Cooperd0g

I have read and searched a bunch, but I'm still missing a few pieces so I was hoping a few of you in the know could fill in the gaps for me.

I have read that Delta runs out of three airports in LA and that the 737 is only out of LAX. Are the other two ONT and BUR? Which planes are out of those and what other planes than the 737 are out of LAX?

SLC seems to be very senior from what everyone said, but in the last class there were a couple of MD spots at SLC.

I think I have a good grasp of how long and short call work for reserve. I would be commuting from RNO. There are 4 flights a day (except only 3 on Tuesday), two on mainline and two on CRJs between RNO and SLC. With that I think that the commute to SLC from RNO would be relatively easy, especially if holding a line. While sitting reserve it should be relatively easy for sitting long call as well, at least, according to my friends already with Delta. For short call, I would either need a crash pad or just get a hotel. 8 hotel nights a month for short call might be cheaper than a crash pad, then again, it might not.

From RNO to LAX there are two CRJs each day with a Delta affiliate. I'm sure there are more on other airlines as well, but I hear it is always best to commute on your own mainline if possible because you can reserve the jumpseat ahead of time. RNO to ONT or BUR seems to be pretty tough to find a non-stop. None with Delta mainline anyway. I think Southwest does a RNO-ONT, but I can't remember right now.

From all this it looks like I would want to put SLC as a preferred location over LA because of mainline service and only one airport to be flying out of. Everything I read seems that I would be sitting reserve a lot longer at SLC and upgrades at that location would be longer as well. But if I can sit most of the reserve at home anyway, that wouldn't be as big of deal.

Thanks

de727ups

UPS has a RNO-ONT nonstop in the early evening four days a week.

Cooperd0g

I didn't think of that.

Superpilot92

most of ONT is done by XJT or Skywest. XJT is doing a majority of the DAL LAX feed right now. The only mainline aircraft i have seen in ONT is a 757, I think it just goes to ATL though. FWIW

ronnie75

Either would be OK. Where would you rather sit reserve, SLC or LAX? Also, would you potentially want to live in either place in the future? Having mainline service is a definite benefit, and the cost of living in SLC is likely way less than LA.

Cooperd0g

I will be staying in Reno. Wife has a great job and I have a reserve gig as well which is local to Reno so I'll be commuting no matter what to an airline job. I think I would be able to sit long reserve in Reno according to my friends. Short call I would have to be in town, obviously. With short it doesn't matter much because it isn't like you can be out and about the town catching shows in LA or skiing in Park City during short call.

MoonShot

What type of flying does the 737 out of LAX do? Short hops in/out of LAX all day or some long "see the country" trips? Also, is it certain that the 737s only go into LAX so you'd only have to cover one airport on reserve?

Hornet1

Here's my 2 cents. I'm a SLC commuter living on the west coast but will be moving to LAX soon. If your biggest concern is maximizing your days at home, I would choose SLC for now. My reason has to to with long call. You will not be able to sit long call from home if based in LA. I doesn't happen often but Scheduling could call you at 7pm for a 5am short call or 7am trip the next day. Probably not going to be able to find a flight from RNO to LAX that late. If you were living in Reno you could theoretically drive it if you really had to. You will find out that having the ability to drive if you really need to will give you more time at home, mainly to give you a back up to get to work. Probably not ever going to need to do it but just in case.
If it is just ease of commuting LA would be a better choice as there are more flight RNO-LA. Right now there are no trips that start out other than LAX. I really hope not but that could change at any time though.
As far as the flying goes. The SLC MD90 has pretty good trips but we have been picking up more ATL trips lately. Expect 2-4 legs per day. The LAX 73N for now has mainly 1 leg coast to coast flying with a couple of turns down south. But again that may change at any time.

Good luck on your decision.

SharkAir

I rode on an MD90 from ONT to SLC not too long ago.

EMBFlyer

ONT sees 757s daily to ATL and a mixture of 737s, MD-90s and DCI aircraft to SLC.

I hope the slots for LAX keep coming.