Originally Posted by
Fly21
I feel that this should be priority number 2 right behind pay in contract negotiations. Times have changed and more and more of the general public are traveling and getting a seat can be an act of god at times. Then, you always can't rely on the jumpseat due to weight and balance or ego trips. Commuting sucks no matter how you look at it, but if I had a guaranteed seat to and from work, that would definetely ease the sting. I would even agree to living within an hours drive of an airport that my airline or their affiliates serve if I knew I was always going to get on. That would most certainly be worth a move.
I agree. My commute over time has become more and more difficult, but I'm not about to move to base for this job. No way. First, no cost of living adjustment and my retirement would suffer badly for the move due to sharply increased housing costs at my base. Saving for retirement is my #1 priority. Second I like where I live, and have friends and family here, don't like the city of my base, and lastly my wife has a fantastic job here. The single most stressful aspect of this career, to me, is the commute. I feel like I am rolling the dice with my job each and every week. A positive space seat would be like a dream come true.
The airline need commuters as much as we need the ability to commute. Look at the difficulty they have keeping seats filled now. Can you imagine if they did away with commuting? No one would take this job if you HAD to live in LA, or NYC, or SFO. They'd have to triple pay rates at least. Yet, commuting is increasingly difficult as seats are full all the time now, and if you don't make the commute to work despite your best efforts, prepare to face the wrath even if you have a 'commuter clause'.