I currently live in Denver, and plan on going to the regionals in the next couple of months. I will be applying to RAH and SKYW, both of which have DEN bases, but from what I understand DEN is very senior at both. So now my choices are to commute or move to my base. Since commuting can be a disaster, lets say I move into base. Im currently in a one bedroom place with my own furniture. Do I pack it all up and move into another one bedroom? Do I find a furnished place and store all my stuff? Do I live out of a crashpad for a while? Would I even want to do that? I dont want to move my junk around every few months until I end up where I want to be, or sign any long term rental contracts. Part of the reason I ask is Im finally getting around to trading my truck (15mpg) for a car (30mpg) which I probably shouldnt do if I will be hauling a UHaul around for a while. Whats my best option?

 

That whole "this base is so senior" is very misleading it may be, but when you come through training you never now, my whole class except for a few went to the most "senior" base there is, CLE. It is always changing and worse case scenario you are based somewhere else for a few months, I would bet there is a 99.9% chance you would be able to get back to DEN, a few months commuting may be worth it be home based. Moving to a base especially at a regional level seems to not be worth it, thats just me though.

 

I can only speak for Skywest and then only to a point because I am not Denver based. Even with things a little slower than last year I would still expect a Denver base within 9 months - 1 year. So if the move is worth it for that amount a time then do it. As for me I would just suck it up and commute for that amount of time because moving is a pain and is costly. I could even deal with commuting until my base of choice was open if it was for no more than a year. And that is coming from someone who hates commuting with a passion.

 

just remember that DEN to ORD commute, if you got ORD with skywest, is one of the most horrendous in the business. Even with 777 service the airplane goes out full all the time and packed with jumpseaters and deadheaders.

 

This is true. One day last summer I was trying to get ORD-SLC and everything was full. I decided to try and at least get to to Denver. They upgraded a 767 to a 777 filled the entire thing up and still had 57 people left on standby when it departed. That was a commute from hell.

 

XJT handles new-hire awards a bit differently...I seem to recall replying to one of your posts that it made no sense LoL

At SKW you will go to the most junior base.

Ouch...

 

Don't forget the COS. It tends to go junior to DEN. Anyone know how the DEN-MKE commute is? And yes, you could always throw your stuff in a locker before training starts, not pay rent for those 2-3 months, and then make a short term move to base. You won't need a car in ORD, you can stay in the crashpad while you're on reserve, and then go and travel while you have days off. Visit the friends you haven't seen in a while, and spend the money you saved on rent while in training at one of those places with a bar at the pool.

 

I made the SLC - MKE commute for a while. I would go through Denver to get to MKE. I never had a problem getting a ride to MKE from Denver. As long as Frontier flies that route it shouldn't be to bad.