Short Commuting On Delta, SWA, American
10-02-2017, 04:32 AM
#21
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Posts: 234
Originally Posted by CareerChanger92
I see it come up all the time in the forum....commuting. Most people say it's two different jobs commuting v driving to work. I believe them, makes total sense.
I live in Grand Rapids, MI(GRR). It's a busy airport for it's size. It's a 50min-1hr flight to either Chicago or Detroit. How would it be commuting with that short of a flight?
Delta, SWA, and American each have 3-6 direct flights a day to their given domiciles in Chicago or Detroit.
Chicago is a 3 hour drive with no traffic or weather issues(rare). DTW is 2.5 hours with no traffic or weather issues. I've driven to both airports dozens of times and it gets old FAST. So please don't focus on driving. I live 15min from GRR.
I live in Grand Rapids, MI(GRR). It's a busy airport for it's size. It's a 50min-1hr flight to either Chicago or Detroit. How would it be commuting with that short of a flight?
Delta, SWA, and American each have 3-6 direct flights a day to their given domiciles in Chicago or Detroit.
Chicago is a 3 hour drive with no traffic or weather issues(rare). DTW is 2.5 hours with no traffic or weather issues. I've driven to both airports dozens of times and it gets old FAST. So please don't focus on driving. I live 15min from GRR.
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10-02-2017, 05:36 AM
#22
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Posts: 14
Originally Posted by BlueRidger328
The stress of not knowing if you are going to get on a given flight is really crazy making. On that short of a flight its probably going to be an RJ. First, you can't list for a jumpseat. Second, if the flight is full and you are on the jumpseat the plane may be overweight or out of balance. and you will be the first one to get booted. You never truly know if you are safe from being bumped until the plane is off the ground. Even then it is not guaranteed I was once on a flight home. Had a mechanical issue right after takeoff. The flight returns to the airport and cancels then all the following flights were overbooked. Face it, commuting by plane just sucks. I've done it for 15 years and the only reason I still do is because I am divorced and I have shared custody of my kids.
10-02-2017, 05:40 AM
#24
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Originally Posted by saturn
Its great there is a commuter clause, but kind of a bummer that theres language for a min 2 hours between option 1 & 2.
Go to your home airport 1 hour prior, 2 hours between flights minimum (which sometimes ends up being 3 or 4 depending on schedule), lets say 1hr flight, make sure your option 2 ETA has a good buffer before report. Its about 5hrs prior minimum for a 1hr flight to the hub. Not including your time driving to your local airport as well.
Plan on heading in the day prior a lot when junior, then waking up in the early AMs when you can finally get some seniority.
Go to your home airport 1 hour prior, 2 hours between flights minimum (which sometimes ends up being 3 or 4 depending on schedule), lets say 1hr flight, make sure your option 2 ETA has a good buffer before report. Its about 5hrs prior minimum for a 1hr flight to the hub. Not including your time driving to your local airport as well.
Plan on heading in the day prior a lot when junior, then waking up in the early AMs when you can finally get some seniority.
10-02-2017, 06:01 AM
#26
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Posts: 1,410
Originally Posted by saturn
Its great there is a commuter clause, but kind of a bummer that theres language for a min 2 hours between option 1 & 2.
Go to your home airport 1 hour prior, 2 hours between flights minimum (which sometimes ends up being 3 or 4 depending on schedule), lets say 1hr flight, make sure your option 2 ETA has a good buffer before report. Its about 5hrs prior minimum for a 1hr flight to the hub. Not including your time driving to your local airport as well.
Plan on heading in the day prior a lot when junior, then waking up in the early AMs when you can finally get some seniority.
Go to your home airport 1 hour prior, 2 hours between flights minimum (which sometimes ends up being 3 or 4 depending on schedule), lets say 1hr flight, make sure your option 2 ETA has a good buffer before report. Its about 5hrs prior minimum for a 1hr flight to the hub. Not including your time driving to your local airport as well.
Plan on heading in the day prior a lot when junior, then waking up in the early AMs when you can finally get some seniority.
10-02-2017, 06:19 AM
#27
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Joined APC: May 2009
Position: CFI
Posts: 46
Where are you in GRR? I'm in Lowell and I'm based in LGA. As others have said a 2.5 hour drive to work a few times a month is living the high life in the airline game. I can hold DTW but stay in LGA as the seniority is much better. I simply drive to DTW then take the flight to LGA. We also have several flights a day to ATL out of GRR. I will sometimes swap LGA trips with ATL trips and commute from GRR. Flights are on mainline and I have found it to be a smooth commute. Good luck!
10-02-2017, 06:22 AM
#28
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Posts: 2,074
Originally Posted by CareerChanger92
Saturn. Another great insight. Sounds like commuting adds significant time to my day even with the short flight.
Recently flew with a guy with a 5 hour drive each way. He was 1.5 hours away from nearest airport, which only had a few flights a day. Not all mainline. Most days it was faster to drive, and that wasn't accounting having to have a backup flight. He plans to move.
2:45 seems like a no brainer to drive. But I'm not you, if it isnt something you want to do, look harder at NetJets. Or other companies with home basing.
10-02-2017, 06:33 AM
#29
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Originally Posted by e5casey
Where are you in GRR? I'm in Lowell and I'm based in LGA. As others have said a 2.5 hour drive to work a few times a month is living the high life in the airline game. I can hold DTW but stay in LGA as the seniority is much better. I simply drive to DTW then take the flight to LGA. We also have several flights a day to ATL out of GRR. I will sometimes swap LGA trips with ATL trips and commute from GRR. Flights are on mainline and I have found it to be a smooth commute. Good luck!
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