Commuter Clause Question
 

Situation:

1) Nonstop to CLT leaves at X arrives Y
2) Connection to CLT leaves at X-1h arrives Y+1h

You list for both flights. Does commuter clause require you to get on the earlier flight? (i.e. Y+1 is the time that you are safe to assume as arrival time to the airport)

Both have to be scheduled to arrive to CLT at or before 30 minutes prior to 1st flight departure (doesn't matter if it connects or not).

Right, but does this obligate you to take the earlier, longer connection flight because it leaves first?

You have to present yourself on the first flight and try to get on that one, yes. Only if you don't get on that one you can take the second one. And if you don't make it on the second one you are then covered. If you only present yourself on the second one and don't get on you are NOT covered.

On a similar note, I was looking for the commuter clause the other night and could not find it... What is the source for that policy?

I believe it’s in the pilot employee handbook.