Commuting from overseas, anyone done this?
 

The family is considering moving. One of the options on the table is another country (wife originally from there and has family there). We are still just brain storming but I’m trying to gauge how feasible it actually would be to have an international commute.

Flight options are quite limited so that obviously would cause a lot of pain and hotels (ocean crossing). But beyond that, is anyone currently doing this or has done it in the past that would share some things we may be overlooking? Taxes? Company policy on the matter that I haven’t found? Guess I’d need to keep a U.S. address somewhere and probably an international calling plan with a U.S. phone number. What else am I missing? One thing I just thought of is 100/672 block hour limit will likely restrict against clumping too much flying together to reduce commutes.

Without specifying the country or city it’s hard to answer. I know a bunch of pilots who commute from Europe and make it work without too much hassle. Usually involves clumping flying together into two week blocks.

Ironically, I’m from Canada and considered moving back briefly (Nova Scotia), but despite being 500 miles from NYC as the crow flies it would be a nightmarish commute. 1-2 flights a day in the winter direct to the US total. No Jumpseat allowed because it’s international. Dash-8 always payload optimized. Almost always full loads. Would have been connecting through Toronto almost every time on the notoriously unreliable AC. Last time I was up there I talked to another pilot commuting from Halifax to HOUSTON for commutair. Likely world’s worst commute. (Our YHZ-EWR flight cancelled because of weather, and we both ended up getting to Toronto after being bumped twice more)

So, again, the distance doesn’t matter nearly as much as a bunch of other factors.

thank you for listening to my idle Friday morning musing.

Yeah I think I'd definitely need to do a few months of research on flight loads and such. International jumpseat is fine on Delta flights, right? Just no-go on other carriers?

You can’t be bumped for payload optimization on a DL JS, but I do believe you will eventually run into issues if there is OE taking place on the flight. I think in that instance the JS won’t be available and you’d need a seat in the cabin.

I'd definitely nail down the tax ramifications, lot's of potential issues.

- Some US states consider you to be "anchored" in their state if that was your last residence prior to going overseas. When you leave the US, you still owe them income tax indefinitely. Workaround is change legal residence to a more reasonable state before going. Probably want to fully comply with whatever applicable rules, because they might check... some states including mine take it very personally when high-earners take their hard-earned money elsewhere. ESPECIALLY if you're still domiciled in that state and they see all your income.

- I think you still have to pay federal income tax, since your income will be US-based, not foreign like typical expats who work overseas.

- You might get double taxed by your country of residence.

Things to consider, I'm sure there are more (talk to a professional).

Not all wide body captains are cool with a jumpseater on long flights. Another thing to consider.

(I don’t know why. Don’t shoot the messenger)

Then they can enjoy dealing with the CPO / pro stans after refusing a Delta pilot who meets all jumpseat requirements for no particular reason. The CPO will be especially thrilled after the company has to give the pilot international PS on a backup flight (likely saving the commuter int’l taxes).

The FOM no longer gives captains free rein to deny the jumpseat without cause, if all other requirements are satisfied.

International captains think they are better than everyone else?! This is my shocked face

Crossing the pond is serious stuff! Only the best of the best can make it happen.

Getting divorced and remarried sounds better to me than this. I’ll never understand why even work here if you don’t want to live in our great country. I commute from Florida and that sucks. Can’t even imagine moving overseas.