Verdict

Since I don't have any experience with this...how much of a hassle is it to try to commute on another mainline carrier? Are there other considerations besides how full the flight is? Looks like both United and Delta provide a bunch of nonstop options from DEN to LGA/EWR/JFK.

LuckyNow

Assuming there are open seats/jumpseats, it's a piece of cake. Seeing as you're not commuting on your own metal, you have to accept the very real possibility that someone with higher priority will come along and take the jumpseat. Some of the UAL 737s and all of the 320s have two jumpseats which helps.

Since you don't have any experience with this, I would recommend steering clear of EWR unless you've exhausted all other avenues. It's a junior UAL base and you'll be commuting from a senior one, so I'm sure there will be a lot of their guys on those flights. It also sucks to get to JFK/LGA from. It also sucks in general.

jcountry

Depends on the airline. Delta and SWA are truly great to commute on-just show up at the gate with all your credentials and they will get you set up.

I'm not sure about United.

PRS Guitars

It's not bad, I've had a lot of success between DEN and PHL on UAL. Your competition on that route is usually other AA guys and AWAC guys.

The real issue is when you can reserve the JS, (which we currently can at AA) it is literally stress free. You book it and forget it. I never check loads and basically just drive to the airport on my commute day, fully expecting to make it to work. With OAL's you never really know what the situation is going to be till you get to the airport. You don't have inside access to loads and are at the bottom of the barrel for the JS.

Do you know which side you're going to yet? By the way, I don't think it will matter by this time next year. If you get LUS, your choice will be made, because you'll get the 190 to PHL.

One other piece of advice, since you have no experience at this. Commuting is a mind set. You have to embrace the positives of it (living where you want...near family, skiing, etc) and never feel sorry for yourself. Once you get negative about it, you're done, you'll hate it.

Verdict

Thanks for the insight & advice. I'm currently awaiting an indoc date so no idea what my options will be. Just trying to think through potential choices on domicile...if I have a choice.

Regardless of how it shakes out, I still feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to start a new career with AA!

ufgatorpilot

With Delta and United you just show up at the gate. With SWA they want you to call the non-rev number to list yourself ahead of time. Prepare for LONG wait times on the phone.

Verdict

Why do you say it won't matter this time next year? Could the ability to reserve a jumpseat will go away with SLI?

If I go to LUS, could I still reserve a jumpseat on a LAA flight?

jcountry

Very well put sir.... More people need to figure that out.

viper548

This time next year we will be fully integrated and there won't be a U.S. air side and AA side anymore.
The jumpseat program is integrated. If you go to the U.S.Air side you can reserve the jumpseat on LAA flights. BTW, it's getting harder to tell which flights are LAA and LUS.
The ability to reserve the JS won't change with the SLI. The reservation system is the chosen system going forward. Some in the union want to change it. IF it were to change it would likely be to a hybrid seniority reservation system where you reserve the jumpseat based off of seniority until 3 days prior, then first come first served.

Name User

I think what he's getting at is in the future there will be one class, with all the domicile choices, no "sides".

Jumpseat reservations looks like they are here to stay, at least for now.