Originally Posted by
2GoodEngines
I’ve read the posts, I’ve watched the videos, I get it - commuting sucks! BUT......does it always suck? Is there anyone out there willing to share their experience of how it’s really not that bad for them? Sure, commuting half way across the country is probably a never win situation, but what about people who are one non-stop 90 minute flight away from their base? Can it actually be a livable long term arrangement in some cases, or will it always eventually burn you out and make you want quit and become a car salesman? (no offense to car salesmen). It’s obviously not ideal, but for some (i.e. me) it’s the only way they’ll be able to do the 121 thing, because moving may be completely off the table. Just looking for someone to say “it’s a bit of a pain, but it’s not that bad under the right circumstances”. If there’s no one that can say that, I guess my question is answered.
What are you commuting to? That's the bigger question. Commuting is difficult because you are dependent on an airplane to get you to work. It's NOT DEPENDABLE! There's a couple aspects to commuting - and I've done it all.
Commuting to sit reserve is bad because you have to worry about housing/hotels IN BASE and that's expensive and a pain. I have a second job that I can do so the sitting around is not bad for me but it drives some people bonkers.
If you are commuting to your line - where you have a start time that lets you commute in the same day and and end time that lets you go home on go home day then that part isn't bad. But once again, going home you are depending on an airplane. An airplane that can break. An airplane that can be delayed. Weather can mess with you and back things up literally for days. How well you handle all of this and what level it sucks for you depends largely on YOU And your attitude handling these complications.
I commuted from a large airport in Florida to a large airport in Texas. Some days I got on the first flight to work in the back. Some days it took me 4 flights OR MORE to get an open jump seat. Was that stressful? Not for me. But some people can't handle the rejection of being told no you can't get on this one. Now I commute from a small regional airport and I REALLY reasonably only have one shot to work. I watch the inbound and make sure it got here and I watch the loads to see if I have a real shot to get on. Sometimes the flight gets weight limited and I know ahead of time I need to drive to another airport where I have a better shot or I need to get creative and make it a two leg commute. I would never regularly plan a two leg commute. However it happens. Stuff happens. I hitch hike to work and I'm dependent on an undependable mode of transportation. Know it for what it is. The actual ride to work isn't bad. What you are commuting INTO can be bad.