DL or AA if living in Tampa
Posted by airgroundpound69@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 59 comments
Hey everyone!
Trying to get some honest opinions/info about commuting. Obviously UA is my number one for staying in Tampa since I can drive to work (eventually), but assuming they don’t call, what’s the next best option?
For AA obviously thinking MIA, CLT/LGA could be an option too
For DL thinking ATL or NYC but have heard DTW is an easier commute
I would rather stay in Tampa, but if I had to I think I’d be open to getting another place, maybe Airbnb it when I’m not working. Maybe just hang out on a boat in MIA while on reserve or something.
Thanks!
EdBasqueMaster@reddit
I’d commute to CLT or DFW if AA. Easy to reserve the jumpseat and tons of flights. I did MCO-MIA and it sucked. TPA-MIA is even more difficult. Moving to Vero or even Naples would be a lot easier with MIA if you didn’t want to move to Miami/FLL but wanted to stay in FL.
I’m sure TPA-ATL is a challenging commute as well. Either way it is gonna suck.
If Florida is a priority then I’d probably lean AA/wait for UA especially. If it’s not a priority and you have a CJO from both, then you have a decision to make. If you could see yourself moving to ATL or Michigan, Delta would probably be the winner, but that is a different conversation than this thread imo.
airgroundpound69@reddit (OP)
How is NYC in terms of commute?
EdBasqueMaster@reddit
I did MCO-NYC and was not a fan at all either. Tons of commuters and weather either in FL or NY screwed me more than I expected.
The other bases at AA like PHL CLT would be easier, and DFW wouldn’t be bad. You’d definitely want the Airbus in this case.
airgroundpound69@reddit (OP)
Are the airbus trips more commutable than 73?
EdBasqueMaster@reddit
Not a huge difference but much much bigger status in CLT and no 73 base in PHL at all.
n734tj@reddit
I commute TPA to NY (LGA/JFK) for a regional and have been for 3.5 years. There’s really only one time I can think of that I didn’t get on my first option and was able to get positive space on my second option (commute policy). And going home I almost always get on my first option. As far as JS, I would say I’m up front maybe 30% of the time. I commuted to ATL for about 6 months and it was absolutely terrible.
ThatLooksRight@reddit
Even worse. Weather and volume. Plus, NYC has some good widebody flying that senior guys love. And it’s junior on narrowbody. Then, you’re covering multiple airports.
Whenever I do TPA to EWR, there’s someone on the jumpseat. Often very senior WB Captains
airgroundpound69@reddit (OP)
Ah yikes yeah I guess CLT/DFW/PHL are the best options besides MIA
DefundTheHOA_@reddit
lol if you think you’re going to get MCO at UAL.
They have been shrinking the domicile.
TSwiftIcedTea@reddit
That domicile, along with Vegas, was created during the pilot shortage to convince people from budget airlines who lived there to jump ship to United. They aren’t United hubs. Now that the shortage is over, they have no use for those domiciles and can let them shrink with attrition.
DefundTheHOA_@reddit
Oh for sure
ThatLooksRight@reddit
Yeah. I mean, eventually. But it’s going to be a looooooong time.
Swimming_Way_7372@reddit
You probably need CJOs before you even start to worry about this. I would choose Delta in your shoes but we certainly have different motivations.
TSwiftIcedTea@reddit
Some airlines, including Delta, are unwilling to give applicants time to think about their decision. They will give you the next available class, and unless you have a good reason not to take it, you lose your CJO.
OP is right to think about these things before he ever interviews.
Gabriel_Owners@reddit
Not even remotely true. It takes 6+ weeks to get through the process from CJO to indoc.
TSwiftIcedTea@reddit
6 weeks is not long enough to fully evaluate which airline is the best place to spend 30-40 years of your life. This isn’t just a job. This company will control your finances, where you can live, where and when you can go on vacation, how often you can see your family, etc. They control every aspect of your life and if you don’t like it you can’t leave without making it worse. The major airline you choose is likely the most important decision you will ever make.
Swimming_Way_7372@reddit
In that case you accept the job and wait for the class date. If you start class thats great, now you are in the game. If you get a call from the other company then you can decide what to do from there.
Cdraw51@reddit
Yeah I understand when people say "you shouldn't think about this until you have a CJO" when it's in reference to a student pilot still working towards their private pilot certificate, but then I see it also parroted a bunch at people who have multiple interviews scheduled or have already interviewed and believe there's a good chance they'll get a job offer out of it. It hurts nothing for them to be asking these kinds of questions, there's literally zero downside. I understand OP doesn't currently have any interviews scheduled, but even then I fail to see the harm in their being curious about it.
airgroundpound69@reddit (OP)
Exactly, just trying to get info, and currently I do have an interview with AA
Cdraw51@reddit
Oh awesome, congratulations! I completely missed that in your post lol, whoops
airgroundpound69@reddit (OP)
Thanks! But gotta get the CJO first 😂
Cdraw51@reddit
Good luck! Positive vibes are being beamed from the satellite into your house as we speak.
airgroundpound69@reddit (OP)
🙏🙏🙏
RegionalJet@reddit
Why do people on this sub keep saying this? No, you don't need to have a CJO before you start thinking ahead. OP should not apply and interview at an airline just to find out later on they won't be able to work there because of the commute.
SpeedbirdTK1@reddit
Sometimes it feels like people here are racing each other to be the first to say some tired ass "dO yOU hAvE cJOs oR iTS IrReLeVaNt". These discussions are valid research points for others and I'm glad I was able to read various threads on what life is like at various airlines before getting hired at legacy.
