The question asked was "commuting out of ATL"... but if you want to go there fine...XJT would be a horrible choice. Dying company, no upgrade insight, infinite reserve in ATL, for FO's pay can't even come close to competing with other airlines. The list really can go on.

If you choose Endeavor and pick DTW. Spirit has 2 flights a day from ATL-DTW. IMO, for Spirit, it's easier than trying to get on a the Jumpseat of a Delta or Southwest flight. You can list online and see if there's anyone else listed. Once you list and check in 24 hrs out. The JS is yours, as long as no Spirit Pilot is listed, but if there was you will see them listed (Most of us will not list or show up at the last minute). With Delta and Southwest you don't know who is listed and if they have checked in until you get to the gate. We take many UAL pilots and FA between MSP-ORD for this exact reason.

Is the T-24 checkin for OAL the official policy for NK? I've heard conflicting information pertaining to that.

I just checked our manuals and it is 24 hrs out (check in) from the website or kiosk. You can list 3 days out. We had 2 UAL pilots yesterday going to ORD. One was checked in and the other was not. I asked the agent if it's based on time of checked in or who showed up to the gate first. She said, it's when they checked in online first (because it creates a time stamped) so they know who's first. I see some flights tonight going to ORD and some OAL are already checked in 12 hrs out.

Good to know. Thanks for everything you guys do.

Nothing is "wrong with ExpressJet". I happen to like the company and the people there and have spent a good amount of time around A Tech.

I just want to be fully aware of the other good options that are out there, since any regional is liable to experience a rapid change (for better or worse)

ATL Commute
 

I commuted from ATL-JFK for 9E. I chose JFK because I could use either JFK or LGA. JFK got more and more difficult and I wound up using LGA the majority of the time. This was a few yrs ago but DAL had an hourly nonstop ATL-LGA and only about 6 per day to JFK. We had an ATL base at 9E back then but it was senior and I couldn't hold it.....then it closed.

I have never had an issue going between ATL-MDW/ORD. I've missed one flight but never two in a row in the last 2 years. Southwest seems to always have space.

CLT wouldn't be too bad from ATL as it is an AA hub and you don't see a lot of delta personnel coming and going from there. PSA has a TYS base that I know is drivable from Atlanta because several pilots do just that.

Just because you live in the base of an airline does not mean you should necessarily just go there. I have nothing against ExpressJet and I have friends there, but even they would tell you to look at other regionals first if career progression is something you desire.