Commuting life?
06-10-2018, 09:42 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,030
Originally Posted by Stimpy the Kat
Commuting Life = Oxymoron
In a 30 year career I commuted for about 6 months. It was the EASIEST commute in the world Chicago-Detroit. One leg, less than an hour and, this was in the 90's when load factors were rarely above 70%. There were at least 18-20 flights/day, on 3 airlines, and that was just between MDW and DTW, let alone ORD.
IT SUCKED.
Here's the Reality for a 3 day trip:
> 2 Days before Day One - Stressing out checking loads/listing and planning. OOPs..looks bad. Better go late tomorrow and head to the crash pad. Sh!t.
> Day 1 - Work
> Day 2 - Start looking at loads/listing/planning/stressing out about getting Home tomorrow.
> Day 3 - Well...It all worked out. Great. Home. (OR..SURPRISE !...Maybe not. There goes another day. )
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Days Off
Day 1 - Relax.
Day 2 - Start looking at loads. OOOhhh...Lil' Stress there. Ignore it.
Day 3 - Start looking at loads/listing/stressing etc.
Day 4 - Damn. Time to leave - You will NEVER make your Showtime on Day 1 of work. Crash pad appreciation Night...Again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Get it?
Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
OR
Get up, drive to work, go away for a few days and come home.
Better yet, bid Turn Lines and be home EVERY night. Don't even bother to pack a bag..Throw a shirt and some socks/underwear in your flight kit just in case if you like.
You choose...It's not one size fits all.
I'm jus' sayin'.
Have Fun.
Stimpson
In a 30 year career I commuted for about 6 months. It was the EASIEST commute in the world Chicago-Detroit. One leg, less than an hour and, this was in the 90's when load factors were rarely above 70%. There were at least 18-20 flights/day, on 3 airlines, and that was just between MDW and DTW, let alone ORD.
IT SUCKED.
Here's the Reality for a 3 day trip:
> 2 Days before Day One - Stressing out checking loads/listing and planning. OOPs..looks bad. Better go late tomorrow and head to the crash pad. Sh!t.
> Day 1 - Work
> Day 2 - Start looking at loads/listing/planning/stressing out about getting Home tomorrow.
> Day 3 - Well...It all worked out. Great. Home. (OR..SURPRISE !...Maybe not. There goes another day. )
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Days Off
Day 1 - Relax.
Day 2 - Start looking at loads. OOOhhh...Lil' Stress there. Ignore it.
Day 3 - Start looking at loads/listing/stressing etc.
Day 4 - Damn. Time to leave - You will NEVER make your Showtime on Day 1 of work. Crash pad appreciation Night...Again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Get it?
Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
OR
Get up, drive to work, go away for a few days and come home.
Better yet, bid Turn Lines and be home EVERY night. Don't even bother to pack a bag..Throw a shirt and some socks/underwear in your flight kit just in case if you like.
You choose...It's not one size fits all.
I'm jus' sayin'.
Have Fun.
Stimpson
The ONLY reason why I did it was because I was single. I mean I was never home. I have no idea how or why these guys with families do it. There’s so much stress involved and you’d really have to not like your family to be able to rinse and repeat the lifestyle. We haven’t even talked about crash pads either. That’s a doozie. Bunked up. I guess it takes a certain kind of person to pull it off, if you are sick or you wife and kids, commuting might be a blessing.
06-10-2018, 09:43 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,948
Originally Posted by minimwage4
There's no way of getting around it, it's terrible unless you have a lot of days off. It's almost a different job if you commute vs actually living in base. Be prepared to be home like 30-48 hours a week as a junior pilot. Also there was a report that came out recently saying that airline seats have never been more packed full of people than any other time in history. Means lots of Jumpseats to and from work.
06-10-2018, 10:02 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,920
I have been commuting for years. My flight is blocked just under 2 hours, same time zone, and about 15 flights per day on my own airline. It’s as easy as it gets because I can book jumpseats so I never have to rely on checking loads. I work about 14 days per month which leaves me 16-17 days off per month. The good news is I always get up and back on my working days (no hotels or crashpads). The bad news is the first and last day of my trip can turn into 18 hour days which is very tiring. I also never pick up overtime and I always make sure I’m fairly senior in category so I make less money than the pilots who live in base.
06-10-2018, 10:59 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2017
Posts: 658
I just moved to base after commuting a year or so. My commute was pretty rough. The area I lived in had very few airline serviced airports within a quick drive. So I had about an hour drive, then a regional leg to a hub followed by a mainline leg to base. The only bright side was the D2T system American has when having a connecting flight on your commute. I was always top of the list for the mainline flight. Only like 10 flights a day out of the airport I was leaving from so commute in day always started with a 0545 flight out (a 0300 wake up to get there in time) then go home day if I didn’t get to my bed until 0100. That was if I didn’t have to go in the night before or leave the day after due to early show or late release.
