A10Beav

I'm fortunate enough to have two CJO's and I'm looking for opinions to help me decide. I've read it's best to live at your domicile, but I don't expect that to happen for us. I'm living in San Antonio and my future hub will eventually be Dallas (AA) or Houston (UA). DFW is a 45 min flight/4 hour drive and IAH is a 30 min flight/3 hour drive.

It seems IAH would be the better option if I can't schedule a flight on short-call, since I could drive there in 3 hours (what is UA's response time?). However, with either hub, I can stay someplace between IAH/DFW to wait.

Both airlines seem strong, so I haven't found a business argument for either one. That's why I'm asking about hubs, because I'm looking for a better quality of life (time at home).

I'm coming out of the Air Force, so this business is foreign to me. Any input will be appreciated. Thanks.

WHACKMASTER

First question....are you planning on staying in the SAT area? First response to your question...IAH & DFW have a 1 hour difference between them for you. Do the actual math on how many more MONTHS (Yes MONTHS) worth of driving this would mean through the course of your career. It will shock you.

Sliceback

You doing reserves? ANG? That complicates it.

Not drilling? I'd move to the hub. I think DFW has more big jet flying vs IAH. That might be the decider.

A10Beav

Yes, we plan on staying here. Is it unrealistic to expect a flight for a short-call on reserve? Once I can hold a line, I don't think I'll have to drive to the hub, correct?

I've retired from the AF, so I don't have any reserve obligations. I understand living at your hub is ideal, but we plan on staying in SAT for family reasons. I'm sure commuting will be rough for a few years, but I think it'll be comfortable once I have some seniority.

On that note, it looks like AA will have more retirements that UA.

webecheck

I wouldn't let the choice between saving an hour of drive time be the decider. Additionally, i believe DFW is a fortress hub for AA, Iah is a shrinking hub for UA. This means less higher paying jets and/or less seniority which translates into a better QoL. I don't know what seniority is like in DFW for AA pilots, but IAH is very senior to UAL. It could mean the difference between driving home 4 hours during a banker's hours trip termination, or the dreaded 3 hr drive after flying a red eye home. In that case, everyone would prefer the 4hr midday drive. You're following I'm sure. If you plan on staying put in SAT for the career, I would research all the aircraft options at those 2 bases and seniority numbers required to be a lineholder on them.

You will get unused short calls, that's for sure. It stinks, but you're still getting paid at least. 2.5 hr callout.

I believe that after spending some time on reserve, you'd desire the most junior equipment that will give you a line and you will fly to work. The "its only a 3hr drive" argument isn't that attractive in reality, although on paper it beats a 4 hr drive obviously. Imagine doing that before and after every trip. I commute to IAH from OKC. My house to the gate can be as short as 30 min sometimes, then jump on the 1hr flt. I can get from my house to the IAH gate in as short as 2:15 hrs with perfect timing. I hate it though...and you have to have the backup option so you almost always end up in ops an hour or 2 early waiting on report time.

If I have to commute, OKC/IAH is an easy one, but still, I wont do this my entire career. Zero chance. Driving 3 or 4 hours seems equally miserable and not a viable 20yr tactic imo, but maybe someone who does it will chime in. If you agree with me though, then that 1hr less drive circumstance as a deciding factor is now irrelevant.

Load 15

Another thing to consider is that DFW is the HQ of American, while IAH is just a pilot base for United. Bases come and go, but headquarters don't seem to change anywhere near as often.

Sliceback

Flying to SC is risky. When they have a wx event they burn through SC guys. Would you flight be operating? Delayed for hours?

You can drive 3-4 hrs. It's not a great choice but acceptable if it keeps your family in a good place. Welcome to fatherhood. It's a nice backup for LC or when you're a line holder. A couple of times a year? Bid deal.

The best gigs are large jet flying. Good commuting times(dept/arrival) and they tend to stay on schedule better than the little jets. Sitting LC reserve for the long haul jets pays as much as busting you *ss on a small jet. You'll probably fly about half as much for the same pay. That will take several years LOS to reach.

Brew1538

I live in SAT and had a similar decision to make a few months ago although United offered me a class right away so the decision was not that difficult.

The drive to either can be miserable no matter how you look at...close enough to do it but far enough to be miserable especially during rush hour, the middle of the night, or both! Everything said so far is accurate. Flying to short call is not realistic and worse, you would often be stuck at the base when released after the last flight of the night.

Beav check your PM.

viper548

I'd go with whoever gives you the earliest class date then evaluate if it's worth staying. I think UA has the better contract and pay. AA has the fastest gain in seniority. You'll be pretty close to the front of the hiring wave at AA. UA has already hired a lot, but still has a lot left. On AA you can reserve the jumpseat up to a week out, on mainline flights only. Not sure what they have on SAT-DFW.

tom11011

If it was me, I would simply move to base and have a better quality of life. But, that's not what you asked. Although this can and does change at anytime, would your commute be on mainline or on a regional partner? Might be something to add to the pros/cons column.