Can we clarify about the driving commute times. Are we talking leaving your house to the parking lot, or including walk / bus from parking lot to KCM / TSA to gate?

4-5 hour drive each way? Naw.... get yourself one of these instead:

https://www.vansaircraft.com/wp-cont...2048x1536.jpeg

Where in this country is within 5 hours away from a major hub and also 5 hours from any Fedex, UPS, or pax destination?

I've started driving 4-5 hours to my base vs an online commute. Door to door, its about the same amount of time, and my personal stress level is way lower not having to worry about getting a seat. It doesn't hurt that I have a nice comfortable car, and it has an "autopilot" that reduces a lot of workload. I've also broken up the drive with a stop for a meal, or a quick walk around a rest area to get the blood moving again. I'll probably fly from time to time, especially in the winter when loads are lower and there aren't flocks of thunderstorms that shut down the NYC area.

I once met a FA who drove two hours just to start a two-leg commute 😱 She lived in some remote part of Washington state and had been doing it for years. Worst commute I've ever heard of.

Honestly, if I had a schedule that allowed doing the drive 2-3x per month, a 4+ hour drive really doesn’t sound as bad as commuting via jumpseats. Sure, seniority and getting decent trips will also help immensely, but I wouldn’t just rule it out as a viable option. But, as others have said, I guess it depends on the person.

Have you thought about obtaining a light single to make the commute? There are obviously heavy costs to that, but it would sure make the commute bearable.

Yikes!

"Once you get used to it, it's really not that bad!"
:D

To the OP: Can you give us some more info? Like roughly what does your Corp gig pay? How much of a $ shortfall do you feel you have? How much time left do you have? Are you willing to do ULCCs? You say your QOL is great, what does that mean to you?

It could be you have unrealistic expectations for the pay/QOL differences between Corp and the airline world.

I have a few acquaintances that fly Corp and what they laud as good QOL sounds horrid to me, while what I consider good QOL sounds equally terrible to them.

I currently do a 3.5 to 5 commute by car (traffic depended). My limit is about 4 hours with traffic then it gets real annoying. It’s rough coming back on a Long Haul flight too. It’s has been less stressful then trying to commute by air plus it’s nice having car in base so that I can head to my family’s place in base as well.

The key that makes it better is to stick my work days together and days off together to minimize driving. Last month was brutal being on reserve and not having the coverage really remake my schedule as desired.

But if I had to choose, option 1. I refuse to drive long distances to take a commute flight. You would be in base with option by the time you drive to the commute airport, park, go through security, wait to get cleared for a seat, board, taxi, fly, land, and finally deplane….

Fly for an ACMI operator with home basing.

Problem solved.