Well, I got lucky and it looks like I'll only have to deal with the IAH commute for another month. For those who get IAH in future indoc classes and need to commute...

• The Sheraton North on JFK Blvd. is where many UAL commuters seem to stay. It's not the fanciest and it doesn't have free breakfast, but the shuttle is 24/7, every 30 minutes. I stayed at other properties on JFK Blvd that were a bit nicer (Fairfield Suites, TownePlace Suites etc) but had to get an Uber every time in at least one direction. With the UAL discount the Sheraton is $95 out the door.

• I gave up on the idea of 'commute in on the redeye, sleep for a few hours in the crew room and then work a trip." Tried that twice. It was miserable. Mostly because the crew room is only slightly warmer than a polar research station.

• The United Club card is a smart idea. Yeah, it's $700/year but you can park yourself there and eat all day for free while sitting short call. (Out of uniform, of course.) I'm amazed they let us in with just a nonrev boarding pass. Judging by all the guys trying to look inconspicuous but with "IAH crew" luggage tags hanging around in the clubs, I'm not the only one...

• Stressing about loads, etc on your flight to work just isn't worth it. I bought a ticket for every single flight to base. On the return legs, I only got bumped out of the jump once.

• The CPO coffee actually is halfway sorta decent. Never would have imagined it.

• If you need peace and quiet, the far D gates are usually pretty peaceful, aside from when the Emirates and Qatar flights depart in the late afternoon.