New Hire Commuting
 

Start training on Nov 4 (Monday) and am a cadet. Expecting LGA 145 but if for some reason there are options, what would be an easier commute: ORD or DFW from Miami?

Well I would guess they wouldn’t offer 145 Dfw in Indoc. They haven’t for awhile but assuming you want to get back to Miami (145) Chicago would probably be better than Dfw. But lga would likely be an easier commute than Ord.

As a cadet, you go by contract date, so you’ll have a really good chance to pick either airframe. That being said, the new hires I’ve talked to recently that live in Miami are having an easy time commuting to LGA.

A quick google search makes it look like there are normally 10 weekday AA flights to DFW, 9 to ORD, and 10 to NY.

Overall a few more flights on all carriers, but the commute seems easy to any of Envoys bases

Yeah that’s what I looked into, of those options, I found only DFW has 777 flights with a lot more seats. Not sure if that factors in.

So if commuting is relatively equal, which would be my best bet in terms of holding a line. Looking around seems like DFW 175 but it’s all about 2 months old info.

I’m thinking of commuting until upgrade, looks like I’d be on reserve for over a year if I try to get back to Miami.

777 means not alot on a commute other than 2 or 3 jump seats. Those 777s go out full. Every day. Otherwise they wouldn't fly them. The easiest commute out of South Florida is NYC. Between MIA, FLL, PBI to JFK and LGA there are dozens of options on a plethora of airlines. MIA will probably take you less than 6 months to hold as an FO, holding a line, no idea.

Junior FO lineholder in Miami is 9/24/2018 hire.

I am aware. I said to hold. Not hold a line. Reserve here sucks but not as bad as commuting.

You said holding a line - no idea. I just put it out as information.

Ah cool. Sorry if I was short. Also OP just as a heads up to upgrade and be in Miami you are looking at close to 3 years to be on bottom reserve.

Sorry still getting used to all the terms. When you say hold vs hold a line does that mean just being able to transfer?

So 6 months to transfer and then another 6 until having a line? Or 3 years until a line?

So 6 months to hold the base as an FO, another 6 months in MIA to hold a line as an FO. Then once you upgrade the junior Captain in MIA I believe is an early 2017 hire so 2.5-3 years to just hold the base as a CA. It is the most senior base in the company and a few senior guys snowbird in during the winter and bid back out in the summer. Frustrating.

You’ll be amazed how easily those flights on the 777 are oversold every single day. I would stay away from a commute from Miami to DFW. The best commute from Miami by far is LGA. If I were you I would stay in LGA until I could hold Miami. On the FO side it is very junior.

Former Envoy here, and word of advice is absolutely don’t commute any longer than you have to especially if you live in a base. I did the commute out of Miami to LGA, DFW, & ORD when they shut down Miami while I was there, and nothing compares to living in base. Loads between hubs are extremely high and lots of non-revs. Bid the 145 any base and transfer home to Miami.

That advice stands even with a 1year wait for a line as a FO in Miami vs possibly 4 in DFW? Also wondering while I commute what would you consider was the easiest base to get to from MIA?

Lga is the easiest commute from Mia

To be honest, it’s not even close in my opinion. Living in base is like a different job. Commuting out of Miami to LGA is easier. Many from South Florida also commute out of FLL to LGA which offers many more options.

Without a doubt. Don’t commute if you don’t have to. The only caveat to that is if you live “in base” but are really a 2-3 hour drive from the airport, it changes the calculus a bit. If you can sit RAP from your living room, reserve is not that bad.

Again, stay away from DFW if you live and commute out of Miami. As a new FO sitting reserve without commuting IS like a different job. If you cannot hold Miami right away the easiest commute out of MIA, FLL and PBI is New York. Don’t let the shiny 777 out of MIA blind you.... ALL of these flights are sold out with 2,564,135,711 mainline listed for the jumpseat.

RUM, what base and equipment did you get? ORD 175?

Would a commute from MIA to ORD be difficult ?

Hit or miss. I try to commute out of FLL if possible on JB, NK, or UA and haven't been left yet. MIA to ORD can be rough.

Anything hub to hub is tough. That’s why if you can go to a satellite airport that still has some size you are better off.

FLL is a great alternative like mentioned above. Soon enough you'll be MIA based if you'd like and not have to deal with it commuting either way.

Not an easy one