What's the 88 and 717 like as far as the airports it operates out of? Is one of the fleets that new hires get in nyc have more commutable trips consistently then the other fleets?

The only constant is change. Be careful what you base decisions on

JFK, terminal 4, 30 min parking lot to lounge.

NYC 88 vs 717 trips
 

Could someone in the know do a general comparison for the 88 vs the 717 in nyc for a new hire? Which one generally has less painful trips (less legs per day), better layovers, better cities, faster progression, least amount of redeyes (if they even do them), best flexibility of schedule (any ability to trade/drop?)...I know a lot of this stuff changes but some general comparisons would be helpful. Also is there a good website other than just delta.com that shows trips out of each base for category? The ones I see online need a departure and destination which makes it difficult. Thanks!

It's all relative. 717 has more EWR generally and has the shuttle and more five leg days. 88 has very few if any 5 leg days, less ewr, and a pretty decent mix of 1-5 day trips. Not easy to drop on either fleet with almost no reserve coverage to do so.

I try to pull into the JFK parking lot one hour before check in. I don't like to bite my nails at the last minute, and I prefer to have a little time to check my V-file, weather, etc.

Even if I allow tons of extra time for my drive to NYC, a minor accident or a breakdown might cause me to miss my check in time. Is there any leeway for unexpected delays if you've given a reasonable time to arrive. Or do guys just call in sick on the way in if it looks like you won't make it?

Thanks.

Just leave yourself enough time specifically if that happens. I live 30 mins away no traffic from JFK and LGA. I routinely leave my house 1:15-1:30 before I need to be in the lot. Never had a problem and if you are running behind call scheduling. They really don't care as long as the flight pushes on time.

Thanks. I've heard that United allows extra time for traffic to get to a NYC airport if you're on reserve. How does short call reserve work at DAL? Do you have 2 hrs to make it to any NYC airport or does it have be the one they call you for?

Thanks!

Promptly available to a NY airport. That is of your choosing. So if you are on Lon-guy-land and 2 hrs east of JFK and they call you for EWR if may be 5 hrs. You are covered just make sure you tell them so they can adapt.