I’m in a June class and was just wondering if I could get more info from you guys about the commuter policy for Expressjet. In the presentation they explained how you need the 2 flights to get to base, use of that is unlimited. Then they explained how you can use the 1 flight option 3 times in a rolling 12 month period.

I was wondering if there are any company provided hotels every month for commuting? Or any other benefits to commuters? If not, how often do commuters tend to have to pay out of pocket for hotels every month?

 

We don’t get any commuter hotels.

With those 2 flights/unlimited and 1flight/3 missed in a year deal, it’s 2 (or 1) good chance to get to work. I heard this interpreted to Mean open seats 24 hours prior to departure. One of the guys told me to screen shot the loads the day before as proof of open seats if there’s any question.

 

I recommend a crash pad. Look for cold beds, pilot-only, near public transportation and hopefully a grocery store.

It’s not part of official policy, but on really bad weather days, United authorizes positive space for commuting crews. So the company will get you to work on those days. Over the last year this has happened a handful of times. Most other days you will make it to work just fine.

 

Thanks for the info. I'll most likely be moving to base, but will be commuting for the first few months so wanted to know what to expect.

 

Fortunately I think that policy went when the ASA contract dissolved. They made it pretty challenging to justify not getting to base when commuting. Almost always resulted in some kind of mark on your reportable personnel record.

Now, from what I understand, you basically need to make an honest effort to get to work. If it becomes a habit they start giving you crap.

 

No it’s always been in the ERJ contract as described above

 

Completely false.

 

I’m no longer there and results may vary with the new management.
I never had an issue with commuter policy, but I was always polite to scheduling and always communicated with them. In addition to the above you could “commuter” clause if you ran into bad traffic or weather prevented you from getting to the airport. In the case of traffic I would snap shot Waze in case they asked for proof but they never did. With weather, I just took a picture of the 3’ of snow out my front door and the local advisory against driving, but again I was not asked for proof.
While commuter hotels are not in the contract occasionally they have offered them if weather went to crap. But don’t count on them.
Again, communication can go a long way. I would always give them a heads up if it looked like there might be an issue- loads suddenly went down the tubes, weather, flight delay, etc. On the flip side, if I got in early I would often give scheduling a call in case they needed a pilot. It seemed to go a long way.

 

Most of my buddies at other airlines have some weird hatred of crew scheduling. It's good to hear that (at least in the recent past) there was a nice give and take between pilots and crew scheduling.

 

Sometimes they make you mad but generally not. Xjet has always been a little different and better than other regionals; not as much of a garbage operation.