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-   -   LAX 7ER or LAX 73N - Local New Hire (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/delta/149259-lax-7er-lax-73n-local-new-hire.html)

Flyler 01-23-2025 09:41 PM


Originally Posted by CX500T (Post 3874394)
Ok. Delta commuting rules in a nutshell. 2 policies. One FOM, one PWA.

FOM 2 flights, second DL ticketed, reasonable time between two. (So not a 0900 American and 0920 Endeavor in different terminal). Call crew scheduling after not getting on primary, they can, at their discretion positive space you on the backup, or release without pay but also no discipline.

PWA 2 flights, 2 hours apart, any Airline. Shields you from discipline only.

They are similar but a couple differences. Know what you are invoking.

My take, depending on where in Chicago you live, DTW is driveable in a pinch. Factor that in if you have a "witching hour " where getting from your house, missing primary flight and then backup makes it hard to report in time. We have 18 hour call out, can be as short as 10 on day 1 if its on your schedule by noon day before but any pre 1800 report day one requires no backup flight.

7ER in NYC, 95% of your flying will be JFK. Occasionally DHs or charters out of EWR and LGA. EWR stuff goes senior as us denizens of the dirty Jerz don't like going to NYC when EWR is so much easier.

But, as long as you have tine commuting into LGA is ok. Sometimes crew scheduling will ***** about your backup not being to same airport. But as long as you can realistically make report at the right airport with normal ground transport times they are supposed to.

ORD-DTW shows 12 flights tomorrow 6 on mainline Delta so you could book the jumpseat.

ORD-JFK has 7, 4 on Delta Ticketed RJs. No bookable JS
ORD-LGA has 32. 3 mainline DL, 5 DL ticketed RJs
ORD-EWR has 17, 0 DL ticketed.

If you want to get a taste of the 75/76 and some international, the ER in NY isnt an impossible commute but not cake.

DTW is only 1 airport to cover, possibly driveable.

I commuted from Norfolk VA to NYC for years. I was 360 miles house to crashpad. Not a drive I wanted to make a lot, but when we went to one flight a day in the winter post holiday slowdown I did drive a lot.

The 320 isn't bad. If you're an older when hired guy it might be better to take the ER if you want to do some Europe while you can.

RES RULES are ssme save for min days in a row. Its 4 on the ER, 3 on NB fleets. Short call numbers and abuse thereof lately is the same everywhere.

thanks for taking the time to respond in depth I really appreciate it. Im coming from ACMI 74 so I dont need fancy destinations. I just want good commutability and flexible schedule with some potential seniority movement being the 3rd criteria. Given these would bus be the way to go? The only reason I considered 7ER was the widebody "lite" schedule seemed like it would be more commutable, with the benefit of better pay over time. Is there a downside to the 220 that im not seeing? People seem to not mind the schedule.

FangsF15 01-24-2025 02:52 AM


Originally Posted by Flyler (Post 3874438)
thanks for taking the time to respond in depth I really appreciate it. Im coming from ACMI 74 so I dont need fancy destinations. I just want good commutability and flexible schedule with some potential seniority movement being the 3rd criteria. Given these would bus be the way to go? The only reason I considered 7ER was the widebody "lite" schedule seemed like it would be more commutable, with the benefit of better pay over time. Is there a downside to the 220 that im not seeing? People seem to not mind the schedule.

Take DTW. Being drivable, it will simplify your life immensely. FWIW, this is coming from a guy who’s done both local and commuter, and won’t commute again, ever.

CX500T 01-24-2025 02:56 AM


Originally Posted by FangsF15 (Post 3874453)
Take DTW. Being drivable, it will simplify your life immensely. FWIW, this is coming from a guy who’s done both local and commuter, and won’t commute again, ever.

Yep. DTW. That's what I'd take.

Podrick 01-24-2025 07:58 AM


Originally Posted by Flyler (Post 3874438)
thanks for taking the time to respond in depth I really appreciate it. Im coming from ACMI 74 so I dont need fancy destinations. I just want good commutability and flexible schedule with some potential seniority movement being the 3rd criteria. Given these would bus be the way to go? The only reason I considered 7ER was the widebody "lite" schedule seemed like it would be more commutable, with the benefit of better pay over time. Is there a downside to the 220 that im not seeing? People seem to not mind the schedule.

ORD commuter here, based on your priorities, I would definitley recommend DTW. I used to be on the 717 in DTW, the commute is super low stress. Its 1 hour gate to gate, all mainline flights, and it seemed like our flights always had 10+ open seats. I never really even looked at loads, I always just showed up for the 7am flight and got to work no problem. Also commuter hotels around DTW are super cheap. As a bonus you kind of gain an hour commuting home since its a 1 hour flight with a 1 hour time change, ie 5pm flight lands in ORD at 5pm.

