Originally Posted by
HeavyIronDad
Many thanks to everyone for providing first-person information vs. the rumors, half-truths and just plain nonsense common to other threads.
Three questions, please:
1. What is the difference between gateway cities and home basing? A recruiter recently assured me JSX has home basing, but I am skeptical, based on what I read here.
2. IslandHop estimates only 2-3 overnights per 8 days; it sounds like a commuter would be on the hook for his own hotel 4 - 5 nights each week. Are there any patterns that tend to include more overnight hotels? Or is it a total crapshoot?
3. QOL: I am not afraid of working hard, but I might balk at more than 1 (or 2?) 14-hour days in one 8 day rotation. Is that common? Or are long days usually followed by long breaks? That would help a lot.
thanks in advance!
1. Gateway is the same as home basing provided your home is in one of those gateways - they airline to and from your gateway at the beginning.
We definitely do not have gateway/home basing on the X side at this time. Maybe we will get it (management please), but for now everyone is going to BUR.
X side is not exactly commuter friendly. That is, in my opinion, one of the most significant drawbacks if you are not local to SoCal. Being required to relocate to one of the highest cost of living areas in the country.
2. That sounds about right. I would guess 8/6 averages a few more overnights than 7/7. If you're back in base (BUR), you are on your own for where to stay. Anywhere out of base and a hotel is provided. Some people do
kinda commute (nothing like commuting in 121) and have crashpads in BUR.
3. 6 leg days used to be common, then scaled back. Now with added OAK, SNA and MMH flying, everyone is concerned they may be coming back. So the answer is,
it depends. On average, 3-4 legs a day, 7-8 hours of duty. It's only rough when we start doing 6 legs a day with 20 minute turns. Again, haven't seen anything like that since summer but with the added flying, who knows.