Piedmont Living in Dallas
 

Hi all,

I have an interview next week with Piedmont. I live in Dallas and weighting all the factors. Wanted to here from any guys who live in Dallas on their QOL.

Thanks

Looking on the travel planner, there are 9 flights a day between DFW-PHL. All of them are in an airbus (for now), so you'd have the benefit of two jumpseats.

I can't speak from personal experience, as I don't commute myself. However, I truly believe you should choose a regional based largely off of how to get to your end goal fastest. If you want to be at AA in ~5 years, Piedmont is far and away your best option. Commuting to PHL will be kind of a pain in the short term, but if it gets you home based in DFW at AA, you'll have it made. I'm sure you've considered all this, but it pains me to see people go to a crappy regional so they have an easy commute for the short term. I play the long game

I just hit the line (Feb06 hire) living in Dallas. The previous comment is correct, there are quite a few flights to PHL from DFW. And usually one or two direct flights from DAL on Southwest.

On my limited experience, the flights are typically VERY full. I figured hub-to-hub would be easy to commute, but keep in mind you are losing an hour when you head to work.

The contract says you need to be at your airport in time to catch 2 flights that get you to PHL before your show time. To boil it down, the first flight you can catch leaves at 6am, and the next flight after that gets you to PHL around 11:45 as I recall. From that, you can only really commute to trips that start after noon. (assuming you can catch one of those flights)

Send me a message if you have any questions as you chew on it! Not here to steer you one way or the other, but just give a perspective. I know there are maybe 2 or 3 other DFW commuters in the company.

I don't live in Dallas, but I can tell you from looking at the flight loads/experience that Hub to Hub travel is very difficult when it comes to non-revving.

Maybe Envoy would be a better choice. The best wholey owned is the one you can drive to.

Yeah, just go to Envoy and live in base. Life is infinitely better without commuting.

Again, go to fastest flow. Sh*t now, gold later. Or go to Envoy and be stuck in regional land for 8 years, forced to upgrade and then you're commuting to LGA anyway

Any other commuters want to weigh in?

I think hub to hub commuting is tough. I commute from a South Florida to PHL. I actually enjoy the commute. It’s me time lol. Watch a movie, nap, study, read a good book. Rarely get a middle seat, or I get a jumpseat on an Airbus and get a first class meal typically. Crews have all been great and heck even the gate agents are nice to me. So I’m officially jaded, but I’ve enjoyed my experience so far.

Thank you all for information. I know the downside of the commute. I just want to believe it's possible. Forget Dallas, how are your QOL with the family commuting from anywhere? I have a class date at Mesa for DFW if I want it but we all know their deal. Envoy is just not looking promising, I received a rejection email off my app.

Thanks again

Thanks everyone.

How about QOL for any commuters from anywhere with a family at home?

Schedules are mostly 4 on/ 2 off. While most trips are commutable, this doesn’t leave too much time at home. Add the stress of making it on a flight to get to work and you’ll soon realize living in base is the best option.

I would try using a different airline on that route if possible.. Southwest, Spirit. Hub to hub is tough but there should be fewer commuters between those cities than there have been the past few years. Most of the AA pilots have had the opportunity to get DFW if they want it.

What he said

Your quality of life will definitely take a hit if you decide with pdt, but the flip side is your career progression has lot more potential than going to Mesa. You really have to decide whats more important to you and your family. Good luck.

This is bad advice for many. Could be good advice for some. A bad commute is hell on someone's personal life, and amplified if they have a family. Play the long game all you want, if you're willing to lose all that you've invested in. Including your kids. I'm not being dramatic, either. Anyone who's been in the business a few years or more knows plenty of divorced pilots. Commuting is usually the number one culprit.

Thanks all, family takes priority here

It pains you to see people go to a "crappy regional" so they can live in base and drive to work?

Interesting about Envoy- recently Piedmont has been the most selective of the WO thanks to the 5 months supply of folks waiting to start indoc.

I do not recommend going to Mesa, however your first year at Piedmont should be relatively easy (lots of backups in training right now so you’ll get to spend most of your first 6-8 months at home with pay). Once you start flying the line you’ll get a feel for life at the company. If you decide that you’re better off with Envoy you can re-apply as someone with prior 121 experience.

I agree with Mantis. I have three kids and bride. I went from self employed to gone a lot. It has been quite the change but I’m now upgrading and with the increase in airframes and pilots I’m very hopeful and optimistic our schedules will improve. We are also going to be entering a limited negotiation on some of our contract items, so that should help improve QOL. I would not go to Mesa, short term pain for long term gain. I have a family and I came here because I think PDT has the best chances for long term career progression.

Update ?
 

