Baron55

Thoughts and opinions?
Current corporate guy here that’s living in the middle of nowhere and thinking about making the switch to a Major. Moving isn't really an option(family, kids in school, hometown etc.). With that said I have a couple options. I could drive 4 1/2 to 5 hours and reach 2 major hubs, or drive 2 hours just to start my commute(which sounds miserable). Leaning towards the driving, but that cuts down on my options of airlines.

So what do y’all think? How far would you drive to get to work?

bluespoon

That’s a tough one. Best case scenario, you’re a line holder with a bunch of days off, it would still suck. You’re driving 5 hours to and from base. Add in reserve schedules, hotels after a long day because you’re too tired to fly or drive back etc… Outstation commuting is terrible too with limited flights a day plus you’re still driving 2 hours. I would just stick to your corporate job if you don’t want to move.

JulesWinfield

Both are bad, but option 2 depends on your specific commute, jumpseat policy, loads, etc. Getting some seniority will help, but being long call 5 hours away isn’t the worst. Once you get seniority, you can build your schedule to minimize the commute.

at6d

So couple of questions:

1. “Thinking about making the switch” why? Your corporate gig can’t pay out in the long game or schedule or your buddies are there?

2. The domiciles you can drive 10 hours round trip to—are they bases you could hold as a newhire?

3. You talked to the family about this?

WHACKMASTER

Also, it would help to know what airlines you’re considering because the fleet types available can influence how many times you have fo make the drive per month.

At SWA you could massage your schedule with a little seniority to stack two 3-day trips together and only have fo make that drive twice per month working four 3-days total.

Joachim

where do you live? Have you looked at cargo options for commuting?

MoonShot

During my 15 years at a major I’ve done a 5 hour drive to base for about 4 of those years, and a 2:15-3:00 drive to a commute flight the other 11 years. The long drive was nice from an always get there no stress kinda thing, but it was too long - by about an hour or so. The long drive to a commute stinks too. Podcasts help, but living this way for decades is pretty brutal. I’ve come to the conclusion I just have to work less and try to get done with my career earlier in life so it doesn’t kill me prematurely. I try to bid easier first/last days, but with the trips we have it’s tough to find trips that have easy days on both ends. There’s no good answer here. Boils down to work less and enjoy more time where you choose to live.

Good luck!

Softpayman

I have a tough drive as well....Beats flying but still takes a lot out of me especially after a day of flying. The goal is to be out by 62-63 for sure.

Cyio

Yeah this is a pretty crappy position to be in if I am being totally honest. I think if you can provide more detail as to which cities you would be driving too that might help, but honestly if moving isnt an option, I would strongly consider staying in the corporate world. I will admit, commuting to me is about as bad as it gets so I may be skewed here, but both of those options spell really long days on both ends of a trip, which will lead to exhaustion, not to mention the added time away from home.

Listen, lots of people do the commuting thing, I get it, but holy crap you would have a two hour drive just to start what is already a taxing process of getting to work, now you are doing it from an outstation. Think about it this way:
1. Drive option. You are spending, at a minimum, 10 hours a week in your car, but realistically more like 15 because you have to go back to start day 1 again. I look at that as a minimum of one day wasted, but if we go by work days, that's two 8 hour blocks, each week on the high end, so 4 days if being conservative and eight on the high end a month. So at best, you are losing 48 days a year to driving and at worst, 97. Even at the low end, losing a month of home time a year just in the drive portion is a pill I couldn't swallow.

2. Commute option. Well you still have a 4 hour round trip drive each time you go to work. Better than the other option by half, but still not ideal. Now you have to factor in the commuter policy rules most airlines have, which require two attempts to keep yourself covered if you can't get on, not to mention having to time things right to actually have a flight. Some smaller airports may only have 1 am and 1 pm flight a day, meaning you might have to go out the day before. You can see where I am going with this, as time quickly starts adding up and to me, that is not worth it.

I value time with my family above all else, so giving that up for a commute just isnt an option for me anymore. If I were you, I would seriously consider moving to a major city, or at least a little closer to one or stay in the corporate gig when they are responsible for getting you to the job.

Sorry to be a downer, I know others will disagree with me, but you came asking for options/opinions so there ya go.

Flyinggrill

Both of those options sound absolutely miserable. Add that up over the years (both the drive to commute and the long drive) and you’re losing so much precious time just getting to work, that it wouldn’t be worth leaving the current gig to me (just my opinion). My corporate gig had me home-based and not commuting was amazing. I’m at a major now and because I couldn’t hold the aircraft equipment based in the city I live in I’ve been forced to commute for the past year and I still have another year of commuting to go (30 minute drive to a 1 hour commute and I still hate the time I’m losing away from home). If I didn’t live in a base for my company and had to do this the rest of my life I’d probably go back to corporate flying. Luckily I do live in a hub so there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. But if I was in your shoes I would stay where you’re at until you can move (if you ever choose to).