The $11 or $12 fee is the least of a commuter's concerns. Crash pads will run you a couple hundred bucks a month in the Chicago area, plus you'll need some form of transportation to and from the airport. Hotels are in the $35 to $40 range. Meals are another consideration. Plan on 10 nights a month in a hotel in base if on reserve. You can commute for free as a jumpseater on other airlines but plan ahead. You can be bumped by an online commuter at the last minute. What is Eagles's commuter clause? Commuting means getting to base a day early and maybe leaving the day late depending on flight schedules and flight loads. And remember, you don't get per diem while in base.