ASA - Dallas or Atlanta?

[Eric]

I live 2 1/2 hours (drive time) from ATL.

Which would allow me more time at home with the wife - holding a line sooner in Dallas or being on reserve for 1 year and 9 months in ATL. Would the commute as a line holder in Dallas be possible your first year?

Thanks for any advice.
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[FL000]

I live 2 1/2 hours (drive time) from ATL.

Which would allow me more time at home with the wife - holding a line sooner in Dallas or being on reserve for 1 year and 9 months in ATL. Would the commute as a line holder in Dallas be possible your first year?

Thanks for any advice.
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How about sitting reserve in ATL until you can hold a line in DFW, then bidding out west? Reserve minimum call out time is 2 hours in either case, so that first year+ , you're going to need to be closer to domicile.

 

[General Lee]

Eric,


Wait as long as you can until making the decision. DFW may be junior right now and a better pick for a possible line in the future, but ATL may open up if the Comair rumors about them leaving ATL and going North are true. A drive to work is much better than a drive and then a commuting flight. But, being on reserve with short call for years would be worse than having a line and knowing your schedule. Hang tight.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[MedFlyer]

DFW might not even be a hub much longer. If that happens, ASA's base at DFW might shrink (or completely close). I'd hold off until you know DFW's future (or lack thereof).

 

[Eric]

Thanks guys. Seeing as my wife is locked into her job for at least a year in Chattanooga, and assuming Dallas doesn't change as an ASA base, then it sounds like it may be best to go to Dallas, hold a line sooner, and bid ATL when I can hold a line there.

Looks like there is a lot up in the air right now. That should all be straightened out Wed. with the live web broadcast right? ;-)

 

[patriotflier]

Eric, Here is my post on the other site asking a similar question.

I have been here at ASA for 1 year 11 months and live in ATL. I commuted for the first 10 months between ATL and DFW and to be completely honest with you it really is not a good ideat to commute between these 2 cities. Here is why!

1. You are the lowest in stanby seniority against all other DL/ASA/COmair non revenue passengers
2. The flights are usually full or oversold
3. Delta has closed the DFW 757/767/737 pilot base so you are competing with approx 400-500 Delta pilots for a jump seat.
4. AirTran is no longer in Terminal E so that quick option is gone until they open the sky rail transit system. Right now to transit to other terminals can take up to 45 minutes.
5. You will have to pay for parking in ATL and go through security here...IE you have to be at the airport upto 1:30 minutes prior to the flight.

Those are some of the things you have to consider if you plan to commute.

Oh by the way it is a 2 hour call out at ASA...if you live more than 1:30 minute drive to the parking lot you must move closer or be closer while you are on call. I know a guy who lives in the Anderson S.C. area who drives to a state park and waits there while he is on call. Pretty lousy considering we are on call for upto 15 hours a day.

I am a relief line holder also which is a huge leap up from reserve. Unfortunately it is going to be short lived until we get those new airplanes. There has been very little movement here. I think I have moved up 83 numbers in almost 2 years. Not to long ago guys were moving up that many in six months or less.

Good luck! Welcome to ASA!

GO PATS!!! Repeat this year!!!!!

 

[~~~^~~~]

Eric :

ASA has a few pilots who live in beautiful Chattanooga, including some you will meet in the training department.

Commuting to Dallas is miserable. What you will probably want to do is get a crash pad, or a place to hang your hat ( literally ) near Atlanta and continue to live at home. Folks rent rooms for $90 to $250 a month and you will be many who have homes on the North side of town once you get on the property.

Just do the math.... from CHA to DFW round trip is six hours driving, three hours in airports ( if you are lucky ) three hours in airplanes and probably 30 minutes in trains. That is going to take a day, or two, eight times a month and you only have 10 days off!

Sure the commute can be done, but it is not good for the family. One way to lower the stress level of commuting is to get creative and link flights together that you can jumseat on. I used to go ATL/XNA then XNA/DFW on American Eagle. Going straight ATL/DFW was just too iffy.

You will change your mind about your bid probably a dozen times during training. Right now, just focus on learning all they are going to throw at you. In a couple of months you can see what Delta's re-org is going to look like and how the bids are shaping up. ATL has started moving again, with some growth on the Captain side of the list that will pull FO's as those guys transition over.

A lot hinges on how the re-org happens too. A multitude of sources tell me Delta has a jets for jobs deal. There are many unknowns at the moment and they can be distracting. Just focus on doing well in training. Everything else works out in time.

Regards,
~~~^~~~

 

[701EV]

Eric,

Patriotflier and Fins are right.

Here my 2 centsI've been here 5 1/2 years and on reserve the last three as a Captain. Bid ATL you will not regret it. Its better to be close to home on reserve than hundreds of miles away.

701EV

 

[miles otoole]

Eric,

Patriotflier and Fins are right.

Here my 2 centsI've been here 5 1/2 years and on reserve the last three as a Captain. Bid ATL you will not regret it. Its better to be close to home on reserve than hundreds of miles away.

701EV

Curious-what sort of hours per year were you getting as a CA on reserve?

 

[FL000]

Curious-what sort of hours per year were you getting as a CA on reserve?

350-400 for me

 

[701EV]

miles otoole,

2003-230hrs
2004-420 so this year.

710EV

 

[Eric]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the info. I can't wait to start training!

 

[bailout]

>>being on reserve for 1 year and 9 months in ATL<<


There has been some movement lately, but its more like 2 1/2 years on reserve in ATL, and if you get the 70, you could potentially be on reserve 'forever' as we wind down the deliveries.