Flying Elvis

The computer is definitely a write-off for the portion you can justify as purchased for business use. Same as for mobile phone. I am writing off 100% of the laptop, and 50% of my mobile phone bills for 2014, because I think I can very easily justify that.

Even though audits are rarer than before, just realize that if you are transitioning to a new career, moving, retiring from mil, etc, you are doing a lot of "out of the ordinary" things that make you a higher risk for it. Definitely claim everything for which you're eligible, but document, document, document.

DLpilot

I have used pilot tax preparers in the past. Everyone one of them said to not write off the laptop. The reason is that the company provides computer workstations for your training. About 50 percent of the cell phone bill is the norm also. Just FYI but do what you feel comfortable defending.

Jughead135

Assuming the Holiday Inn ATL North is still the hotel for indoc (?), they have a couple of company computers (that're no-kidding on the Delta network) in the crew room there. Not your own room, but generally quiet & no need to wander over to campus....

Squirt F15

I too am very interested in a response to this. Up to now I've been leaning on trying to get the 73N and getting back to ATL as soon as I could. Does anyone know which is expanding more in ATL. The 320 or 73N? Not trying to hijack the thread....thanks!

sailingfun

The 320 is not expanding at all since there are no deliveries. Movement their will come from pilots bidding off. In 2016 A321's start coming and that could change depending on where marketing places the airframes. Training will start next fall for the new airframes. The 737 is adding block hours monthly. At the moment those block hours are going to SEA. Again in ATL you are probably looking at pilots bidding off for openings. There is no real way to make a predictions. Based on the past marketing does not seem to have a long term plan. Tuesday's future basing plan is often radically different on Friday and that is changed again on Monday. My advise would be to bid the airframe you would prefer to fly or manage. You will get to ATL soon enough.

overthehill

Starting class Monday....need to put in my equipment bid....which aircraft will get me off reserve the quickest? (If any)

TED74

A common misconception is that small business write-offs are all beneficial. Realize that only those (authorized) expenses THAT EXCEED 2% OF YOUR AGI do you any good. For most newbies making 70k, that's no problem after training expenses, uniforms, etc.. But depending on your income the REST of the calendar year in which you get hired (think USAF VSP bonus), or the income of your spouse, $4,000 of business "write-offs" may net you almost no tax savings.

I'm no archeologist, so take my tax advice with a grain of salt.

Flying Elvis

After probation, ALPA dues (deductible) alone will get you pretty close to 2% of your AGI.

And don't forget all the other employee expenses, to include unreimbursed travel expenses. There are some services that do this, but I use a Google-docs spreadsheet with my travel schedule and per-diem rates to calculate my IRS-allowed travel expenses, then subtract the total per-diem I was paid (on your W2). That can net you a couple thousand in deductions. I also keep track of the tips to the van driver, shoe shines, dry cleaning, etc. All on my phone so I can update as I go.

Additional things to consider:
- Your Class I physical and Yellow Fever shot that was a requirement before you show up on property (subsequent ones aren't deductible because they're reimbursed)
- If you drove to indoc, your mileage, including mileage in the local area.
- If you flew to indoc, mileage to/from the airport, including flights home during breaks, and if you rented a vehicle during your stay, those costs.
- Temp housing during Sims
- M&IE during indoc

Also for out-o-state newbies like me, don't forget to get your ~$400 back from the State of GA for the taxes they took from you in indoc.

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p529...blink100026912

Surd

The simple answer is NYC. If you are willing to stay in NYC, you will probably be out of reserve in any aircraft by summer. Below is the projected staffing as a percentage based on how many F/O's are projected to be in category vs. the total projected to be required for July (taken from July projected category list, which was published after the last AE).

NYC
320 55%
73N 60%
M88 68%
717 71%
7ER 75%

ATL
7ER 90%
73N 93%
M88 95%
717 95%
320 99%

Understand these numbers don't account for movement from future AE's. Just where things would stand after all the movement happens from the last AE (and no new hires). Bottomline, you can generally hold a line once you get out of the bottom 20%, and that looks likely for any aircraft if you stay in NYC. Be aware of the 7ER though, as you would probably be closest to that reserve line, and the fleet is expected to begin retiring aircraft sometime in the next couple years, and your seniority may stagnate once that happens. On the other hand, if someone wants to stand reserve in Atlanta, these numbers suggest the 7ER may be a good way to go.

Sputnik

Here's my thinking, and welcome any holes you guys can poke.

First regarding 717Bs bidding off. The first class of this wave entered class on Jan 13, 2014. This last AE closed on the 12th. If I understand correctly, no new hires in this wave were eligible to bid off the 717?

More to the point, no new hires have been able to bid off anything (other than the new categories that opened). Which explains the curious fact that a Sept new hire would have higher seniority on the 320 than the 88 in Atl, and can't even hold the 717

My pet theory is that the seat locks are skewing things. My guess is that as seat locks begin to expire and people can move from less desirable fleets, things will return to more 'normal' historic modes--88 getting more junior.

Next few AEs should clear things up. There were 94 folks hired in Jan-Feb 14.