Commuting life?
06-12-2018, 07:33 AM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2017
Posts: 171
Commuting vs. Living in Base is the Jordan vs. LeBron conversation for pilots. We love to argue it into the ground, both sides are convinced they are right.
Commuting will cost you money compared to living in base, no doubt about it. Parking, crash pad/hotels as needed, lack of flexibility to grab a quick turn at premium pay, lost time getting to and from work. It will probably cost me $5-6k in both expenses and lost revenue as a first year FO. For me, it’s worth it.
My wife is active duty military, we will probably move 2-3 times over the next decade. Because I can commute, this affects me far less than somebody with a “normal” job.
I also don’t stress over loads. My commuter clause says 2 flights, at least 1 hour apart, the first one arriving 2 hours before show time and the second one arriving no less than 30 minutes before show time. That’s what I give myself. If I make it, great. If the first flight goes out full with a jump seater, oh well. I call the company and let them know.
The commuter lifestyle is definitely not for everyone. Some people do not have the personality for it. Do you like a regimented schedule? Do you find yourself getting anxious about what will happen if your first option doesn’t work out? Do your palms get sweaty thinking about having to call scheduling to tell them that you have to use the commuter clause because getting to work today just isn’t happening? Do you start thinking about your commute home on leg one, day one?
If the answer to those questions is “yes,” then you should probably move to your base. If you are comfortable with having some uncertainty and occasionally not making it into work or home on time doesn’t fill you with dread, then commuting will probably not be that bad.
Also Ford is better than Chevy, luggage works is better than strongbags, peanusts are better than pretzels, David Clark is better than Bose, leather jackets are awesome and peppered beef jerky is better than teriyaki beef jerky. And LeBron is better than Jordan.
Commuting will cost you money compared to living in base, no doubt about it. Parking, crash pad/hotels as needed, lack of flexibility to grab a quick turn at premium pay, lost time getting to and from work. It will probably cost me $5-6k in both expenses and lost revenue as a first year FO. For me, it’s worth it.
My wife is active duty military, we will probably move 2-3 times over the next decade. Because I can commute, this affects me far less than somebody with a “normal” job.
I also don’t stress over loads. My commuter clause says 2 flights, at least 1 hour apart, the first one arriving 2 hours before show time and the second one arriving no less than 30 minutes before show time. That’s what I give myself. If I make it, great. If the first flight goes out full with a jump seater, oh well. I call the company and let them know.
The commuter lifestyle is definitely not for everyone. Some people do not have the personality for it. Do you like a regimented schedule? Do you find yourself getting anxious about what will happen if your first option doesn’t work out? Do your palms get sweaty thinking about having to call scheduling to tell them that you have to use the commuter clause because getting to work today just isn’t happening? Do you start thinking about your commute home on leg one, day one?
If the answer to those questions is “yes,” then you should probably move to your base. If you are comfortable with having some uncertainty and occasionally not making it into work or home on time doesn’t fill you with dread, then commuting will probably not be that bad.
Also Ford is better than Chevy, luggage works is better than strongbags, peanusts are better than pretzels, David Clark is better than Bose, leather jackets are awesome and peppered beef jerky is better than teriyaki beef jerky. And LeBron is better than Jordan.
06-12-2018, 07:42 AM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: B777
Posts: 586
I'll give you a little advice and its free!
I didn't know how much better my QWL could be once I STOPPED commuting! I can't live anywhere it snows, I hate being COLD. So I commuted from MCO for a good 15 years--it wasn't bad or so I thought until I moved into a southern base with warm weather.
I would have a sit down with my Wife and explain the pros/cons of both. Just understand it will cause stress "commuting" no matter how easy it is! Hotels and Crashpads suck ***!
I didn't know how much better my QWL could be once I STOPPED commuting! I can't live anywhere it snows, I hate being COLD. So I commuted from MCO for a good 15 years--it wasn't bad or so I thought until I moved into a southern base with warm weather.
I would have a sit down with my Wife and explain the pros/cons of both. Just understand it will cause stress "commuting" no matter how easy it is! Hotels and Crashpads suck ***!
06-14-2018, 05:33 AM
#23
New Hire
Joined APC: Oct 2016
Posts: 616
My wife hates cold weather, unless we are on vacation. I gladly commute knowing her and the kids live where THEY want to live. She’s also very understanding when ****** happens. If she had to shovel snow and deal with ice while I was away that would definitely create issues. Happy wife, happy life. I’ll commute for a regional, I’m not commuting once I make it to a legacy. Even that isn’t true. I’ll commute for a bit if I can get into a widebody quicker but that’s getting ahead of myself. That’s just my experiences and thoughts.
06-14-2018, 09:20 AM
#24
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,267
Ok so here is the secret to commuting... you have to no care. You really have to just. Not. Care. You will miss rides home. You will have to come in a night early, and get home a day later. You will have extra stress getting to work. Just don’t give a crap.
The people I know who hate commuting the most... the ones most stressed out about it, are the people who do everything possible to get home an hour or two early. These are the guys that care too much. They’ll take a red eye on fedex, then grab an Uber to the terminal and RUN to catch a second leg jumpseat to get home at 1000 instead of the one leg Cronkite that gets them home at 1400.
Or they’ll take the latest flight they can they gives them 20 minutes to get off their commute and make it across the airport to check in at their gate on time.
That’s too much work and too much stress. You have to just roll with things.
The people I know who hate commuting the most... the ones most stressed out about it, are the people who do everything possible to get home an hour or two early. These are the guys that care too much. They’ll take a red eye on fedex, then grab an Uber to the terminal and RUN to catch a second leg jumpseat to get home at 1000 instead of the one leg Cronkite that gets them home at 1400.
