DFW-ATL commute
 

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with DFW-ATL commute on DAL. Getting ready to start training, and any input would be greatly appreciated.

Oh jeez. It has historically been the toughest in the system. There are a few FA’s that used to buy cheap tickets on AirTran back in the day just to get to work.

Don’t. If you do then Love Field is better.

It’s better than it used to be. It used to be the horror story of the system. 5-11 main line flights per day now.

Thanks for the responses everyone. Was thinking of bidding the MD-88 before they go away, but I know its only in ATL, would be awesome to fly though.

Don't. You're up against some senior commuters and plenty of FAs too. That's probably the hardest commute in the system.

MSP has a MD88 base too, that would be a lot easier commute.

Yes, it sucks.

On the bright side, it's only a 15-hour drive. Done both the drive and commute.

JFK-LGA has less competition, but at least it's sporty!

Good Luck. :)

Jesus don’t even attempt it unless you plan on buying tickets back and forth. Move. You’ll be way better off in long run.

I moved to ATL instead of even attempting that nightmare. You’ve been warned.

Yeah I have flown with a couple captains that buy tickets as soon as they get their schedule.

Beginning June 8, all DL flights DFW-ATL will be on the 319/20 which will add some jumpseats (assuming all ours have 2). That should help some.

New hire slots aren't going to MSP though and I wouldn't expect that one to be an option going forward.


The best way to handle that commute if you do end up in ATL may be to 2 leg it through another city.

A decent amount of each new hire class is going to the MD88 in ATL, so if you really want to do it I'm sure you'll have the opportunity. If able though I'd recommend an a/c that at least has other bases so you can bid out of ATL if the commute is too much.

All that said, if you can move your reserve days to have one big block a month it makes the commute much easier as you're only doing it once a month each way, I'm very junior and have been able to do that so far myself on the 73N.

Exactly. At least they earn frequent flyers status doing that.

Seriously, this has to be the worst commute at Delta. The jumpseat is full 90% of the time. Except that one time last month when we had MX delay for 6 hours and flew back with ONE passenger. 😂

Yes, but the junior MSP M88 based pilot has been on the property 11 months, (and junior MSP 73N 16 months) so it's not like it's an eternity to get to MSP.

Generally, if you can't get to the base you want, get on an airplane that is in the base. Makes it easier down the road to switch, as you don't have to go to training again.

I moved back here in 2016. There have been a lot of former Military and Envoy pilots hired that have chosen to commute since being hired in 2016/17 so that has added to the commuters again.

We still have hundreds of pilots and last I heard around a thousand FA's that still commute.(gate agents, maintenance employees add to that) Most of them were hire 40 plus years ago. They sometimes don't list and just show up 45 prior to a flight and then list and get on.

All of that said, its been doable, but I often given myself three flights not the two that is required under the commuter policy. I have only had to use my backup once, but I generally book the jumpseat and go on whatever flight I get that on.

I have talked to a few 2014/15 hires that are now debating moving to ATL. Flight loads change fast. They also added back the AA IROPS interline agreement a few months back as well.

Its not impossible, but you need to watch it and respect the commute out of here.

I was you 11 years ago. I did the commute for 7 years. Got hired into the maddog. If you have a family, my advice is commute a few years (see what the job is like commuting) and then move to base you and your family can agree to. This way you see both sides. Y'all will like the base gig better. After you get some seniority. Best deal at Delta is bidding reserve in base and GS. 20-25 days off a month and average 85-95 hrs of pay, you can always go to Joe T's, Rangers game, and the Railhead on vacation.

It's been three years since I flew the 717 but I did a lot of Love flights and never once had a jumpseater.

They all have 2 jumpseats and the cockpit can swallow all 4 pilots with their bags.

That should give you 24 jumpseats a day.

All the more reason to get more Airbuses. :D and not those Cs100 Airbuses, those aren't Airbuses, they only have 1 jumpseat.

Just a point..........a day on reserve that you are NOT called out to fly is NOT a day off........you may not fly but you do have an obligation to the company whether you are on short or long call.

Denny

Most jumpseaters out of Love field are southwest pilots, by far. And I've been on the 717 since we got 'em

I used Love during initial when I had positive space travel and rarely saw DL jumpseaters, but DFW’s frequency makes it much more commuter friendly than Love.

Was that before AirTran and Southwest pilots flew together? Because I think a fair number of the AirTran guys got bumped out of ATL and had to commute, and Dallas/Love was a decent place to go to.

It was sometime between getting the 717s and starting to use them in DAL and December of 2015. Somewhere in there.

I can remember vividly talking about never having a DL JS and if we ever had a OAL JS they aren't in the cockpit. Just how the apples fell I guess.

It was kind of like flying to DFW years ago when I was on the 88 and how you were shocked to fly without someone in the JS.

But 24 jumpseats a day now when 320s takeover has to make that much much easier for the DFW folks.

If you're planning on commuting to ATL from DFW I suggest you join the Spirit "$9 fare club" so you can buy tickets for as low as $23.99.

They operate on a same week basis. Reliability for commuting is not their strong point.