nitefr8r, why did you not even consider the commute to ANC? Just a question when you can HUB turn through OAK to ANC.

Well, that's a good question and the answer is a bit complicated as I like Anchorage and the domicile. I have classmates from Tigers there and know a fair number of people. First, it's a double commute (or triple commute if you count Kona-Honolulu) and the seats are limited. That means being online at the two week point or having the computer set up to try and autobook. Also at my seniority on the MD-11 I don't have a schedule that far in adavnce most of the time, I'm in solid VTO country.

Right now I can ride UAL to LAX on a nonstop most of the time, or to SFO for the OAK/SFO originating trips w/o heading to the HNL FedEx ramp. Although after my run in with a bad apple (a very very bad apple) Kona TSA agent last Monday that may change.

Also I don't like crash pads in general, been there done that. The hotel situation up there in the summer cruise ship season can be quite tight (I half jokingly wish the darn things would just sink on their way to/from Hawaii for the winter cruise ship season btw).

Did I mention the triple commute?

For now I'm happy enough with the LAX commute. We'll see what happens with the fall out from the age 60 change before I make any decision about changing domiciles.

Anybody doing this nowadays? If so, how's the commute working out?

Why would you want to bid ANC? I guess you must be single, or shortly on your way!!!
Maybe you haven't heard but the commute up there can be tough. There aren't alot of trips that start with a D/H.
With the commute you can figure half of the time you need to leave a day or so early for a seat up here (have you not seen AM's slides). On the way home sometimes you may need an extra day to get a flight out of here. That adds two days to an already long two week block from home.
If you look at the grand scheme of things the commute can actually add another two weeks to a month away from home a year to work out of ANC, and thats commuting out of the lower 48!
Thats a pretty small price to pay to tell youre buddies you fly a 747.

On the other hand, ANC based UPS 744 FO? That would be a dream destination for me....