Or they’ll take the latest flight they can they gives them 20 minutes to get off their commute and make it across the airport to check in at their gate on time.
That’s too much work and too much stress. You have to just roll with things.
06-14-2018, 10:22 AM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,656
Originally Posted by Poser765
Ok so here is the secret to commuting... you have to no care. You really have to just. Not. Care. You will miss rides home. You will have to come in a night early, and get home a day later. You will have extra stress getting to work. Just don’t give a crap.
The people I know who hate commuting the most... the ones most stressed out about it, are the people who do everything possible to get home an hour or two early. These are the guys that care too much. They’ll take a red eye on fedex, then grab an Uber to the terminal and RUN to catch a second leg jumpseat to get home at 1000 instead of the one leg Cronkite that gets them home at 1400.
Or they’ll take the latest flight they can they gives them 20 minutes to get off their commute and make it across the airport to check in at their gate on time.
That’s too much work and too much stress. You have to just roll with things.
The people I know who hate commuting the most... the ones most stressed out about it, are the people who do everything possible to get home an hour or two early. These are the guys that care too much. They’ll take a red eye on fedex, then grab an Uber to the terminal and RUN to catch a second leg jumpseat to get home at 1000 instead of the one leg Cronkite that gets them home at 1400.
Or they’ll take the latest flight they can they gives them 20 minutes to get off their commute and make it across the airport to check in at their gate on time.
That’s too much work and too much stress. You have to just roll with things.
Commuting makes those harder and I do care about not wanting to travel on my days off work. Sure, I am fully aware I chose this way of life, so I am not blaming the airline or anything, just trying to advise others that it is a lot more work and stress to live outside of base.
We are changing it though by making a move to base. We are lucky as we both have family there so it is a pretty easy move for us. I should have listened to all the people telling me to move first, I could have saved a lot of time and stress.
06-14-2018, 10:49 AM
#26
Permanent Reserve
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,677
commuting sux for the following reasons:
1. more time away from home
2. stress of commute
3. cost $$$ in crashpad/transportation
4. costs $$$ because its harder to pick up overtime
5. worse schedules because you will bid what is commutable.
6. commuting to reserve is its own special kind of hell
1. more time away from home
2. stress of commute
3. cost $$$ in crashpad/transportation
4. costs $$$ because its harder to pick up overtime
5. worse schedules because you will bid what is commutable.
6. commuting to reserve is its own special kind of hell
06-14-2018, 11:33 AM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: 767A (Ret)
Posts: 6,248
06-14-2018, 12:06 PM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,267
Originally Posted by Cyio
While I dont do any of those things you mentioned in terms of the commute itself, I do stress about getting home. I have a wife, three kids, three dogs, friends and family I want to see, not to mention all of the other engagements I have to attend or take care of.
Commuting makes those harder and I do care about not wanting to travel on my days off work. Sure, I am fully aware I chose this way of life, so I am not blaming the airline or anything, just trying to advise others that it is a lot more work and stress to live outside of base.
We are changing it though by making a move to base. We are lucky as we both have family there so it is a pretty easy move for us. I should have listened to all the people telling me to move first, I could have saved a lot of time and stress.
Commuting makes those harder and I do care about not wanting to travel on my days off work. Sure, I am fully aware I chose this way of life, so I am not blaming the airline or anything, just trying to advise others that it is a lot more work and stress to live outside of base.
We are changing it though by making a move to base. We are lucky as we both have family there so it is a pretty easy move for us. I should have listened to all the people telling me to move first, I could have saved a lot of time and stress.
That’s what I mean when I say don’t care. You didn’t make it on? Get on with your life. Those who can’t do that need to move to base or find a local job. Otherwise commuting will destroy them.
06-14-2018, 12:35 PM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,656
Originally Posted by Poser765
Totally get that. None of us want to be at work and away from family more than we have to be. You just have to go with the flow. Don’t make it home the night you finish a trip. Just relax... it sucks,I know, but too many people let it ruin their day. I’m talking ready to throw trash cans out the window mad. Just chill... that’s how you get an ulcer.
That’s what I mean when I say don’t care. You didn’t make it on? Get on with your life. Those who can’t do that need to move to base or find a local job. Otherwise commuting will destroy them.
That’s what I mean when I say don’t care. You didn’t make it on? Get on with your life. Those who can’t do that need to move to base or find a local job. Otherwise commuting will destroy them.
06-14-2018, 01:15 PM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,401
Originally Posted by Poser765
Ok so here is the secret to commuting... you have to no care. You really have to just. Not. Care. You will miss rides home. You will have to come in a night early, and get home a day later. You will have extra stress getting to work. Just don’t give a crap.
The people I know who hate commuting the most... the ones most stressed out about it, are the people who do everything possible to get home an hour or two early. These are the guys that care too much. They’ll take a red eye on fedex, then grab an Uber to the terminal and RUN to catch a second leg jumpseat to get home at 1000 instead of the one leg Cronkite that gets them home at 1400.
Or they’ll take the latest flight they can they gives them 20 minutes to get off their commute and make it across the airport to check in at their gate on time.
That’s too much work and too much stress. You have to just roll with things.
The people I know who hate commuting the most... the ones most stressed out about it, are the people who do everything possible to get home an hour or two early. These are the guys that care too much. They’ll take a red eye on fedex, then grab an Uber to the terminal and RUN to catch a second leg jumpseat to get home at 1000 instead of the one leg Cronkite that gets them home at 1400.
Or they’ll take the latest flight they can they gives them 20 minutes to get off their commute and make it across the airport to check in at their gate on time.
That’s too much work and too much stress. You have to just roll with things.
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