Hacker15e

I have several buds who retired out of RND and intended to stay living in San Antonio while they commuted to their jobs at legacies (including guys who were at UA in IAH and AA in DFW).

Within 2 years, about 3/4 of them had moved from SAT into base. Given the large number of USAF retirees in the San Antonio area, apparently the jumpseats can be tough to get. They had to make the drive a few too many times...

A10Beav

The number of mainline flights to DFW does look good. I know some of y'all have mentioned commuting 3-4 hours and you prefer it, but I don't think I want that as a long term plan; nice back-up to have though. I drove 3 hours once a month for the last 5 years and it was tiresome after the first year. I can suck it up for another year or two with this new career, but I think I'll commute by air when I can hold a line.

Thanks for the info at IAH. Having a wide body FO earlier would be nice, so I'll look for info on DFW options. I didn't think about DAL, but that's a nice option to have if seats are full to DFW. Why do you say a 3 hour drive trumps flying? A flight to either airport would be less than 3 hours total (including driving to the field) and I can relax in the process.

I know living at domicile is easier, but I'm willing to commute as long as the fam like SAT. I'll just have to see how it goes.

Sliceback

Commuting isn't fun. You said you didn't like your three drive. But are considering commuting for a long time. And several guys have said a three hour drive is better than commuting. That gives you some insight into the grind that commuting is when a three hour drive might be less painful.

Skubajet

I would argue that having the option to reserve the J/S 1 week in advance would make jumpseating much easier. Up until about a year ago or so AA pilots could not reserve the Jumpseat on mainline AA metal. Now all mainline AA pilots can. Before that I can understand how jumpseating would be a hassle and tough to get. But now that you can reserve it, that alone would alleviate a lot of stress.

A10Beav

Ok, I guess I'll have to experience it. I've known guys who have commuted for years and live in locations where they can't drive to their hub, so that's why I'm willing to give this a try.

CLazarus

True, especially on the way home so long as you can make the last flight of the day. My record getting home is 2+25 from block in to garage, with 1+10 in the air. However, on the way to work you have to allow for delays and have backup options. I average getting to work almost two hours prior to show. For example, if I have a redeye with a 10pm show time, I typically leave home around 5:30pm to catch a 6:30pm or so flight, getting in to base around 8pm. I can leave later if the weather is good, I'm aiming for an Airbus (2 jump seats), and I have good backup flight options. Had a close call recently on a good weather day where my primary flight (company Airbus) scheduled in to base 1+15 prior to show broke at push time with an hour or so delay projected. I had to scramble to get to my primary SWA backup with no idea if anyone else was listed (a problem when commuting with them is that it is tough to check loads or list in advance right now as it is done by phone, and you often spend 20+ minutes on hold. So I usually list at the gate with them, which is first come/first serve 1hr prior). The flight left the gate 25 minutes late despite the board showing on time until push (causing me to miss my other last ditch backup on JB). I ended up being late for showtime and went straight to the gate, but we still pushed on time.

Hackerf15e put out a very valuable nugget regarding the difficulty of air commuting from SAT. I don't face as much potential competition in my commute. You really need to find out the seniority/advancement picture at DFW and maybe get some more IAH fill ins from someone based there.

A10Beav

CLazarus, thanks for the explanation, now I see where the stress can come from.

Driving option to IAH is basically I-10 only. DFW fast route is I-35, which can be high traffic, but I can also take 281 and bypass most congestion. I still need to research advancement, but DFW seems to have more travel options, even though the drive is longer.

I'm starting to consider purchasing a light aircraft as well, may as well look at all options...

CLazarus

Check your PMs, I'll try to send you a UAL Jr Man Table which I can't seem to post here. The Jr. IAH 737 FO is actually more junior than I'd expected (12551 out of around perhaps 12700 including folks in the pipeline), so maybe faster into IAH on that than I'd guessed. However, the Junior Bus FO is 12278, so maybe 6 months more senior. For advancement into WB FO or NB CA, about the only hiring guess I'd make would be 400 a year to replace retirements, assuming zero growth. We have been growing faster than retirements the last couple of years... but it is slowing down again and obviously you should never count on that or much else in this business.

AFPirate

Whatever your decision make sure you get meritorious mil plates from the Texas dmv. An air medal will get you one... That mil plate allows you free terminal parking at DFW and DAL. Pretty sure it works for any airport in Texas.

PRS Guitars

You'll find that many military guys are anti commuting. I think because they are used to being told where to live, used to living in crappy towns and used to moving, they just continue with that mentality after getting out. Personally, I hated that about AF life and that was the reason I chose to plant the flag in Denver (my hometown) and accept a commute until my kids are out of the house.

It's what you make of it (embrace the suck), it's not bad. I commuted from SAT to PHL for 6 months and did use AA through DFW on occasion (this is before we could reserve the JS on AA medal). It was somewhat painful because they used a lot of Super 80's which have only one JS and tend to break more than an Airbus. That's probably changed now...

you can easily sit long call reserve from SAT to DFW. I intentionaly bid LCR and stay home in Denver. I've missed my commute only once for a weight restricted flight that the gate agent was not at all interested in helping me get on. You'd likely make a flight and worst case you can drive or call in stuck commuting.


I now commute from DEN to CLT, it's not bad at all, I actually kind of enjoy it. Allows me to decompress and relax after my trip. I have a Gogo account and tend to be productive during my fights.

I also commute to my USAFR job, and yes...that does suck.