Bornflying

Hi, I was wondering how commutable Frontier is, my goal is to be home at least 12 days a month...I live in base in Atlanta (9E) and have a little one so really don't want QOL to dip any lower than that. Really interested in Frontier but haven't applied because I assume I'd lose at least an evening with the family on each commute.

So, I have a lot of questions:

1. Do you have a commuter clause?
2. Can you commute on your reserve days on both ends?
3. How many line trips do you have that are commutable on both ends?
4. Are commutable trips contractual?
5. Who controls pairing creation?
6. How easy is it to drop days on reserve or on the line?
7. How long until new hires can hold a line?

Punkah Louvre

I'm ex 9E, so can answer the relative pros & cons; however:-
You live in base. Thats the QoL peak. I find it hard to envision any commuter schedule that beats that.

1) Yes -Industry standard, no 9E positive space
2) anythings' possible, but unlikely. You could get home on FedEx...
3) a good amount. YMMV
4) I dont believe 'contractual' per se..-but-
5) The union has at least a decent amount of control
6) not on RSV. Line. yes. our flexibility is still the envy of most
7) If hired today, a few months, max, some '19 hires never sat RSV

The biggest realization that hit me coming from a regional was how different your life is here. It's almost incomparably better. Our Never stay hotel list is your top shelf overnights. Our legs are much more productive. Some lines have a huge number of days off if you're prepared to fly turns.

We have every indication that the growth here will be at least as good s advertised;with all that means for seniority and upgrade.
While much of this is true for most 'major' airlines I have nothing but good things to say about working here.
-however-
You'll take a QoL hit commuting. Nothing can change that.
//PL

TOGALOCK

1. Do you have a commuter clause?

Two flights on any airline that will get you to domicile by 1 hour prior to your scheduled report time.

Can you commute on your reserve days on both ends?

Depending on domicile, we have up to five different reserve shifts (A, B, C, D and E). But, for the sake of a simple reply, think of it as morning reserve, mid-day reserve and night reserve. Depending on reserve shift and the needs of scheduling, you may be able to be released early on your last day. In my personal experience, it's a 50/50 shot depending on domicile.

One of the nice things for reserves in our new contract is the ability to commute DURING the first two hours of your call out window (RAP period). You will need to let scheduling know that you will be unable to answer your phone, but if they have an assignment for you they will leave a voicemail. You will be responsible for arriving in domicile by your first available report time. (Ex. 8am RAP start would mean the earliest report time you would be legal for would be 10am. As long as you are able to report to your assignment by 10am, and you communicate that to scheduling, you're good to go.)

3. How many line trips do you have that are commutable on both ends?

That's a tough one to quantify, but while not all pairings during a particular monthly line may commutable on both ends, you will likely be able to find lines with at least one pairing within that can be commuted to and from on both ends. The union is in charge of pairing construction, so they try to keep a good mix to appeal to most common desires. With enough seniority, you should be able to be pleased with what you get.

4. Are commutable trips contractual?

Not to my knowledge.

5. Who controls pairing creation?

The union

6. How easy is it to drop days on reserve or on the line?

Dropping with a line? Extremely easy. With a little bit of patience and watching open time, I've never been able to not get rid of something. Drop ability is based on a number of open duty periods for that particular date. Within four days of pairing start date, it is based on available reserves.

Dropping reserve days on the other hand, YMMV. For me personally, I believe I would have been more likely to get cold called by NASA to command one last unplanned shuttle flight than to get a reserve day dropped. Just my experience though. It will depend greatly on base as well as RAP period, but technically is possible.

For either of the above, you can always use the trade board as a last resort.

7. How long until new hires can hold a line?

Again, dependent on domicile. The most junior line holder for December in PHL (most junior domicile) looks to be a Jan. '19 hire.

Bornflying

Congrats on being at Frontier...thanks for all the answers.

sdsunick1

Like the other poster wrote, some people go straight to a line especially if you're in a junior base. With the amount of hiring we are going through and how little reserves they are staffing, I'd say that only a few months on reserve are possible. Once you get a line, even the bottom line holder than get more than 12 days off. I don't think I've ever had less than 15 days off even the months I want to work and usually avergae 17-18 off if you work the system. I usually only have to get a hotel once or twice a month (but your commuting situation may vary). QOL is way better than the regionals, much more productive. I was at my previous regional for almost 10 years, and from the first month being on reserve it was better than being a line holder at my old job.

We do have a new provision that you can commute in during the first two hours of your reserve block and consider yourself "notified" if they assign you anything within those two hours you're commuting. So for example, if you have an 8am RDP, you can commute in between 8-10am and consider yourself notified when you get to your domicile at 10am. It helps a little on the front end.

One correction to the previous poster, the union doesn't control pairing creation. They can object to them, but pairing creation is at the company discretion. The union does control line construction and eventually PBS awards, but the actual pairings, no.

WaterRooster

What bases are going straight to a line!?!? Not happening. As a March hire very few of us have lines. Maybe with the new hiring it will change, but as of now plan on at least 6 months of reserve in most bases, probably more.

Notarealpilot

The guys that are starting beginning 2020 will not be on reserve more than a month.

WaterRooster

That isn’t something that I would promise. We do have growth and planes, but some of us are STILL on reserve.

CantStayAway

You won’t be long if you go to the junior base. Even if you don’t as FOs senior to you upgrade you will hold a line soon.

sdsunick1

You got hired right before the hiring stoped. Based on hiring projections, a new hire now won’t sit reserve long. I was on reserve for 2 months in Denver when I got hired. But there was a lot of hiring going on then as well.