That long awaited vacancy bid has arrived...50 Captain spots!

<16 ORD FO CRJ <01 JUL 12
<05 DFW CA EMJ <01 JUL 12
<75 DFW FO EMJ <01 JUL 12
<14 JFK CA EMJ <01 JUL 12
<23 LGA CA EMJ <01 JUL 12
<01 LGA FO EMJ <01 JUL 12
<76 ORD FO EMJ <01 JUL 12
<08 DFW CA ATR <01 JUL 12
<03 DFW FO ATR <01 JUL 12
<01 MIA FO ATR <01 JUL 12
<01 SJU FO ATR <01 JUL 12

I cant recommend DFW for a new hire unless your going to move here and have a car. I would recommend ORD over DFW for the purpose of transportation to work. I live in DFW now, but I can see newhires having a very hard lifestyle in DFW. Why?

Because...DFW doesn't have good public transportation. I would recommend ORD for crashpad life if you want to keep your "residence" in DSM. At ORD they have a really good subway Train, they call it the 'L, (shorthand for Elevated Train). And on your time off you can have QOL in the city. In DFW it is impossible if you dont live in DFW permantantly or have a friend who is willing to be your chauffeur. The ORD subway has a really great schedule 24/7. Take a look at crashpads in Rosemont, Cumberland, and Jefferson Park stops on the Blue line 'L. I did crashpad life for 2 years. I know you didn't ask about crashpads, but I commuted for 2 years DEN-ORD, -LGA, -JFK, -DFW. Look at your lifestyle in your base first. I think you will have a really hard time in DFW unless you move entirely. If you have any questions, PM me as I am not on here much anymore reading forum posts. I have some contact information for crashpads if you need one in ORD.

ALSO...stop looking at the aircraft. You gotta look at which aircraft is quickest for getting off reserve, what the sequence lifestyle is like, and what bases for for your QOL. CRJ is limited. EMB has all bases but The Rock. I chose the EMB as a new hire because it had a quicker road to being a Line holder at the time of my Indoctrination Class, by the time I completed IOE it swapped, EMB had longer RSV and CRJ ended up having a quicker time to Lineholder; so this is very dynamic and can change by the time you finish IOE. I know of some pilots who were almost up in my face about how "GREAT" SJU will be and they came back desperate a few months later to get off the Rock. I never did SJU, but I know some guys love it and some come crying back desperate to get a Jet Bid or a MIA or DFW ATR base.

I know guys look at the aircraft, but do yourself a favor and ignore this point in my opninon. The EMB has 6 bases and if you get displaced you will have many more options. If your CRJ you have only 2 options I believe, ORD and LGA (JFK too?). I would say Displacement is unlikely with the short pilot staffing, however, I was told specifically in an formal email from Corey to not worry about a displacement (so I signed a 12mo apt contract) and my name was on a displacement flow plan 2 months later from ORD to JFK.

My two cents would be to move to base if at all possible, unless you have a family, etc. Commuting will make you lose your hair, among other things like age you. DFW is cheaper than ORD. I bought a brand new 4bed house in DFW for $1100 per month. In contrast, I have pilot friend who's studio apartment in ORD is $1500 per month, if you want a nice one without dripping pipes, rats, and have a parking spot!


These things are debatable, just my opinions and my recommendations to you from my experience.

Or keep your "residence" from where you are if it has no state income tax if your going to a base that does have state income tax. I my homestate DL for 3 years even though I was based in ORD JFK LGA DFW and never set foot in my homestate for longer than a week per year. So this don't matter. Your an airline pilot, you can articulate to authorities if they ask.... (they wont ask).

I am not sure why he said $350. That could be a small occupancy crashpad, a ripoff, or a very fancy one. I had a crashpad in ORD for 2 years. it started at $175 and later made it to $195. You can find a crashpad for under $200/month, I actually have some contact information for people that need one. I know of one which is where I stayed. I know of a second 'brand new' one looking for tenants...No i dont get a cut...

So I'm getting ready to go to training and it so happens to fall on the holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas. DFW is where the training is and Eagle said you get to travel with them. Is it nearly impossible to get a vacant seat during the holidays?

Flights are often wide open on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Just not before or after. If you travel ON the holiday it wont be an issue. But I am not sure if that is what your asking or not.

I occupied the jumpseat on several AA flights and I hadn't even started sim training yet. So you can sit in the jumpseat too during training as another option.

Google TRE (better yet, I did it for you http://www.trinityrailwayexpress.org/map.html ). It runs from Downtown Dallas to Fort Worth with a few stops in between, including DFW airport. Less than 40 minutes from either city to the airport.

have you done it? you have to take two buses from the TRE to get to dfw. But yes you are correct.

Yes I've done it many times... Free wifi! I wanted to correct the poor gouge on public transport in DFW.

I had class last year during the holidays. You will have class on Thanksgiving Day. For Christmas, they will send you out with a relatively high priority (A3) which beats the other standbys. Going back after Christmas, you will be A1 so you will kick off a paying passenger if it's oversold. I'm just guessing but you will probably travel home on the 23rd and back to DFW on the 26th. For New Years, it will be the same situation. I never had any issues traveling to or from and never had to do the jumpseat.