I think you're asking about having to commute the first year if assigned the 88 out of indoc until you can get back to DTW.

The good news is that the transition from 88 to 717 is pretty painless and DTW 717 should become available as soon as your freeze expires. In addition, you'll have 85 new hires coming in under you every month which should help you get a line sooner rather than later..always better to commute to a line!

The bad news is you'll have to commute to reserve for at least a few months. I would avoid NYC88 if you can and avoid having to cover 3 airports. If you can't avoid NYC, bid ATL88 or MSP88 as soon as you get access to DBMS so you only have to cover 1 airport on reserve. Remember, you can bid any base you want as long as you don't change equipment during your first year (IIRC?). With the pace of AE's every 30-45 days, you may get awarded ATL or MSP before you get off IOE and only have to fly out of NYC for a month.

DL just opened a NYC 717 category. It should be really junior. If you can get NYC717 out of indoc...take it and bid DTW717 as soon as you can.

Congrats and Welcome Aboard! You're gonna have a great career, especially if you make it back to DTW and fly out of the base where you live for the next 20 yrs.

Thanks CGfalconHerc! That's exactly what I was looking for. I didn't know how senior the 717 in DTW would be a year from starting, but even at the bottom it would seem to make sense to aim for that if the conversion from the 88 is easy.

Are the flights from DTW - MSP as bad as ATL - DTW in reference to non revs? I know every plane is full now days, but the ATL - DTW ones have 30-40 non revs every time I look at the list. I guess it's because people from legacy NW bidding to ATL for schedules and legacy Dal bidding dtw for schedules. I was wondering if MSP - DTW was like that since they were both NW bases.

Thanks!

I think you will find that any commute from a base to another base ( in some cases an ex-base like LAS or DFW) will always be difficult. With the expected rapid movement over the next few years it will only get worse. FWIW, I commuted my entire 30 year career and if had to do it over, I would have moved to a base and stayed there at all costs. Best of luck to you in you're a Delta career. You will love it.

I echo the above. I have commuted most of my career. Biggest mistake I made especially if you have children.

Hmm, is my thinking backwards then? The reason I'm considering a commute is my daughter just started high school this year. Due to military moves, she saw 4 different schools by the time she hit 7th grade and I just want some stability in her life. Do you think one more move is worth the trade off of more time at home vs. being the new kid one more time? I know there is no right answer, but I wouldn't mind hearing from those who have been there.

Commute, let her finish high school, pick a base, buy a house, settle in for the long run.

It comes down to how much personal time you want with her. You are going to spend a couple of days a month going to and from work. Attending her HS events and functions will be much easier living in base. Your bidding options to get to your daughters soccer game at 3pm go up exponential living in base.
It does also depend on your commute. All commutes suck, some however more then others.

Pm sent

If you choose to commute, you have to acquire a commuter mindset which is an active choice to not stress over any commute. If you're tired, get a hotel, if you are unable to commute let it roll off your back, go in early, plan to lose the rest of the day and maybe the morning after your trip, etc. Even if it means missing events in the family. This might be something you should discuss clearly and thoroughly with your family.

Out of curiosity, how long between the first day of indoc, and the first day of training on the aircraft, approximately?