load on that flight.

Bert Sampson

I've been commuting to ATL via mainline for almost a year now. No sweat at all. I think ORF is still primarily MD-88s, so if you don't sign up for the cockpit jumpseat in time, you still have 2 FA jumpseats to fall back on. It's CAKE!

Commuting to reserve on the 88 in ATL is also CAKE. Use your Netflix account for the short call days and plan on buying a couple hotels a month but you can easily get those for less than $100 out the door around ATL. I'm at 60% in category but I'll bid reserve in a heartbeat if I need the days off.

I lived in base for 9 years at the regionals and half of that was on reserve. DAL commute and reserve is a freaking breeze. But there's no way I would do an RJ commute to EWR/LGA/JFK. Did it for a month right after IOE and will never choose to do it again.