Originally Posted by
Fenderbean
So as my retirement date approaches and I start to prep for the airlines I was wondering about the life style. Do most pilots live near the hub they fly out of or do they commute? Im wondering how tough that is, I have a particular place I would like to settle down at that has an international airport there but the two airlines im looking at are in are not there but im sure they have flights to and from. This is going to be the toughest part for me since I have just spent 20 years living out of a bag.
passrider
Check flights there.
Commuting sucks. I commuted for a few weeks to reserve at a regional, then drove to work there for a year, and I've been commuting to my current airline across the country for 2 years. It's a significant PITA and the worst part about this job. My schedule is less flexible, I can't pick up/swap into better stuff that is short notice, and usually if I'm headed to work I'm too close in to swap anyway. Commuting to reserve is about as bad as it gets, especially at a regional. Crashpad life is no bueno.
I'm senior enough to hold commutable stuff now and I got rid of my crashpad, but I commute on a redeye and get home late the night I finish a trip. I had to go in the day before a lot my first 2 years, and sometimes wouldn't make it home until the next day after my trip. That kills QOL, as does riding on a plane in the back 40 hours a month. Also, bidding for commutable trips takes out a lot of good overnights and/or productivity.
There are some short commutes that are highly commuted and you will be fighting for a jumpseat. Commuting offline makes that very difficult and unpredictable. There are some lightly commuted routes that are very easy and people do those commutes with less stress. Some airlines have good commuter clauses...some don't. Mine allows for one online attempt or 2 offline attempts. Some people can handle commuting just fine...I think it depends on your situation. If its a short easy commute, and you have a good crashpad setup, and don't mind being away from home, it may be ok. I would never commute for a regional, but they have gotten a lot better and some even pay for commuter hotels now. The AA wholly owned ones have good flight benefits, so there's that. Commuting on your own metal is always better (priority for jumpseat, etc.).
Regardless of commuting or not, you will be living out of a suitcase for half the month for a while. Assuming you're going to a regional, where most have 11-13 days off on reserve, and after a while you can hold 13-18 off depending on the regional. The rest of that time you'll be in a pad or hotel. I'm gone a lot more than I was in the Army fwiw, but I'm not getting shot at and I come home more frequently.