docf15

How difficult is it to commute from PIT? I'm considering AAL and UAL but I'm concerned that there are a lot of old and senior US Air folks still living in Pittsburgh that may make commuting from PIT to an AAL domicile difficult. Anyone have an insight on ease of commuting?|

jcountry

I think it depends on the base. I know the PIT PHL commute is rough. I hear PIT CLT is maybe not as bad.

Lot of people still living in PIT, but I would bet 80% will retire in 5 years or less

mainlineAF

PIT-PHL is insane. It's not only pilots and FAs but mechanics, rampers, etc. I've deadheaded out of there and it looked like the whole plane was full of employees.

I'd bet commuting to NYC would be much easier. No one wants to leave their little bubble so I bet you'd have way less competition.

jcountry

Yep.

We ferried a plane out of there once to PHL. We got permission to take employees.

Had over 100

viper548

PIT is probably the worst city to live in for commuters at American. PIT-PHL is the worst. PIT-PHX is probably the best. Last time I flew PIT-DFW I had a dispatcher in the JS that commutes to work. I would heavily favor going to United if you're going to continue to live in PIT.

docf15

Wow, thanks. I thought it may be bad but the PHL 190 option is definitely not looking good. Does anyone have commuting experience on AAL from PIT to DCA?

viper548

DCA is on RJs. Fewer seats, one jumpseat, can't reserve the jumpseat, and you have lower priority than on a mainline flight. Some of the PIT commuters would fly out of Akron or CLE if PIT didn't look good. Others would drive to PHL. When I was on the 190 in PHL a couple times the Captain and both flight attendants lived in PIT. One of the trips we were on descent 24 hours prior (when check in for non-rev begins) to their commute home. We got the the gate about 15 mins after. Capt was number 16 on the standby list. I commuted from CA and I honestly think my commute was easier than theirs.

EMBFlyer

PIT is one of the worst places to commute out of in the system. Most didn't leave when PIT shut down (and, as stated before, that includes rampers, agents and mechanics). I can remember early on flying an equipment sub (757 to a 319) on the 3 pm PHL-PIT flight (after all the Europe flights get in). 41 revenue passengers, 63 non-revs. As soon as I walked up to the gate, I was accosted by 20 flight attendants, thinking I was taking their seat. I've also flown with many guys who have to take the 5 am flight for a 9pm departure because that's the only one with seats. The flights are full and the commuters are ruthless. Even if you hit check-in right at 24 hours, you can still be 8, 9 or 10 on the list because a lot use that auto check-in program (which, even though he states it's legal, I think it's wrong).

Buyer beware.

mainlineAF

It's actually better not to use the auto checkin program if you're available to manually check in 24 hours prior. The auto program initiates a sign in at 24 prior then checks you in, so it takes a few seconds.

sumwherelse

Commuting from PIT? MOVE!!