I bit the bullet and switched to NYC 7ER for widebody flying, and while its an awesome category, its not commutable most of the year if you're junior. ORD-JFK commute is pretty rough, our DL connection flights to JFK seem to always be oversold and loads seem to change up to the last minute, so majority of the time I commute to LGA and then uber over to JFK.

Flyler 01-24-2025 08:41 PM


Originally Posted by Podrick (Post 3874564)
ORD commuter here, based on your priorities, I would definitley recommend DTW. I used to be on the 717 in DTW, the commute is super low stress. Its 1 hour gate to gate, all mainline flights, and it seemed like our flights always had 10+ open seats. I never really even looked at loads, I always just showed up for the 7am flight and got to work no problem. Also commuter hotels around DTW are super cheap. As a bonus you kind of gain an hour commuting home since its a 1 hour flight with a 1 hour time change, ie 5pm flight lands in ORD at 5pm.

I bit the bullet and switched to NYC 7ER for widebody flying, and while its an awesome category, its not commutable most of the year if you're junior. ORD-JFK commute is pretty rough, our DL connection flights to JFK seem to always be oversold and loads seem to change up to the last minute, so majority of the time I commute to LGA and then uber over to JFK.

This is what I needed. Thanks all of you for the responses, its helped a lot!

DeltaboundRedux 01-25-2025 04:41 PM


Originally Posted by CX500T (Post 3874344)
If I could make the perfect plane:
767 Power Seats
320 Stick/Tray
757 Thrust Levers/Auto Throttles (not a fan of the 320s manual thrust when you need it)
321N Displays Radar
73N TOGA Button (just push forward and hit button, not tell other guy to hit EPR)
757 Rudder Pedals/Foot Well.. 320 pedals are narrower between the outside ridges than my shoes are wide. Size 17EE problems.
767 room in the cockpit.
767 Jumpseats
320 Bleed Air System
320 "just put switch to RUN and watch it" starting system.

Pegasus FMS maybe with multi color.

I hate the MCDU on the 320. It's just klunky as hell, even after years of similar boxes (PL21)

757-300 Digital Mode Control Panel.. NO BOUNCING DIGITS!

This post.

My god.

I'm in absolute awe.

Takes a few type ratings to appreciate.

"If Boeing and Airbus had a baby with a pilot to supervise the delivery"

bender 01-26-2025 05:23 PM


Originally Posted by 170Till5 (Post 3874339)
it’s ok, Nant is also too good for Duke’s in Waikiki

Talk about overpriced mediocre food.... Go to Duke's once to check the box and then don't look back.

170Till5 01-27-2025 12:41 PM


Originally Posted by bender (Post 3875282)
Talk about overpriced mediocre food.... Go to Duke's once to check the box and then don't look back.

it’s about the vibes and its a classic.. Monkey Pod has the best Mai Tai’s and HH views though

CrazyEight 01-28-2025 04:25 AM


Originally Posted by cx500t (Post 3874344)
if i could make the perfect plane:
767 power seats
320 stick/tray
757 thrust levers/auto throttles (not a fan of the 320s manual thrust when you need it)
321n displays radar
73n toga button (just push forward and hit button, not tell other guy to hit epr)
757 rudder pedals/foot well.. 320 pedals are narrower between the outside ridges than my shoes are wide. Size 17ee problems.
767 room in the cockpit.
767 jumpseats
320 bleed air system
320 "just put switch to run and watch it" starting system.

Pegasus fms maybe with multi color.

I hate the mcdu on the 320. It's just klunky as hell, even after years of similar boxes (pl21)

757-300 digital mode control panel.. No bouncing digits!

100%





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LITT 01-28-2025 06:39 AM


Originally Posted by Nono (Post 3873899)
Anyone have any recommendations on if I should bid the 7ER or the 73N at LAX as a new hire living locally.

I’ve been in the LAX 7ER for the past 18 months. I live down south in sunny San Diego.

Goods: Nice trips (when you can get them)
75 most fun plane to fly
Get to fly empty airplanes! (Connected to charters)
Hawaii/European/Haneda

Bad: Very little movement in seniority. Might be changing with new hires showing up again, but that wouldn’t help you much. For reference, I’m 88% in LAX ER after 18 months. Would be 50% in the 73N, 75% 320. Also high utilization on reserve (at least for me). Not sure how other fleets compare.

I’m probably bidding to the 73 next fall for better seniority. Trips seem nice, and I’d get more of the days I want off.

Best of luck! And Welcome to Delta.




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