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.

I'm on the 320 in DC and a commuter also and from my experience, all of my flights have been out of DCA & IAD. I have not had to get to BWI yet for a flight.

That's good to know. I would have a mix of flights to both IAD and DCA. Getting to BWI would require some extra time for me.

Do you find yourself having to commute in the day before the trip, or are there trips available that are commutable on both ends once seniority can hold them?

How long has it been taking a newhire to get a line in that base?

Can't answer the seniority question but I have to commute in the day before for reserve (I have to double commute though also).

I've been on since July and I'm currently at 90% on the seniority list, so still sitting reserve.

Do you get short call and FSB often? I would have about 6 direct flights between DCA and IAD, so I don't know how much of a risk it would be to sit at home on long call days.

How many days off are you typically getting on reserve?

Staying at home is up to you, just watch out sitting at home, get assigned SC or FSB or a trip and not be able to get to DC for your assignment.

For the Oct bid period (for example), I sat reserve for 18 days with 6 SC and 0 FSB. I aggressively picked up 1 two day trip and other than that, never flew.

I was hired in July on the 737 to EWR. Had a line in Dec, reserve in Jan, back to a line in Feb. Got DCA on last vacancy bid. I should be around 67% there and likely hold a line. Moving up quickly.

320 DCA was in the latest class drop (January 5th class)

Good deal. How long was training on the 73... Hired in July, online what... September? About 4 months on RSV

Yeah that's about right. I did have a quick turn from Indoc to training with only 2 days off. I was done with IOE after the first week of Sep. I'm really looking forward to holding a line, been yanked around quite a bit on reserve. Nature of the beast I know, and I'd surely do it for as long as needed. Just glad it's coming to an end. I wouldn't mind it at all if I lived in base. But EWR and DCA aren't my kind've towns.

That's a good point about being able to aggressive pick up.

Regarding trips in DCA and ORD, are there trips in the bid packet that report later (1400ish)? I know I would need some seniority to hold them, but Just wondering if I'll have to commute the day before a trip forever.

You will have to until your seniority can hold it. If you need a timeline then I can guarantee you will be able to do it before you retire if you don't change seats.

I didn't think there'd be any guarantees :)

I'm just trying to get a feel for what type trips are available. Commuting is tough, but having to commute night before a trip makes it tougher. So there are some trips in the mix that report later? Everyone I have talked to only mentions early reports.

The bid packets are available in PBS as well as in content locker on iPad. You can view every trip and get an idea what the report times are... But in the short time I was there it seemed like just about every trip that was in open time reported before 9 am...

Thanks MiLa. I can't look them up yet, though. I was just trying to get an idea. I have been used to commuting with a different airline but have been able to go day-of both ways. I was just curious if that's going to be possible again for me at some point at UAL. It will be possible if there are a trips in the bid packet reporting after 1200-1300.

What are the min and average line values for the 737 DCA and 320 DCA ?

How much is a typical 4 day worth?

How much is a typical 3 day?

Thanks

24seven, did you get DCA and if so when do you expect to be there? Do you expect to hold a line or will it be awhile?