Not too many deadheads, but like Buzzpat said, lots of redeyes. My usual trip is one leg out and one leg back either transcon or the Caribbean. Usually, a redeye on the leg home.

Just curious, why do you not see new guys getting the ER or possibly the domestic 767?

-Fatty

Because once the SLI is concluded, and all the bump and flushing is done, everyone will be holding what their seniority can hold. The reason new hires got the ER was because people like me didn't want to fly it. I'm pretty sure that there are a few guys flying DC-9s and A320s in MSP who would like to change planes.

The domestic 767 is fully staffed, so new hires won't be going there any time soon. The NYC 7ER category grew by about 50% in 07/08, it was a combination of growth and a dislike of being based in NYC that gave new hires the opprotunity for intl lines so early in their career.

Many pilots hired in 2001 or prior have bid into the NYC 7ER category now that the new hires have filled the reserve lines, 2 man trips and Africa flying. Don't expect to come to Delta as a new hire and hold a line on the ER 2 months after training, it's not likely to be repeated.

If you are willing to sit reserve, the ER may be an option because there is a fair amount of churn at the bottom of the list. Lots of new hires on the ER bid out on the first AE after training.

That's me exactly. Now that my seniority can hold a decent line on the ER in ATL, I may go over there. Along with all the mid-seniority ex-NWers. If you are a DL 07-08 hire on the ER, you can expect to be on reserve for a long time.

I'll second this. As much as I've come to dislike commuting, I think It is a higher QOL than sitting reserve in base with my last carrier.

But as I said, if you're wanting to come here its best to see what worst case scenario is, and make your decisions based on that. If it ends up being better, you'll be that much happier.

If you are DL 07-08 hire based in ATL you will be on reserve a long time on any category except the M88.

I will agree with that. There will be an influx of people here shortly to the ER and 767. Literally 100's of pilots that finally bid it as the new hires has filled the reserve duty. It is all about QOL. I get three of four weekends off sitting senior reserve on the 767 in ATL. If that changes I will go to an airplane I can sit senior reserve on. One or two trips a month is enough.

Are you saying I can get the ER or 767 in ATL on this next AE. Do you have any idea how the ER guys life on reserve is (do they get used alot)?

Dude.

No one knows how the next AE will go. Just a guess, widebodies will start going more serior, but who knows.

Go to the category list and pull up some junior guys schedules and you can see how much the reserve guys are doing.

IMO the 88 is a shrinking category, don't expect movement on it. I'm actually moving down on the list % wise. Feb. of 08 we had 470 FO's, now we're down to 390 FO's in ATL! But at least the ALV is up so we can work even more! <joke>