RDM to PDX or SEA?
 

I'm retired army considering starting a 121 career at Horizon. I haven't applied yet, but I'm just running some hypothetical situations to get a feel for it. I live close to RDM, and if offered a job, I realistically face these options:
1. Take the Q and drive to/from PDX (approx 3-4 hours depending on weather)
2. Take the Q and commute from RDM-PDX
3. Take the jet and commute from RDM-SEA
4. Take the jet and move to SEA area

My first priority is QOL (time at home) as I have two young kids. I see there are multiple daily flights between RDM-SEA, but I don't know how that translates to effective commuting based on other variables. Can anyone making this commute chime in please? Any other advice for me? Thanks!

Pass rider:

https://www.passrider.com/reservations/advanced-search/

Actually shows more flights to SEA than to PDX, although some of those are Compass. I love Redmond, but it isn’t the most connected place in the world and winter driving can be iffy. Actually MOVING to the SEA area with current house prices is sort of iffy on FO pay unless you retired as an O-5 or above. But depending on your plans, there is a middle ground. Take the ac of your choice and move to north of Kalama and south of Tacoma along the I-5 corridor. Property is generally reasonable there and you can take call at home while being able to reliably get to either PDX or SEA while on call. Of course you’d have to pay sales tax but you’ll lose having to pay state income tax.

You will have to learn to pump your own gas though.

Thanks for that link. I hadn't seen that one yet.
You posed an interesting idea, but I worry about being that far south and sitting at home on reserve out of SEA with the traffic on the I-5 corridor. There are definitely areas around Seattle out of our reach financially, but we could do Tacoma or Gig Harbor without stretching too much.

You get a lot of RDM overnights in the Q. I don't know what the future brings

I'm on the Q and based in MFR (by choice...more or less). I drive from the Sac area ~ 5 hours. When Winter driving gets iffy, I fly (2 legs, SMF to PDX or SEA then MFR). I have a good guest room setup for the 5-6 nights per month I'm in base (or an early morning show the following day).

I'm former Army, I've got a little kid, time at home is precious, and the automobile gives me flexibility to get to work on my own schedule while hauling a lot of stuff.

I'd consider staying put in Redmond and driving. Fly when the weather turns bad. Suck up those first few months of reserve time with a crash pad. Crew rate at the Shilo is ~$60. Bask in the glow of your small children.

Keep as much normal as you can. Moving to Seattle sounds crazy to me; disruptive, expensive, and burdensome.

All true, unless the ultimate plan is a career at Alaska. Be nice to live in base during junior years as Regional FO,Regional Ca, Major FO, and Major Ca.

That's a LOT of sitting reserve and there's better QOL if you can do it in base. And if you can solve that problem with one move....

Redmond commuting for a line holder, especially a senior line holder, would be a lot easier.

Thanks for your responses. My ultimate goal is not necessarily Alaska. I'll be casting a fairly wide net when the time comes. That being said, we don't want to move more than once if possible, and the PNW is our preferred location.

After more thought, I think staying put for now is probably the right call. That's the only decision I have to make in the next two months based on factors not discussed. It appears that commuting from Redmond to either PDX or SEA are both viable, and that decision can wait until I have an offer from Horizon, which I don't take for granted. After all, I haven't flown in over two years and a Horizon recruiter told me recently not to bother applying until I meet the recency requirement. I have a little work to do!