Originally Posted by Gone Flying

A couple things (and you don’t have to answer here). EDIT

1)In your early 50s, personally I would stay at AA. if you were in your 20s or early 30s I could see justifying it, but you are in your 40s or 50s, probably not. DL has hired around 5,000 pilots since 2014 plenty of those are on the young side. We only have like 4,000 mandatory retirements between now and 2030, I know AA has a lot more than that.

2) if you are 3 hrs from DTW, how close are you to PHL or ORD? Also our SC reserve is expected to be available in 2 hours, living 3 hrs away would mean commuting on reserve. Unlike AA, we do not have separate LC/SC. Everyone starts out as LC and scheduling can convert you to SC up to 7 times a month. No add pay for that. If you want to move inside the 2 hour bubble that could change things.

3) what is driving this? DL seemed pretty well run pre Covid but I would say we have fumbled as bad/worse than anyone else since Covid started, our management culture here certainly is not pro pilot, and we are certainly having our issues right now. Things may not be great at AA but they certainly are not all roses here.

If you really want to make the jump put your app in, but the grass is not always greener.

Originally Posted by saturn

SC is NOT 2hrs at DL. It's promptly available, and yes intentionally vague. There IS a cool benefit for commuters where they can have their phone off in the first 2hrs if flying inbound. Some people interpret that as code for the expected call-out time, but it's not. You can be 3 hrs away. Talk with your CP & ALPA rep if you have questions.

Originally Posted by Gone Flying

interesting, I was under the impression (NYC aside) you were expected to be available in aprox 2 hours. I’ll definitely ask about that. I commute so either way I’m sitting in a crash pad waiting for the phone to ring.

Originally Posted by CBreezy

Saturn is correct. There is no time limit. I think most people generally try to abide by the 2 hour rule but there is nothing preventing you from being 3 hours away, necessarily.

Originally Posted by Texasbound

So if there is not limit, can you drive from Florida and show 16 hours after notification? Assuming no traffic.

Originally Posted by Texasbound

So if there is not limit, can you drive from Florida and show 16 hours after notification? Assuming no traffic.

Originally Posted by saturn

SC is NOT 2hrs at DL. It's promptly available, and yes intentionally vague. There IS a cool benefit for commuters where they can have their phone off in the first 2hrs if flying inbound. Some people interpret that as code for the expected call-out time, but it's not. You can be 3 hrs away. Talk with your CP & ALPA rep if you have questions.

Not advocating to leave AA at all. Just want to make sure people understand what reserve means at Delta, since reserve has such a bad reputation at other airlines. Especially if one lives 3hrs from DTW.

Originally Posted by sailingfun

I know a pilot who was terminated by Delta for being 3 hours away during shortcall. The contract says reasonably available however that definition over the many years and system boards ect has been interpreted as approximately 2 hours by surface transportation with allowances if anything unexpected were to occur. The specific commute I am referencing was San Diego to LAX. If pilots keep pushing the limit the company will push for a hard limit and that will be bad for all of us.

Originally Posted by Amike

To have been terminated, it surely wasn't the first occurrence or issue with this person?

Originally Posted by ZeroTT

No

AA is about to undergo massive retirements.

DTW is a legacy NW hub that is relatively small (and barely growing) as an area to support O&D traffic. I wouldn’t stake a career on the mid 21st century prospects of Detroit