Two- three months ago... "No ring, no dinner" was still true...

I guess you must of had the special class... Maybe.

We had a weenie roast in the parking lot and then went over to the hangar and watched a DC-7 drip oil...

Well, I know being an FNG is exciting and all that, but it sounds like you have your plate full. If she could just jump in the car and be there in an hour or two I'd say it would be well worth it. However, life for the average new hire at this stage is chock full of commitments, transitions, and activities. Therefore, if it were me now that I've had some time to reflect, I'd use that time to get productive things done during a high workload period of life. Others will surely disagree.

I'd personally spend the extra time with friends in the place that you're leaving that you know you will not see in a long time (if ever again). Chief pilots and airline management, despite what they say, don't know you or your spouse from Adam and will act accordingly down the road. They are strangers with a name. I'd rather be with friends or getting stuff done.

Welcome aboard! All of us are excited to see you around the place.

Appreciate all the feedback. Had I been in a July or later class my wife & I could have made it happen fairly easily, but there really is too much else going on for us in June...so it looks like I'll be going stag (and passing on the mushroom soup) :D

What's the job like for DTW 73's? Much different from
NYC?

MD-88 vs 717 in ATL?
 

Any opinions on a new hire picking an MD-88 vs the 717 in ATL? Any big differences in schedule or seniority advancement? How about reserve usage?

Thanks! Getting excited about starting soon!

88 has better trips and is a much bigger category. 717 is an easier airplane to fly and pays a little less. They both will have a lot of movement.

Drops are out. Commuting from BOS, what are your thoughts for a newbie:
737 vs Bus vs MadDog out of NYC? Due to Uncle Sam's providence I should have good chance to pick from those 3.

my guess is you want same day commuting, the goal being late reports on day 1 and early release on day 3 or 4 for travel back and forth to BOS when you get a line. Sounds like the 88 will give you that seniority the fastest plus slightly better trips than the a320? The 73 will be the most senior of the 3 with the best trips, but you'd probably be commuting in the night before for quite a while to sit reserve.

I thought the earliest Short call could start on Day 1 was 10am?

I guess better question is, how does normal reserve rotation work? I know it's 6/7 shorts a month, but in a block, is it normally long call the first few days then a day or two of short?