Originally Posted by
captnate702
Where do you live? Do you live in either SJU or PIT? If not then you have to commute both ways (SJU is not a short commute either if you don’t live in FL)? I’d be commuting with a schedule like that which means I’m spending at least 5 days away from fam/friends and hobbies (can’t take my bike or clubs with me).
It obviously works for you, but I wouldn’t trade six hours of soft time for 5 days away from home bored out of my mind by myself. I’m sure it’s great every now and then, but three times a month, I’d be pretty miserable.
Huh!? Im not commuting to SJU, EWR or PIT lol (what)? These are layovers during my trip I just finished. Im based in Chicago. I live in DSM and have a super easy commute to ORD.
Pretty much every trip is commutable on both ends. I do, on average, three 4 day trips a month and have 18 or more days off a month with large stretches of days off. I’m off the next 10 days. That wasn’t using vacation or anything. That’s how I bid this month.
Given our work rules I block - aka fly mid 50s to low 60s yet credit in the 80s or more. Month after month (and the end of the year) this adds up into being a major difference between actual work vs pay. There was almost zero difference between block and credit when I worked there.
The months I wanted to make $ at G4 (like 90+ credit) I had to fly every single hour of it. It was a long and tiring month. The only version of soft pay at G4 was picking up a RAP and hoping you didn’t get called. You know exactly how that would turn out.
You can choose to believe it or not, I don’t care - my QOL commuting to ORD at NK - with our work rules and schedule flexibility far exceeds my QOL had I stayed and been the (undoubtedly) #1 FO in DSM and “been home everynight”.
I already know (even being #1) I would be told to go F myself with at least 2-3 HDMW BS and having my seniority not honored by the magnificent CBI (or wtf that horrendous trash to bid was called). I know I would also never get large stretches of days off. Who cares if your home every night when you have an active lifestyle and lots of things you want to do outside of work, but can’t get the time off?
Another thing that amazed me, especially in Vegas, was how so many of these guys I flew with lived 45 mins or even almost an hour from the field. 1.5-2 hours a day in your car, multiple times a week back and forth back and forth.
I recall countless times we would have had a loooooong ass 4 leg 10+ hour duty day. Only to have another one the next morning. If you call being home for 10-11 hours being home? Have at it. That’s called a glorified overnight at your house. You are not at home, kicking it with the boys and having a truly relaxing evening. 🤷🏻♂️
Allegiant seems to be a great fit for you. That’s good! I’m glad it is. Truly. It wasn’t for me and considering my class of 12 has 4 people left it wasn’t for most of us.
Congrats again Marg! New level of respect for you. Anyhow take care everyone. I’ll go back to silently observing. 🫡