Go Back  Airline Pilot Central Forums > Airline Pilot Forums > Major
Driving to work - comfortable distance? >

Driving to work - comfortable distance?

Notices
Major Legacy, National, and LCC

Driving to work - comfortable distance?

Old 04-17-2014, 05:10 AM
  #11  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Windsor's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: Zee Airboos
Posts: 404
Default

I do 230 miles one way a couple times a month. Its not bad. Just bought a car that gets 45 mpg on the highway, big money saver.
Windsor is offline  
Old 04-17-2014, 05:13 AM
  #12  
Gets Weekends Off
 
MoonShot's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,038
Default

I do 335 miles each way. It's a PITA.

The only reason I do it is that I'm 130 miles from the nearest airport to commute out of. Its a wash on time driving vs. going to the airport, waiting for a flight, etc...

I tolerate it so I can live where I want (family/friends/outdoors) but the commute is brutal. Every couple years I bid to a base where I can commute out of the airport that's 130 miles away so I can stop driving as much for a while.

The good thing is you always get there and it's pretty stress free. Just don't think about all the time your wasting
MoonShot is offline  
Old 04-17-2014, 05:23 AM
  #13  
Runs with scissors
 
Timbo's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Going to hell in a bucket, but enjoying the ride .
Posts: 7,722
Default

I only have to drive 85 miles to get to a 1hr. jumpseat ride to work, but with 4 kids at home, I like the "me" time my 2hr. drive allows, where I can listen to MY music, as loud or soft, as I want! But I would worry about falling asleep on the drive home after flying all day, if it were much longer than 2hrs, screaming the words to every Led Zeppelin song has saved my life many times!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN3AB...=RDcN3ABDzdLls

You 200+ mile guys must drink a lot of Red Bull!
Timbo is offline  
Old 04-17-2014, 05:26 AM
  #14  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Apr 2011
Position: retired 767(dl)
Posts: 5,719
Default

What's that tell you about the condition of commercial aviation today? Potential passengers have got to be thinking the same thing.
badflaps is offline  
Old 04-17-2014, 05:37 AM
  #15  
Runs with scissors
 
Timbo's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Going to hell in a bucket, but enjoying the ride .
Posts: 7,722
Default

Originally Posted by badflaps View Post
What's that tell you about the condition of commercial aviation today? Potential passengers have got to be thinking the same thing.
The post 9-11 TSA debacle has driven (pun intended) many of our High Value customers away as well.

I was talking to one a few years back while the two of us were waiting in a long line to get groped, he said, "This is nuts, I'm going to recommend my company buy a private jet. I can't believe I have to waste hours of my time standing in these stupid lines while they search Grandma's underpants, baby diapers and wheel chairs!"

Time is money, and the TSA is great at wasting both.
Timbo is offline  
Old 04-17-2014, 06:32 AM
  #16  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Sep 2009
Position: B737 F/O
Posts: 425
Default

I'm just over 200 miles from base. When possible I fly (two easily accessible airports), but if due to flight schedules or loads things aren't looking good I'll drive. I do try to avoid driving during the winter, as a forecast for 'light snow' can turn into 'whiteout on a road that won't be salted for hours' fairly quickly as I get closer to base. Cost-wise, I figure that driving is cheaper than getting a hotel on both ends of a commute in base. Otherwise, the drive just saves me time and sanity, not money. That being said, it's an excellent option knowing that you can always get to work.
LostInPA is offline  
Old 04-17-2014, 06:34 AM
  #17  
Gets Weekends Off
 
nwaf16dude's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: 737A
Posts: 1,890
Default

I usually fly, but can drive it in about 4 hours if I have to. Most of my trips end with an all-nighter, so it's just not safe to get behind the wheel for 4 hours after that.
nwaf16dude is offline  
Old 04-17-2014, 06:57 AM
  #18  
Gets Weekends Off
 
pilotgolfer's Avatar
 
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: A320 Captain
Posts: 1,982
Default

Originally Posted by Et tu Bluto View Post
220 miles from my driveway to the employee lot at my base. Under three hours all on interstate highway. I prefer it to flying because I can dictate my own schedule to arrive in base at a time convenient for me. The time required is just about a wash compared to jump seating when you consider showing at the local airport an hour before departure time, actual flight time etc. Having a car in base if you are on reserve or stuck between pairings: priceless. Also, many trips terminate in base long after the last available jump seat home, so I can drive rather than waiting til the following morning for the first flight out. The downside of course is 4 bucks a gallon for gas....

BTW, for the times I do jump seat to and from work, many thanks to the great men and women of SWA who have been unfailingly accommodating and welcoming.

I'm in the same boat...I have a 210 mile commute to Newark. I try to get 4 day. Trips that start after 10am. Having my car with me allows me to return to Newark on the later arrivals without having to spend the night before going home. There have been many nights on day four where driving home may not have been the wisest move. I will sometimes trade into an early morning departure if it's a good trip. I will drive in the morning of the trip...leaving home at 2-3am. I only do this when my flight is one leg to the hotel. I've never felt tired on these and having the sun shine tricks your body into being awake.
pilotgolfer is offline  
Old 04-17-2014, 09:36 AM
  #19  
Gets Weekends Off
 
captjns's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B-737NG preferably in first class with a glass of champagne and caviar
Posts: 5,886
Default

Put it to you this way at a previous job with FR... it took me longer to walk to the crew room than to put the key in the ignition, let the car warm up for 2 minutes then drive to the car park.

At my current it takes the hotel van all of 5 minutes to get me directly to the crew room.

Although when I come home my block off it does take me about 2:45 to get home... but at least I'm home for 3 weeks.

Ah the life... unlimited cognac and fresh breadsticks.
captjns is offline  
Old 04-17-2014, 12:08 PM
  #20  
ULTP-Ultra Low Tier Pilot
 
The Juice's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,228
Default

260 miles each way. Would take it any day over the jumpseat.

As others have said, having your vehicle waiting for you when you're ready to go home is priceless. No more "I need to hustle over to terminal 3, last flight leaves in 5 minutes. You mind taking my bag to the crew room?
The Juice is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
deltabound
Foreign
18
03-28-2010 02:49 PM
SmoothOnTop
Money Talk
1
04-29-2009 11:03 PM
tomo
Major
11
02-27-2007 01:20 PM
miker1369
Hangar Talk
2
09-06-2006 08:40 AM
cl65
Major
1
03-02-2006 09:14 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices