The new way is, bid before class

 

I think the former 88 guys are happy to be on the 717. Other than the kickass awesome badass LCA I had that was from the 88, everyone I've flown with has been a 7ER B. One may have had a sting as a 765 B.

The plug on the ATL 717 A for April would sit around 90% on the ATL 88 A with 51 guys below them. If that tells you anything. I think the reputation of the 88 being harder kept many away.

The 88 is a labor intensive airplane but it lands nice. The 90 is nicer than the 88 but downright annoying at times. The AP panel and the FMS are bipolar opposites in integration, capabilities, layout, thinking, etc. The 717 is incredibly smart, I mean incredibly smart, the 88 dropped out in the 10th grade and the 90 is smoking dope it doesn't remember anything.

The 88 seems like it would win a footrace to cruising altitude, I'm not sure it'd even be close, but the 717 would do it smoother, smarter and tell you your min speed at altitude. On the 88 you use memory, speed booklets which require more mental gymanstics, move little doodads on the ASI and really have no clue as to what it's minimum speed at the moment is. The 717 is informing you of all sorts of stuff.

The 717 has A/C. The 88 don't. Some 90s are great, some have no air flow.

Seems like 3-day trips on either will be 10-12 legs and 15-17 hours, 4-days 12-14 legs and 20-24 hours with most seemingly around 20-21. The 717 has a plethora of 30 hour layovers and low block hour trips that have a lot of "credit" time (meaning you're paid 13:30 for 4 hours of flying). Like I said, that won't last. FWIW, my last 4 day the longest leg was ATL-Jackson MS. I wouldn't be shocked to do a 14 leg 4-day someday where I don't make it beyond an airport in Georgia, north Florida, Mississippi, Alabama or Tennessee. My buddy is on the 737, we laugh when we compare 4 leg 4-days with 30 hour layovers in SFO to my 8 leg 2-days or 3-day trips and my next month 30 hours in Jackson, Knoxville, Mobile, Northwest Arkansas, Houston (excited to make it that far west) and Allentown. I traded out of a TLH overnight because I hate them .

If you don't like magic and think an MD-88 has too much magic, the 717 is not an airplane for you. The magic isn't optional. heck you dont even tune in ILS, it does that by what you have in the fms. want something different? go in the fms and change it. all roads lead to the fms. dont like dealing with the fms? dont bid the 717.

the 717 is a bit more senior than planned btw.

I liked the 88 when I was on it, love the 717 a lot more... although I think it's a death trap and would advise anyone senior to 2008 not to bid 717B.

 

Nice review FtB!

 

Thanks FTB!

 

fwiw ATL 717 is near 57% 3-days, 6% 4-days, 30% 1-days and 7% 2-days.

ATL M88 B is 64% 4-days, 16% 3-days, then 11% and 10% for 2 and 1 day trips.

i do think there is more money in the 88 flying right now that in the 717. But the 88 in ATL is over 3x larger than the 717 category but probably has more GS opportunities per pilot. ill go check later.

sorry for butchering the proofreading on that post last night. typing on phone and editing is laborious.

 

Thanks FTB. I read somewhere earlier in the thread that 717 training was in FL and the company pays hotel while you're there. All other training is in ATL. Can anyone confirm this?

 

717 training can be either MIA or ATL.

 

Sounds like the best opportunity for a new hire to make maximum cash is to bid the 88.

Although the 717 looks appealing because of the advanced flight deck and rumors of West Coast flying.

 

Just got a rejection email for a flight attendant position at Delta that I never applied to. Anyone??? So strange.

 

Maybe the Shrink put you in for it?