CX500T

I'm currently waiting on a class date at Delta. Being that I have no 121 experience, is there a way for those of us waiting to start to try to get a good grasp on load factors, Jumpseat Availability, etc?

I'm staying in the Langley/Norfolk area for the next couple years at a minimum due to my wife's career.

From what I'm seeing, new guy bases that are one leg commutes are:

Atlanta. Multiple flights on mainline equipment a day. From personal experience flying as a customer, they don't seem overfull very often but I honestly didn't start looking that closely until I had the interview. Limited options on other companies. Weather less likely to be a factor than NY or DTW.

New York. Everyone goes there. Seems like it's the most junior base for most planes there. When I fly there as a passenger, it's usually an RJ that is stuffed. Not sure on JS availability.

Detroit. Less commute options, but the RJ there never seems very full.

That said, I'm basing the full/not full based on maybe 15 business trips a year on Delta and their RJ feeds.

For any Norfolk-Langley-Va Beach based Delta pilots, what would be your recommendation for a new guy who is going to commute for the next two years?

By dumb luck I have a high last 4, and if I have my choice of bases, I'd hate to waste having a choice on a decision based on my faulty data.

I've asked friends at Delta and they have had great insight into pros and cons of various planes, but they have all said to reach out and ask here since none of them commute from ORF/PHF.

Other considerations:

I'm from Michigan and have a ton of friends in the Detroit area. Cheap crashpad.

Wife is from NYC, lots of relatives to stay with. Downside. They are inlaws, and no parking so no car.

ATL, I'd probably bring my camper down and set up in a RV park as a crash pad and leave my truck there.

That said, I'm new and don't know what I don't know, so I'm open to suggestions.

Scoop

Can't help you much on the ins and outs of those specific commutes but I will tell you this. On a more general level with your high SSN I would recommend ATL because on mainline flights you can book the jumpseat. In my opinion this removes 90% of the stress associated with your commute.

Commuting on a RJ is a crap-shoot every time it is relatively full. You are a lower priority for non-rev and are continually subject to being bumped off the JS. Not a fun situation for a probation pilot.

Scoop

CX500T

So from what you can see, ATL if I can get it, and maybe NYC 2nd since there are more commute options (number of flights)?

Scoop

I would recommend you keep talking to your buds and keep up on the forums - you will get a lot of good advice. No need to define your options at this stage - just keep researching it - plenty of guys will bring up issues that we are overlooking.

Good Luck!

Scoop

qball

My advice is...if you are going to commute and have a choice, stay away from the RJ commute. ATL has lots of choices and lots of movement...and mainline to boot. That's where I'd go.

sailingfun

Keep in mind if you take ATL and then want to try NYC it won't be hard to get the bid. Escape from NYC on the other hand may be more difficult.

Hossharris

Commute on mainline if you have a choice.

Falcon20

Realize that NY is all 3 airports if you are on a narrow body aircraft. I would avoid it unless you are on the 7ER which eliminates LGA and there are minimal trips out of EWR.

If it were me I’d go ATL #1, NYC widebody or DTW Narrowbody as #2. If you get NYC narrowbody be like Snake Blisken and Escape from NY!!

sailingfun

At Delta something a surprising number of pilots don't know is if you have the jumpseat booked to work and a Fed or check airman bumps you from the seat you get positive space in the back even if the flight is sold out.

CX500T

Appreciate the responses. It's looking like ATL is the best option for now.

Next dumb question, I want to also make a smart choice if given the chance on equipment.

7ER looks nice from a big airplane point of view, since I've been shoehorned into King Airs for a long, long time. I've heard the Bus is also a very roomy cockpit for it's class of jet. I'm familiar with the 737.

Assuming ATL, since I think base over equipment may be a good move due to commute looking much better to ATL,

7ER- Looks good to me. Main concern is will I be reserve forever? It seems like there's only 1-2 slots per class if any, so I'm thinking I'll be junior/reserve for a long time.

MD88- From my limited knowledge, it seems like this is the fastest way to have a line.

717- Slightly more senior than MD88, more modern cockpit.

737/A320- Similar trip mix / seniority, 73 pays slightly better second year. Not that it matters, but I'm typed on the 73.

777/330/350. Not normally available to new hires, and if it was, you'd be the most junior guy forever.