One thing to keep in mind about DFW. It is (and probably always will be) a "senior" base. This is the reason, that after 25 years in the "Jethroplex" we are closer than ever to pulling chocks, and moving to a junior base. I don't want to work weekends, and every holiday, plus have vacation in September/October or February/March, for the next decade. And after 15 years of on and off commuting, I'm over the commuter lifestyle.

Is ORD likely to be senior forever as well?

At current trends, CLT will be. QOL is awesome here if you live in base but it’s been perpetual stagnation even with all the retirements

Quality of life is awesome in clt? Or ord? Or just American in general if you live in base cause I'm a 2 hour drive from ord and that would be ideal for me.

CLT... I mean outside of work... affordable lake life, better than descent schools, booming city with a lot to offer. I’m sure many could make same argument about a lot of other bases though.

But ya... living in base sure helps. Sit reserve, make league minimum, and generally get paid to sit at home a lot and enjoy spending time not flying

If you live that close to ORD, who cares on how senior or junior it is. I tried commuting for a year and it wasn’t for me. Of course, where I lived before was just the end of my military moves and I had no ties or reason to be there, so it was a easy decision to move on into base

Yeah I've been commuting 2 legs for almost a year, I used to live in base and commuting is a nightmare it makes me so unhappy I can tell the difference. I lived in base for 5 years it was so much better, I'll be in class soon at American definitely not interested in commuting but I understand at times it can be part of the job so I'm prepared for that,just hope it won't take forever to get into ord.