symbian simian

Yeah, I did. I'm lucky that my SO makes more than I do, so I can keep my total time away from home reasonable.

Other fun numbers: I have spent over 11 years in a hotel...
Should just break 15 by the time I retire. For the first 7 years I did more miles commuting than flying myself, long commute, and flew a slow airplane. I have over 2000 hours in the back of the 777.

smellson

Go to Alaska and if Delta calls within a couple years re-evaluate. Commuting sucks and anyone who says otherwise hasn't lived in base (or isn't being completely honest with themselves)....I live in base and wouldn't commute for an extra $100k+/yr. If I didn't like being home as much as possible, I may feel differently.

tommy2times

I spent a whole decade commuting. I feel sorry for the saps, sitting with their polystyrene blazers and hats, hung on the handle of their bags adjacent to their cooler lunch boxes. The gate agent, stews and cockpit crew that make you feel like you are an inconvenience to them.
NEVER AGAIN!

Aero1900

Going to Alaska is a no brainer. You're 41 and don't want to move. You're best quality of life is going to be the lack of commuting. Alaska just snagged good pay raises.... I'd go

9mikemike

There is no “new Alaska”. We got a pay raise. That is about it. We still do not have a contract that comes close to that of a “major airline”…And what we did get is still being administered by the same bunch of pilot-hating bureaucrats that make it their life's work to drill holes in and undermine the contract we do have. No doubt that you wont have to air commute. I did drive commute the I-5 corridor to both SEA and PDX for 5 years. I will never do that again. Like cheap beer and hookers, Alaska will always be here and there is no advantage gained by being in a hurry.

MtoL

We need a like button. I agree with everything here. Down to the $100k

Otterbox

I have a really good friend who did that. Zero regrets on their part. They enjoy Delta and live a half hour from the mothership.

MtoL

If moving isn’t in your future, Alaska is the clear winner by far. Sentencing your self to commuting for the next quarter of a century doesn’t make sense.

webecheck

if you know for an absolute fact you’ll never move, then go to Alaska. I’ve commuted for 7 years . Loathe it. The time lost sucks. There are ways one can quantify a commute cost into a gain however, like from a tax free state to a nice WB schedule in SFO or EWR, and some other personal agenda things like family, 2nd job, or vacation home dislocated from airline domicile. Where I have errored in life is when I’ve said “I’ll never do xyz…”, only to end up doing the opposite. So, maybe you will move one day.

the worst part of commuting is the first few years into your seniority, then it gets much better. I know people who commute from all over North America to a WB schedule once a month. Analyze what that commute saves you by making United money and not paying NY or CA state taxes. Additionally, depending on your drive distance, maybe back to back trips with an airport hotel isn’t so bad. My worst experiences have been landing after a red eye and driving or commuting. I cringe at what some of my east coast friends do with their 2-3hr drives after redeye finishes. Sure they live in base, but that’s no QoL there.

many variables, tough decision. Regardless of the above, don’t let your wife not work.

01110011

Even at the top end of the WB CA scale you’re saving like, 23k a year in taxes. I would happily pay that to get the time back lost commuting in a year. To each their own though.