You're right. To add to that point, the base you choose to live at may not be commuter friendly. However, how many noon call-out reserve schedules are there?
If you live in base, it doesn't really matter what your call-out or show time is.
Houston seems to have more commutable lines. So far, I only have had to commute in the night before or commute home the day after roughly once per month after going back to commuting for the last 1.5 years. That is my experience in Houston as a mid-seniority line holder. For me, that is preferable to living in the Houston area. I've had to commute for reserve in the past and I lost many more nights at home as a reserve, basically living in a crash pad as well. Living in base is always better for work QOL, but being able to commute is an option that not many professions have. It all depends on your own personal circumstances which one is best.

 

ATL to ORD has been easy. Between UA, AA, and DL lots of flights. During Spring Break last year you had to get creative to get back to ATL at times.

701EV

 

Is there any chance for long call reserve? Is it typically senior? Could be a good option for a new commuting pilot that is not holding a line to be home on reserve and still make it to fly if needed.

 

That sounds like a great idea, but it is not reality. Long call gets used a lot, leaving you at best unable to plan your commute. You will almost always get called at 00:01 on your first day with some sort of assignment beginning at 12:01. It may just be a 4 hr airport reserve assignment but they won’t let you “be home on reserve.” Sounds good but it just doesn’t work that way. It will seem like they are doing any and everything they can to keep you running in circles just to prevent you from being home. If you treat it like an upgraded short call and just go ahead and get a crash pad and plan ahead of time to be at work on noon the first day you won’t be disappointed.

 

Look up the reserve rules in the contract. Long call gets used FIRST. Crew scheduling also loves to call you on the first day and convert you to short call or give you an ARC assignment on your first day. Long call often goes senior, but I always hated it.