Anyone doing the DEN-MSP commute?
- Thread starter bike21
- Start date
ChasenSFO
hen teaser
With Frontier, Delta, Sun Country, Southwest, and United doing it non-stop I'd think it couldn't be too hard. As far as 2 leg, that shouldn't be hard either. You can catch DL(and in most cases others like AS, WN, US, UA, ect) to MSP from COS, SLC, SFO, SJC, RNO, LAS, BOI, GEG, SEA,IAH, AUS, PHX, DFW, BIL, ORD, MDW, OMA, IND...a crap load of cities that are less than a 2 hr flight from DEN and accessible on Southwest, Frontier, Great Lakes, and United and others. Just get creative
bike21
9-5 Ruins Lives
Trouble is Chasen, those are all hard two leggers you mentioned. DEN-ORD has to be one of the 'easiest' two leggers I know for two simple reasons. Most are on company metal and nearly all are geographically in the middle or at least not the wrong direction to start. Such as MLI, CID, COS, FSD, MSN, MKE, SGF, DSM, etc. Yes, I've done every one of those at some point or another 
I do think MSP won't be too bad, just wondering if anyone knew the loads/history well. I've seen the line 8 pilots deep for ORD-MSP, so I don't want to touch that one!
I do think MSP won't be too bad, just wondering if anyone knew the loads/history well. I've seen the line 8 pilots deep for ORD-MSP, so I don't want to touch that one!
racemey
Well-Known Member
That would be pretty good as far as commutes go. I 2 legged it through Denver a few times when I missed the nonstop to smf. Looks like a lot of airbus traffic too which is nice with the two jumpseats. A guy in my crash pad in msp was from Denver and he never seemed to have a problem.
blee256
Well-Known Member
DEN-MSP commute is cake. there are so many flights, you wont have to worry. I don't even know why you are considering a 2 leg commute. It might be one less airport to fly into it, but when you got a flight going almost every hour (maybe even more) you shouldn't have any problems. Not to mention SW, F9, and DL (A320s) all have 2 jumpseats.
CamYZ125
Well-Known Member
He's considering a two leg commute because he's been on one of the worst commutes in the country for a few years. After you do a commute like that, you think everybody is out to get you, and truth be told, with DEN-ORD, they probably are
Haha.. isn't it funny when we're commuting we become enemies with each other? I've been sitting at the gate expecting to only have a chance at the jumpseat when another pilot walks up, and in my head I start thinking "Get out of here..." and even though I've never met or talked to this person who is probably super nice, I already dislike them (for the competition). hahaha..
kellwolf
Piece of Trash
This is why FedEx is my friend. Another guy walks up, he's either confirmed like me and we're both good, or he's a check airman about to bump me off a 727 seat (not likely but possible). I've had a couple of times where I was told I'm on "standy by" pending the CA's approval, but normally that's not an issue unless the plane has a deferred jumpseat or something.
ChasenSFO
hen teaser
If you want a little insight on trends, I go to MSP often to see family, and have flown via DEN on all the mentioned airlines. What I've noticed is Southwest is almost always packed from DEN to MSP, very rarely do they have open seats. Frontier is also usually packed. United and Delta are hardly ever "open", but they usually have a few seats here and there and I've always got on. Sun Country has erratic schedules so its hard to plan with them, and I've been at 3 different airports where the agents couldn't figure out how to list me, and reservations always has issues with that too.
United is usually the best bet seats wise. Only issue with ORD-MSP on UA is its all frequent flyer business types who always show up for earlier flights and create a huge standby list. In the evening its not much of an issue though compared to the morning flights. Almost all the ORD-MSP flights are E170s now, with an Airbus here and there, so its usually pretty tight. I've never flown AA from ORD so can't help you there.
United is usually the best bet seats wise. Only issue with ORD-MSP on UA is its all frequent flyer business types who always show up for earlier flights and create a huge standby list. In the evening its not much of an issue though compared to the morning flights. Almost all the ORD-MSP flights are E170s now, with an Airbus here and there, so its usually pretty tight. I've never flown AA from ORD so can't help you there.
CRJDriver
Well-Known Member
I still do a two-leg commute from BOI, and 99% of the time I go through DEN. I've done DEN-CVG, DTW and currently ATL. I can tell you that DL is usually full and I don't even bother non-revin on DL anymore. Going to a DL hub sucks. The good thing about DEN-MSP is the variety of airlines and number of flights, which is similar to my DEN-ATL commute. The majority of times I take Frontier and they have been great with a seat in the back most of the time. Having Airbuses is great because of the two jumpseats.
bike21
9-5 Ruins Lives
Looks like it, I am gonna give it a bit more time and see how it all shakes out before I put in my transfer. Most guys/gals who are being awarded RJ upgrade are junior to me now and one of the last classes who went to MSP was entirely junior to me. I will only do it full well knowing I'll have a line because sitting reserve up there doesn't help out, even if it an easier commute.
Still digging the good life as a senior FO?
bike21
9-5 Ruins Lives
He's considering a two leg commute because he's been on one of the worst commutes in the country for a few years. After you do a commute like that, you think everybody is out to get you, and truth be told, with DEN-ORD, they probably are
This.
I did help out an XJT and AA guy the other day though. We all missed the Eagle flight (and an earlier UA 767) so my two leg wizardry came in handy and we took a ride through Moline. Yeehaw!