Starting my trip yesterday I woke up in my own bed, left an hour early due to traffic (which I hit of course), and tomorrow when we block in at base I’ll be in my own bed by the time the sun sets.
I had a really positive attitude about commuting because I really enjoyed where I was living, but I doubt I could ever go back.
Starting my trip yesterday I woke up in my own bed, left an hour early due to traffic (which I hit of course), and tomorrow when we block in at base I’ll be in my own bed by the time the sun sets.
I had a really positive attitude about commuting because I really enjoyed where I was living, but I doubt I could ever go back.
06-10-2018, 11:50 AM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,180
Originally Posted by EN1990
I am wondering how bad/good the QOL is commuting to and from base in your first few years at a regional.. I am already married with a wife that’s followed me around the country in and out of the military.. That being said a semblance of stability for her would be ideal.. So commute from an area you love to live, or live in an area you might not love; at least not until some seniority?
I live in a city that I love and was born and raised in. It’s a terrific place and I’m blessed I wasn’t forced to move. My commute has daily flights to base and 5 flights a week on company metal.
With that said, you have to be smart. If your living on your family farm, 2 hours from a small airport with only 2 regional flights a day (to a hub that isn’t your base) it’s going to be pretty much hell.
06-10-2018, 11:58 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2009
Posts: 841
Commuting doesn't bother me. I don't stress over loads or give it much thought. Can't get to work? So what. Once or twice a year I get stuck at work trying to get home, and that is frustrating. On reserve you'll typically loose a half day to day each week on your days off. Ideally you live where you can easily have a commutable schedule on each end of a trip. Otherwise you'll be coming in the night before or going home the next day.
06-10-2018, 01:17 PM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,649
Originally Posted by Stimpy the Kat
Commuting Life = Oxymoron
In a 30 year career I commuted for about 6 months. It was the EASIEST commute in the world Chicago-Detroit. One leg, less than an hour and, this was in the 90's when load factors were rarely above 70%. There were at least 18-20 flights/day, on 3 airlines, and that was just between MDW and DTW, let alone ORD.
IT SUCKED.
Here's the Reality for a 3 day trip:
> 2 Days before Day One - Stressing out checking loads/listing and planning. OOPs..looks bad. Better go late tomorrow and head to the crash pad. Sh!t.
> Day 1 - Work
> Day 2 - Start looking at loads/listing/planning/stressing out about getting Home tomorrow.
> Day 3 - Well...It all worked out. Great. Home. (OR..SURPRISE !...Maybe not. There goes another day. )
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Days Off
Day 1 - Relax.
Day 2 - Start looking at loads. OOOhhh...Lil' Stress there. Ignore it.
Day 3 - Start looking at loads/listing/stressing etc.
Day 4 - Damn. Time to leave - You will NEVER make your Showtime on Day 1 of work. Crash pad appreciation Night...Again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Get it?
Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
OR
Get up, drive to work, go away for a few days and come home.
Better yet, bid Turn Lines and be home EVERY night. Don't even bother to pack a bag..Throw a shirt and some socks/underwear in your flight kit just in case if you like.
You choose...It's not one size fits all.
I'm jus' sayin'.
Have Fun.
Stimpson
In a 30 year career I commuted for about 6 months. It was the EASIEST commute in the world Chicago-Detroit. One leg, less than an hour and, this was in the 90's when load factors were rarely above 70%. There were at least 18-20 flights/day, on 3 airlines, and that was just between MDW and DTW, let alone ORD.
IT SUCKED.
Here's the Reality for a 3 day trip:
> 2 Days before Day One - Stressing out checking loads/listing and planning. OOPs..looks bad. Better go late tomorrow and head to the crash pad. Sh!t.
> Day 1 - Work
> Day 2 - Start looking at loads/listing/planning/stressing out about getting Home tomorrow.
> Day 3 - Well...It all worked out. Great. Home. (OR..SURPRISE !...Maybe not. There goes another day. )
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Days Off
Day 1 - Relax.
Day 2 - Start looking at loads. OOOhhh...Lil' Stress there. Ignore it.
Day 3 - Start looking at loads/listing/stressing etc.
Day 4 - Damn. Time to leave - You will NEVER make your Showtime on Day 1 of work. Crash pad appreciation Night...Again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Get it?
Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
OR
Get up, drive to work, go away for a few days and come home.
Better yet, bid Turn Lines and be home EVERY night. Don't even bother to pack a bag..Throw a shirt and some socks/underwear in your flight kit just in case if you like.
You choose...It's not one size fits all.
I'm jus' sayin'.
Have Fun.
Stimpson
06-11-2018, 06:53 PM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2017
Posts: 344
Originally Posted by CAirBear
Live where you want to live!!! Good god. It is one of the BEST benefits possible. Literally no one in any other career field can realistically say that. People move all the time to Corportate America jobs. Often times they don’t necessarilu want to, but have to.
Commuting may suck, and I do plan to avoid it to the extent possible but I agree you should not underestimate the value of living where it is cheap(er) to live or simply where you enjoy living, rather than being forced to move to wherever your pointy-haired boss lives and works.
06-12-2018, 07:05 AM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2014
Position: Semi-Retired...
Posts: 3,123
Originally Posted by Stimpy the Kat
Commuting Life = Oxymoron
In a 30 year career I commuted for about 6 months. It was the EASIEST commute in the world Chicago-Detroit. One leg, less than an hour and, this was in the 90's when load factors were rarely above 70%. There were at least 18-20 flights/day, on 3 airlines, and that was just between MDW and DTW, let alone ORD.
IT SUCKED.
Here's the Reality for a 3 day trip:
> 2 Days before Day One - Stressing out checking loads/listing and planning. OOPs..looks bad. Better go late tomorrow and head to the crash pad. Sh!t.
> Day 1 - Work
> Day 2 - Start looking at loads/listing/planning/stressing out about getting Home tomorrow.
> Day 3 - Well...It all worked out. Great. Home. (OR..SURPRISE !...Maybe not. There goes another day. )
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Days Off
Day 1 - Relax.
Day 2 - Start looking at loads. OOOhhh...Lil' Stress there. Ignore it.
Day 3 - Start looking at loads/listing/stressing etc.
Day 4 - Damn. Time to leave - You will NEVER make your Showtime on Day 1 of work. Crash pad appreciation Night...Again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Get it?
Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
OR
Get up, drive to work, go away for a few days and come home.
Better yet, bid Turn Lines and be home EVERY night. Don't even bother to pack a bag..Throw a shirt and some socks/underwear in your flight kit just in case if you like.
You choose...It's not one size fits all.
I'm jus' sayin'.
Have Fun.
Stimpson
In a 30 year career I commuted for about 6 months. It was the EASIEST commute in the world Chicago-Detroit. One leg, less than an hour and, this was in the 90's when load factors were rarely above 70%. There were at least 18-20 flights/day, on 3 airlines, and that was just between MDW and DTW, let alone ORD.
IT SUCKED.
Here's the Reality for a 3 day trip:
> 2 Days before Day One - Stressing out checking loads/listing and planning. OOPs..looks bad. Better go late tomorrow and head to the crash pad. Sh!t.
> Day 1 - Work
> Day 2 - Start looking at loads/listing/planning/stressing out about getting Home tomorrow.
> Day 3 - Well...It all worked out. Great. Home. (OR..SURPRISE !...Maybe not. There goes another day. )
---------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Days Off
Day 1 - Relax.
Day 2 - Start looking at loads. OOOhhh...Lil' Stress there. Ignore it.
Day 3 - Start looking at loads/listing/stressing etc.
Day 4 - Damn. Time to leave - You will NEVER make your Showtime on Day 1 of work. Crash pad appreciation Night...Again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Get it?
Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
OR
Get up, drive to work, go away for a few days and come home.
Better yet, bid Turn Lines and be home EVERY night. Don't even bother to pack a bag..Throw a shirt and some socks/underwear in your flight kit just in case if you like.
You choose...It's not one size fits all.
I'm jus' sayin'.
Have Fun.
Stimpson
Regional
Via Airlines
Charter 135
Contour - limited
Gamma Wheels Up
ACMI
Kalitta
Omni
Atlas
Western Global
There are certainly more, these are just from memory.....
06-12-2018, 07:16 AM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2013
Posts: 369
Been commuting about 2 years. I've done the 2 leg commute thing and that is nightmare fuel for sure. But now I have a 30 minute flight almost 40 options a day. It's night and day. I can leave my house and be in base in 3 hours if I'm lucky. I've only ever missed my ride home when I was trying to push it and was gonna be close anyways. I can bid for trips that aren't commutable for a lot of people. When it comes to commuting the options you have make a world of difference. Commuting is definitely not for everyone and if I could drive to work I gladly would.
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