Swimming_Way_7372@reddit
I don't think you've been around the game long enough. There are times in this industry where only 1 major will ever give you a call. Can you imagine saying "naw dawg, I'm gen Z and imma just wait until airline X calls rn me frfr bro. I mean surely they are hiring anyone with a pulse six seeeeven dog bro." Sometimes you go wherever the fuck you can and get your career going.
swakid8@reddit
^ he’s right ya know
Swimming_Way_7372@reddit
🤝
Cdraw51@reddit
I mean I don't necessarily doubt that there are indeed people out there like that. But based on their post and subsequent comments, I don't think that describes OP, like, at all.
ResponsibilityOld164@reddit
genuinely wgat
Bot_Marvin@reddit
Why would you not plan ahead?
airgroundpound69@reddit (OP)
Yeah of course, just trying to get some info out of curiosity
BassetCock@reddit
Goto the first one that hires you. Then keep your options open, keep updating the United app and see where it takes you. A lot of this career is just dumb luck.
dash_trash@reddit
Thinking ahead is not allowed
Misterslate@reddit
Are these real problems people face? Or is this a burner account to drive jealosy?
DFWmovingwalkway@reddit
Commuting outta Florida is miserable. Doesn't UA have a base there colocated with MCO, try to get hired there.
airgroundpound69@reddit (OP)
UA is my number one, this is more other options in case they never call
AV8R79@reddit
Anyone hired at DL today has missed the boat. Expect long upgrade times and slow progression. Not the case at AA.
PsychologicalAd438@reddit
The driving commute from TPA to MIA might suck but it’s drivable. TPA to ATL is way longer. AAL has a much better commuting policy and better seniority growth in the immediate future. SC won’t be more than a few months, get a crashpad, LC you can do from TPA and drive if needed. Once you are a line holder in MIA you can book the jumpseat 8 days out.
bcr76@reddit
I would drive to MCO and work for an airline based out of there personally.
Flimsy-Ad-858@reddit
DL is weird for Florida. Plenty of junior guys do NYC from there because ATL is such a pain in the ass to commute to from down that way. I know one guy who did MSP from there for a bit, but that's starting to be a little far. DTW minorly better and your seniority would be better there, but I don't know how many flights per day there are on that.
BerMalBerIst@reddit
From what I’ve heard not a ton of flights to DTW but it’s doable. I ran into a fair number of TPA (or other FL) commuters when I was in DTW. And you could always hope for that TPA base…
Flimsy-Ad-858@reddit
We should genuinely open a Florida 737 base just as a social experiment to see how hilariously senior it goes
ThatLooksRight@reddit
Southwest and drive 7 hours (90 miles) on I-4 to Orlando.
airgroundpound69@reddit (OP)
Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I love widebody flying and don’t want to fly a 73 forever 😂 plus yeah I-4 is hell
slamgeareatrear@reddit
Jokes aside… most TPA commuters here at WN commute to BNA, BWI or one of the Texas bases because of how bad I-4 traffic to MCO is. Common trend here. FAs too.
sq_lp@reddit
It’ll be years before you see MCO/TPA at UA. There’s probably hundreds of people waiting to get in. I’m regularly leaving pilots (especially new hires) behind when I do MCO/TPA to EWR.
I had 3 listed the other day. All sub 500 seniority and left 2 behind.
They opened the base, lured people in, and now are basically shrinking the base…
airgroundpound69@reddit (OP)
Oof 💀 good heads up on that one thanks for the info
Gabriel_Owners@reddit
No CJO? No discussion to be had.
TraxenT-TR@reddit
Shame on him for trying to plan his future even a little bit! /s
retiredaaer@reddit
Get the job first. Then decide about a base. You are putting the cart before the horse.
ifly4free@reddit
I’m gonna be honest, commuting from TPA/MCO/JAX for any airline is going to suck ass. Probably among the toughest in the country. There are a metric shit ton of commuters in those cities and when the summer weather inevitably goes to shit every afternoon it’s Thunderdome.
At AA a lot of commuters from the FL west coast base in CLT or PHL because the commute is easier than MIA. It’s technically drivable but I would only do that in an emergency.
On short call in MIA I’d definitely just get a small place nearby. If I was still a young single man I would splurge for a 1br near Brickell and enjoy the party until I could hold a decent line.
airgroundpound69@reddit (OP)
That’s what I was thinking as well, I’ve done that TPA -MIA commute quite a few times and it’s pretty rough. But then again I was lowest on standby so it’ll prob be easier if I can reserve the JS. CLT/PHL are usually pretty empty in my experience
GulfTPA@reddit
Commute to CLT is easy. No experience with DL to ATL. Heard it sucks but also heard CLT sucks and I’ve been doing it for a few years and it’s not bad.
airgroundpound69@reddit (OP)
DL to ATL sucks just as bad lol in my experience. At least you have SWA and F9 flights whereas TPA-MIA is only AA and maybe one SWA flight to FLL
imblegen@reddit
First, nice username.
Second, I must be severely uninformed because I'm drawing a blank on where you could drive from Tampa for UA.
airgroundpound69@reddit (OP)
haha thank you, and UA has a TPA/MCO cobase with a lot of trips originating out of TPA. Though it is small and senior.
NYPuppers@reddit
whats the cart doing all the way up there?
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hey everyone!
Trying to get some honest opinions/info about commuting. Obviously UA is my number one for staying in Tampa since I can drive to work (eventually), but assuming they don’t call, what’s the next best option?
For AA obviously thinking MIA, CLT/LGA could be an option too
For DL thinking ATL or NYC but have heard DTW is an easier commute
I would rather stay in Tampa, but if I had to I think I’d be open to getting another place, maybe Airbnb it when I’m not working. Maybe just hang out on a boat in MIA while on reserve or something.
Thanks!
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