Hey DFW dudes, how goes the commute? I'll be joining y'all shortly. Anybody have any intel on the new hire training pools? Is there a current Pilot backlog waiting for Sims? I wondering how long it'll take from day 1 to being a line Pilot. Thx

Thanks for all the perspective. With the delays in training at PDT, that time is not better spent on the line else where getting that 121 time? Even if it's Mesa?

I want PDT to work so bad, I just keep coming back to what the reality of life would be. I do not want my wife to leave me!

Also, I have read quite a bit of threads on APC. I have to say I really appreciate the level of genuine empathy and advise you guys have offered up on this.

Thanks

If PDT is what you want then I would say go for it. You will have other carriers to fall back on if it absolutely can't work. I have been commuting from halfway across the land for a long time now. First a 2-3 leg to ROA, and now 1 or 2 legs sometimes to PHL. There was a time when I was only spending 6-8 nights at home per month. This was mildly difficult, but my wife and I knew that if we stayed the course, we could reap the benefits. I will be going to American soon, and I wouldn't change a thing I have done along the way.

There is a training delay, but you will be paid to spend even more time with your wife and maybe take a few trips with her/your family using your excellent travel benefits. Those same benefits can allow your wife to come along to some of your nicer overnights. It will take some time, but I believe the work will be done to get the schedules improved as well. Play the long game on this, and I don't think you or your family will be disappointed!

This

Blah blah fill

If you want PDT do it. After a year with all the hiring there are going to be plenty of other choices out there to jump ship if you don't want it.

Have you looked into applying at Envoy?

Avoid MESS at all cost.

QOL is pretty simple. Can I get the days off I need? How many days off do I get? PDTs only serious flaw is it's schedules negative effect on QOL. I'd think about republic, Skywest, or maybe even PSA. They have better schedules and QOL.

If you can handle being away from home 19-20 days a month then I'd give PDT a shot.

Did you ever find out why Envoy said NO? Check ride failures? Skeletons in the closet? Lack of experience in the past year?

Did you ever find out why Envoy said NO? Check ride failures? Skeletons in the closet? Lack of experience in the past year?[/QUOTE]

No failures or busted rides. Currently in non flying job but obtained currency, IPC and glass cockpit experience to show proficiency.

I reached out to the head honcho to inquire and ask for advice in order to be more competitive/marketable in the future. No response.

I am going to Mesa, as I said family is first for me. Several of the negatives there will hopefully not be a factor for me because of the support I have at home. Also, as it was pointed out, everyone is hiring so if it doesn't work out I can keep applying and my resume will have a bit more to display, an ATP, a type and previous 121 time.

I know what everyone says about Mesa, I am positive person-I can handle it. My wife cannot handle me living in PHL or being home for 30 hours every 4 days.

Thanks to everyone, I guess I will go join the Mesa forum now, lol

:confused::confused:

Mesa takes another one

:confused:

So you are saying are inefficient scheduled are turning people off?!? Wow, someone should let management know. 😂

Call your PDT recruiter and please let them know your choosing MESA over piedmont because of the piedmont schedules... if you did that you will have about 400 brand new best friends.

I’m not going to MESA but I agree with your idea!!

I think he meant that to the OP. Plop I think.

No failures or busted rides. Currently in non flying job but obtained currency, IPC and glass cockpit experience to show proficiency.

I reached out to the head honcho to inquire and ask for advice in order to be more competitive/marketable in the future. No response.

I am going to Mesa, as I said family is first for me. Several of the negatives there will hopefully not be a factor for me because of the support I have at home. Also, as it was pointed out, everyone is hiring so if it doesn't work out I can keep applying and my resume will have a bit more to display, an ATP, a type and previous 121 time.

I know what everyone says about Mesa, I am positive person-I can handle it. My wife cannot handle me living in PHL or being home for 30 hours every 4 days.

Thanks to everyone, I guess I will go join the Mesa forum now, lol[/QUOTE]


^This. Recruiters usually track this kind of stuff and pass that info around at HQ.

I can't imagine what the current talent acquisition cost is for pilots right now. PDT has a large recruiting staff right now, a cadet program, RTP program, plus initial bonus program. Many road shows by recruiters, college visits and such. I can imagine each new acquisition is well over 100k, ofcourse none of us are privy to those numbers. Ofcourse there is a talent lifecycle number that they are spreading over 5 years to spread the number out to justify the number.

To put that in perspective, senior manager in a business, director level 150k yearly salary with 100k yearly bonus is approximately 100k. Talent lifecycle is approximately 3 to 5 years.

To spend that money to lose quality candidates to MESA or others due to our terrible schedules has to burn management's bum.

But it’s American’s fault we have such crap schedules. Management said so!! Lol

I have a bridge, a liberty statue and a snake oil I can sell you!!

Funny i talked with a 145 crew the other day that did 2 legs with with 44 minutes of block.. efficiency tell you!