Originally Posted by
PRS Guitars
RyanP,
Sorry to hear that, maybe someday, I’ll feel that way, but right now the benefits of keeping my kids in their schools, outweighs the benefits of moving. I have commuted for 4 years, to the east coast and west coast, on long call reserve and short call reserve. During that time I also commuted to my AF job. Yes, you lose some time at home, but I have already factored that into my decision to commute, so I don’t dwell on it, which is key. Also, I don’t lose nearly the amount of days that you did. I commuted to the east coast from DEN, 1 night early 4 times last year, always made it home. So lost 4 partial days off. This year, I’ve only done it once and that was because I picked up a trip that paid a lot more but started early (worth it to me). Believe it or not, I actually enjoy the commute often. I like decompressing on the flight home. I enjoyed driving to my AF job and listening to books. That said, I’ll consider moving to base when my youngest goes to college, probably commute half the year, live in base half.
I’m not trying to thread drift here, but the OP is military and needs to hear all sides of the commute issue (even though this commute is only theoretical at this point, since we have a base in PHX...). A potential commute (that may never materialize) would be low on my decision matrix.
Different strokes for different folks. I totally get "why" people such as yourself commute. Nothing wrong with making that choice if you know what you are getting into. I did it too for my own personal reasons for 9 years. It just was too much of a beating for me and my home life suffered pretty seriously for it. If I could have commuted only on work days all the time then it wouldn't have been as bad but that never really worked out for my commutes and seniority levels. Typically lost a day on one end or the other. When it did work out the 20 hour days of getting up at 4am to drive to the airport commute then eventually finish that days afternoon trip flying until midnight was always a beating in itself. Vice versa for the last day commute home. Had to spend half a day off recovering due to lack of sleep because of commute adding at minimum 5-8 hours to my work days. More on severe weather days.
Living in base for me has been like a whole different job. More like a part time job actually with infinitely more flexibility in bidding, scheduling, making more money or less as you please, sitting home on reserve and playing golf or fishing instead of sitting in a crashpad with 40 other dudes in NYC snoring and leaving a mess of the place.
Personally as a commuter I wanted to quit nearly every week and hated the job. As a local, this job is so much easier and less stressful, it's hard to even explain to people on the outside looking in. Whenever trash trips puke out in the monthly bid results, I can drive to work either way. When my trip finishes delayed at midnight, I drive home instead of sleep in a chair at the airport like a hobo until next day flights start departing. Reserve at home is time off, not omg can I make it to work in another state or am I going to be living like a poor college kid in bunk beds at some rat hole crashpad for the week.
"Maybe" commuting to some cushy long haul schedule is a great gig. Those choice schedules are VERY senior and take forever to attain in the right seat. They take an entire career to ever even get to near those in the left seat, if you ever get there, assuming you are young enough.
I just can't in good conscience recommend a permanent commute to anyone ever when that topic comes up. I would recommend a job as a manager at Home Depot before that. Lol. Saying that, this talk is all just a guess anyway because none of us line rats know what PHX does long term. Maybe it explodes and is an ultra junior mega hub, not likely... but you really never know what this airline management will do from quarter to quarter. I actually like PHX, just wouldn't personally at this time even consider the move there and take on a huge risk of it actually staying around and being stable for the long haul. I just read the same news, rumors, quarterly reports, listen to what the company says VS what they actually DO over the years and then speculate just like everyone else here though. So don't take my word for it!!
