Let’s also add in a list of good commuter hotels that might allow early check in options.

the nice thing about DEN for hotels is there is a light rail station. Look at hotels all along the light rail, because pretty much everywhere is within short call out time.

Junior bid hold for DEN 737 FO is about 250 numbers from the bottom of the list and DEN A320 FO junior bid holder is about 300 numbers from the bottom. So, it didn't go "unfilled" but it came close. If the positive trend continues it would be a very short time before you could get a lateral and then it would just be a matter of waiting until they "activate' the lateral and let you actually bid your schedule in Denver. Basically that part of the timeline is up to Manpower Planning and is entirely dependent upon their desires for staffing in each base as they look at the planned future flying. Sometimes you are "activated" immediately, sometimes it can be many months.

Given the 50ish per week of hiring right now 250-300 numbers is not even two months of hiring, so should not take long!

New hire here. The wife and I are looking to relocate to Denver in the near future. What's a good rule of thumb for a radius to make short call reserve with Denver traffic, public transit, winter weather or any other considerations I'm missing? Are any areas particularly popular with United pilots? It's been a while since we were in Denver for fun, but we loved the Golden and Boulder area. Looking at the listing prices though, we might need to wait till I'm bringing in wide body money to afford a place there! I plan on driving around while I'm in training to find some places, but any leads would be appreciated!

If you like Golden and Boulder you won't find anything like them. But you can make it to DEN on a 3 hour call out from anywhere on the front range between Cheyenne/Laramie and Pueblo.

The question is, do you want to work in the TK or not? If you do, closer to that is better. There are some nice affordable townhomes going up along the I70 and I25 corridors in the Denver area that you can afford on narrow-body pay.

Last I lived in Denver (1998) you could get a home in Highlands Ranch/Littleton for $200k. I had friends in mansions in Conifer for $700k. Not pretending like I know the market now but I’d be very surprised if you could get into Boulder/Golden for under a million for a fixer upper. $1.5M sounds more reasonable. Not saying you can’t afford it but home prices are sick in those areas. The most desirable towns in the Denver metro. Makes me wish I’d bought in Evergreen the first time I lived there for an astounding $150k.

DEN base
 

The Front Range has changed a lot over the years. I was stationed at Lowry AFB in the late 80’s. We moved here 4 yrs ago and we’re astonished how much. In my opinion, unless you HAVE TO live in Golden/Boulder, it would be crazy to move there. With that said, it’s not impossible, just a lot more expensive to do so.

Next thing I would consider is your commute. Use google maps and see what it would take during different times of the day. You can do that easily from where you are living now. It’ll more than double in some places during rush hour. If you can stay outside 470, you’ll be happier.

We live in Loveland now, just south of Fort Collins. I’m at TK and the wife splits her time between TK and Cheyenne ANG. For us, being close to RMNP is more than worth being an hour from TK. The airport is a breeze of a drive being that you stay outside of 470. However the toll is high at $25 round trip.

Lots to consider. A monthly trip out here over several months is well worth the cost. Grab a hotel and spend 2-3 days in each area. We did for almost 6 months. Learned a lot. In our opinion, we ended up in the perfect place.

$25...and worth every penny! I70 is a parking lot at least twice a day and or whenever a drunk or pothead makes an error at 85mph...

Potheads usually bumble along at 25 or less from what I've seen. Otherwise agree

For the original question, agree that getting to know the different areas over a few trips would be well worth your time. Lots of cool areas but everyone's priorities are different.

Look around the southern suburbs of Denver. Lakewood to Centennial.

For a first time resident I’d recommend the Centennial area, best bang for your buck on a home if that’s even a thing in Denver (it’s not). I225 northbound never has heavy traffic, of course until you have to merge onto I70 for a few minutes. I’d say a 25-30 minute drive to the airport.

I’m currently residing in DEN commuting to SFO until I can hold a line so feel free to PM me if you have any questions.