DC base
 

I'm a newb and looking for some good info on junior life at the DCA/IAD base. I would be commuting, and my options will be some RJs routes to DCA and a couple to IAD.

I understand that DCA, IAD and BWI are all covered. How is transportaion between these 3 airports? Will I need a car to get around?

Which aircraft will most likely provide the best mix of trips and commuting schedule for a junior guy... 737 or 320?

What kind of trips can be expected on each aircraft? Red-eyes, early reports, commutable both ends or just one?

Thanks for the info. I know it all depends on the month, the bidder, etc, but I'm just trying to get a feel for what to expect. ORD and IAD would be about an equal commute for me, so I'm looking for the best QOL option... 737/320, DCA/ORD??

Equal commute.... and struggling between choosing a base that has one airport and a base that covers three airports?

ORD commute isn't too bad (not counting WX). Between UAL and AMR there is quite a bit of traffic. I even used SWA to MDW years ago when I did the commute and just hopped the L to go to ORD.

I live in base, so I don't commute. However, when non-Rev'ingin the past, I had to get between airports to get where my car was parked. I have had really good luck with one way rentals between BWI and IAD. It is averages around $25-$30.

I'm also a newb and commuted to the DCA base for a little over a month before being activated in ORD. For where I live ORD is a significantly easier commute so a no-brainer for me. Out in DCA it isn't too bad getting between DCA and IAD. I usually had a hard time getting to IAD because it was all RJs so went to DCA a lot. You can take the metro and there are a couple of different bus options. Look at the 5A bus the leaves either from Rosslyn or L'Enfant Plaza. The other option is switching from blue line to silver and taking the silver line all the way out to the last stop. From there you can get on the Silver Line Express bus to IAD. They have all the info online. I used both options depending on the timing of trains and buses. If you got to the station at the right times the 5A bus is faster, but sometimes only runs once per hour. The timetables are available online. The Silver Line Express runs every 15-20 min, but there are a lot of stops on the metro on the way out to the last stop. Also make sure to check the time tables because the metro and buses aren't 24 hours so early mornings and late nights may not be available, especially on weekends... I only once had to go to BWI because my commuter flight diverted there. As previously mentioned I was able to get a one way car rental for $25 using a United discount code found on Flying Together... All that being said there may be another reason to pick ORD over DCA with equal commutes. From my experience (which I admit is limited being that I was only there for a month, and also during a typically slow time of year), there was very little open time in DCA on the 737. This meant that there was very little opportunity to aggressive pickup. As a commuter, I think it's good to aggressive pickup because if you're not flying, you leave yourself open to short calls and field stby. I ended up with a combination of 6 shortfalls/field stby's in the last 2 weeks that I was there. It seems to me that other bases have a lot more open time. In my short time in ORD I have been either used for flying and even was used for a trip on a VDO day and got some add pay. It seems like there has been a lot more open time available here.... Anyway sorry for the long winded response. This was just my experience and it may vary for others.

Well, tough choice.

ORD. easy to get to, lots of choices. Lots of flying. One airport. However, if the weather goes down, it will go down quickly and sometimes very badly. It quickly becomes a nightmare. Also, ORD can be insanely full and very tough to get on flights, not often, but when recovering from weather, again, nightmarish.

DC. Fewer options, 3 airports, less flying. But, generally better weather more often. Less chance of not being able to get there than ORD.

In the end, I think either will be fine. It will just take different levels of attention and backups.

Thanks for the input. I have several relatives that live in the DC/BWI area, so that would be a plus to be able to visit family during any down time. I would also have a couple of UAL branded RJs to commute on vs all offline carriers to ORD.

Which domicile and A/C would get me off reserve faster... ORD or DC?

I'm curious as well - how long are new hires on reserve at IAD until getting a line there?

The most junior line holders on on the 737 & 320 right seats are several hundred numbers more junior in DCA than ORD.

Thanks.

Covering 3 bases has to be a pain though... for a commuter.