Nikon90

Tried searching for some answers on the forum, but I couldn't find much on my question.

I am a dude awaiting my start date and trying to build my house of cards for a bid. I am going to be commuting for at least the next several years. Given that nobody seems to want to go to NYC it makes sense to me to try and bid for there to reap some of the seniority benefits. Only problem is from my commuting airport (STL) it is almost all Delta Connections. Contrast that with commuting to ATL, it is all mainline. Is it better to just stick with the mainline than to risk trying to get on the jumpseat of an RJ?

TIA

SparkySmith

You aren’t limited to the jumpseat on Delta Connection RJs. You can travel space available (“non rev”) there too.

The biggest difference for mainline pilots when commuting on company metal is the ability to reserve the jumpseat ahead of time. Six days out going to work, four days out coming home. A reserved jumpseat will only be trumped by a line check, new hire orientation or other even rarer situations like Secret Service. I’ve never been bumped from a reserved jumpseat.

DC allows you to list at the gate when the flight opens (an hour prior). Regional pilots can trump you on their own birds. That happens rarely and you can still take a seat in the back.

My commute is 100% RJ to NYC and I’ve had few problems. Having written that, it seems my home airport is low on the cancellation list when the wind blows or it rains in NYC. Some cities get the ax more frequently it seems. Any significant wx in NYC seems to bring DC cancellations.

My thoughts, which are worth double what you’ve paid for them here, is that at worst you can take it for a year or so. Split the difference and bid an airplane that is also based in ATL, if you’re concerned, which will give you an early out if desired. I think the commute to Gotham is well worth the opportunities in NYC. Your evaluation will be your own; some hate it.


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Tailhookah

I’ve done both. A mainline commute is way better than an RJ commute. When I have reserved the JS 6 days out, I don’t worry about loads. Period. On an RJ commute, you have to worry about loads, because you won’t know if you have that RJ JS until right before departure. Commuting is a choice. When on mainline, it’s a way better, almost no stress commute.

Also, commuting to NYC stinks. A little weather or just traffic flow can mess up your commute. Even on a clear day with no wind there are routine ATC delays. Then you may have to cab it to another airport after landing. Traffic.

Hotels? Very expensive.

If you have a choice I’d go to Atlanta. I commuted to NYC for 10 years. I’ve commuted to BOS, DTW and ATL. ALL were a dream compared to NYC. And I commute from DCA.

Tail

gliderguider

Minor point, but you can list anywhere, help desk or ticket desk for DCI flights 2 hours prior to departure. Does not have to be at that gate, but you still have to check in with the agent working the flight when it opens. I’ve added this to my bag of commuting tricks as not all contracted DGS gate agents are very proficient listing jumpseaters in my experience.

As far as competition for an RJ Js, my commute happens to be between two bases for SkyWest. Thankfully it’s mostly mainline but if SkyWest operates the flight it’s a guarantee to not get on between the Js competition and S3B1 priority we get on them. I’m to the point where if SkyWest are my only options for commute (usually around the reduced holiday schedule) I just hop in my car and drive 4.5 hours to base.

Not all RJ commutes are equal in difficulty, some are absolutely worse than others based on factors like weight restrictions and competition with RJ pilots and availability of F/a jumpseat. As far as I’m concerned a mainline commute is night and day different for the better.

CBreezy

Don't forget you also have AA and SWA between STL and LGA. In a pinch, you can take United to EWR. Obviously it's more desirable to commute on mainline because of the JS reservation, but there are plenty of options to get to LGA as well.

CBreezy

You forgot FAA which has cost me a Jumpseat at least twice.

Hossharris

if you get bumped off a jumpseat, company is supposed to buy you a positive space seat in the back.

TO work only.

if you’re going home, good luck.

SparkySmith

Fair. There is a long list of folks that could bump a mainline pilot from a mainline JS. Fortunately it hasn’t happened to me yet.


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CBreezy

Yes. This is an important point. Luckily, I've never been bumped going home

DenVa

Weigh the options carefully. You will need two hours between flights to avail yourself of contract commuting clauses, so frequency will play a roll.

ALPA says only 28 pilots make the STL ATL commute. That sounds like pretty good JS availability to me. Plus, on mainline you have the FA jumpseat option. This is what I would choose, unless NYC has almost hourly service.