Offline Commuting On Delta

[herc17]

Anyone regularly offline commuting on Delta? I ask because they pretty much dominate CHS and I am very interested in AIRTRAN. Wondering if the CHS to ATL commute is anything worth sweating over? Thanks ahead for the response.

 

[Nocturnal1]

Hey Herc,
I work for Airtran and do the VPS to ATL commute regularly. It's normally no sweat with a couple of exceptions:
1) Delta only accepts (1) jumpseater on the MD-88...so if you show up and (a) another pilot has beaten you to the gate you're SOL, or (b) if it's a Delta pilot you may get lucky and let the other pilot know what's going on and if there's room, they'll probably "non-rev" so you can ride.
2) ASA takes unlimited jumpseaters, so if there's room you ride.

Bottom line is give yourself several opportunities to get there. For a morning show I always come up the night before. Since ATL is now the busiest airport in the US it doesn't take much for the delays to make commuting difficult. Add to that any cancellations and you start to get the rollbacks--people on earlier flights that roll back later in the day.

My experience is that the Delta captains have been great to me and are very professional. Good Luck.

 

[psysicx]

Are DAL pilots the only ones who can novrev in the back?

 

[herc17]

Thanks

Thanks for the insight Nocturnal. Do you use any particular website to check loads before your trips or do you simply call Delta? Herc

 

[herc17]

psysicx

A SWA buddy told me Delta allows unlimited jumpseat to SWA and a host of others. Herc

 

[ihateyourego]

I just got done jumpseating from MLB to BOS. I rode Delta out of MLB and I'd heard they only allow one jumpseater on their planes, so I went to Airtran to ride them up to boston. At the Airtran counter I was told by the women at the counter that another pilot was already jumpseating, and if I wanted to get on the airplane it would cost me 30 dollars. I asked her if she was sure, I've never heard of that before, and she said yes. So I said I would try something else, thanked her and went back to delta for the ride up to BOS. Everyone at delta was great. I had a bad experience with a delta gate agent in LGA once, so I was hesitant to try them again, but they really changed my whole impression of them. Gate agents were great, especially in MLB, and the pilots were all glad to have me. Any airtran guys know whats up with the 30 bucks? And thanks Delta guys, you made my day a breeze and I was home by dinner.

 

[SerenityNow]

I believe Delta only carries multiple jumpseaters for American and Southwest. Airtran carries one for free and multiples after that for $30. That is the last I heard

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

I rode DAL quite often to BOS from ATL and vice versa. I got left at the gate a few times b/c of they don't or didn't at the time have unlimited J/S. There is an 800 number you can call and check loads. I just looked in my cell phone and I deleted it because I have a new base and don't use Delta to get to work. Besides the unlimited j/s policy I never had a problem riding on them offline. I even met General Lee one time.

 

[coho92]

Herc17

Worked for Airtran for a few months and live in CHS. It's a witch. Ended up driving at least once a month, 5 hours door to employee lot. There are some options, ie USair to RDU or CLT and then on to ATL on AAI. I met a captain who drives to SAV to catch the AAI JS out of there. The challenge (sp?) is that only one offline is allowed and there are a ton of FDX, UPS, JBLU, SWA, ABX types living in CHS. Also be warned, there are a couple of crusty old Delta types who will refuse to write a pass in order to deny the seat. One of 'em even called me a s--b for working at a LCC competing with his company on the FL routes. I'd say go for it and always have your car gassed and ready to go. On the bright side, there are some rumors that with Indy gone, AAI may be moving into CHS soon. We can only hope. Go Joe

 

[herc17]

Thanks Coho

I grew up in CHS and highly desire to get back after this military thing ends. I recently got the same negative impression of commuting from gate agents in CHS and ATL. They also mentioned the varied pilot group that travels out of CHS. I intend to take your advice and go for it. I guess I will buy a new car so those 5 hr ATL trips won't hurt so much. Herc

 

[herc17]

One more thing Coho

Who do you work for now? PM me if you would rather not say it out loud.

 

[coho92]

I like flying brown boxes