ViperDrvr

If you are, or have ever been, a commuter from Denver, can you please share your thoughts on...
- commuting to/from ATL (my current domicile)
- what it's like to get to your base (how tough is it to get a nonrev seat, how competitive is the jumpseat, etc)
- best base to commute to, based on ease of commute and commutable schedules
- best plane/base combo for same-day commutable schedules DOMESTIC
- best plane/base combo for same-day commutable schedules INTERNATIONAL
- what things do you do to make it bearable over the long term
- any nuggets of wisdom you care to pass along

Thanks for all your input. I'm junior to just about all of you (1yr with DAL), so don't be hesitant on giving me the gouge Please feel free to PM if you don't want to post for all to see.

Cheers and Happy Labor Day!! Hope you're enjoying it with family and friends.

NoDeskJob

I have only been with DL 6 months. Spent the first 5 commuting from Den.
I've never commuted to anything but ATL, so I can't comment on the easier aircraft/schedules.
There are lots of flights a day between DL, UA, and SW. The bummer about commuting to the east is you lose 2 hours on top of the 3 hours of block time, due to the time zone change.
I usually reserved the Jumpseat, and commuted on us. I would say 75% of the time you'll be on a MD, and in that lovely Jumpseat no less - I can joke on it cause I fly it . Sometimes in the high traffic months, like ski season and part of summer, they'll put the ER on a couple of the flights.
Overall, I get the impression there are a lot of guys that do the DEN-ATL commute. If I didn't book the Jumpseat the minute it was available, I usually wouldn't get the one i wanted.
I would think the commute to SLC or MSP might be easier, but you'd have to check with those guys or check travel net. Lax could become an easier commute as the base grows.

tunes

I do it to lax now. I commute OAL 90% of it since we just started service in June and it's all on RJs. If it goes Mainline the commute will get much easier.


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Sputnik

I did DEN-ATL for about 8 months. I always knew I was going to move so I didn't spend a lot of time finding the perfect solution. I just bid early sign ins and flew in day before (which sucked btw and I don't recommend it as a long term solution but with that I got early releases and easily made it home last day). The time zone thing complicates it, but on the 88 it would be relatively easy to build a line commutable on both ends.

Had to book jumpseat and majority of time I was sitting in it. MD90s most common. I was sitting there at 10 am one icrew to book it, once got beat by 15 sec. In the winter frequency went down a lot, I think to 5 flights a day most days. That really tightening things up.

I used SWA a few times, they were great.

Relative seniority is always going to get you a better schedule for your commute. Which means the 88 or 717. Take a look at NYC as well.

Long term, SLC is much closer and there are a lot of flights, but I think mostly RJs and I hear it's pretty competitive. MSP is a little closer and I understand you still got to book the JS most days.

Commuting sucks, good luck

ViperDrvr

Figured as much. I'm on the MD too--that JS is sooooo comfortable!

Didn't realize LAX is growing. Have paid other bases little attention. That would definitely be an option. Thanks!

ViperDrvr

How is commuting OAL? I've not done it, never even tried. Plenty of mainline where I currently reside. Where do we rack n stack with their employees, dependents, etc? How many backup flights do you show up with? Or are there just that many open seats where it's not an issue?

tunes

it's pretty easy. Frontier recommends you pre-list but doesn't require it...i do it anyways just to make it easier...crews treat you great. American requires a pre-listing and its all on 175s by compass and they are extremely nice. Never done spirit but i believe you have to pre-list with them. Southwest you can pre-list or show up at gate, depending on how much time I have I pre-list. United is a show up at gate thing. Been treated great on all of the above listed airlines. FAs usually offer a water right when i board which is unnecessary but an appreciated gesture. You fall below buddy passes but I'd say i get a seat in the back over 50% of the time. I've only had a handful of occasions of not getting on my primary flight. Depending on the day of the week there are 25-30 flights a day so it's pretty frequent.

ViperDrvr

Wow! Would never have guessed it would work so smoothly. 50% in the back is pretty good. Better than my average on current commute. Thanks for the great info!

tunes

Sorry I mean it's terrible and I'm always on the Jumpseat on my third or fourth try


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ViperDrvr

I'm Atlanta based so you don't have to worry about competition for that 3rd or 4th attempt. 🙂