Commute Required
 

How does one determine the most commuter friendly regional? I can't move to a domicile but DEN and PHX would be my easiest commutes. So out of TSA, Skywest and Compass - who has the most commuter friendly schedule and rules? I am not considering Mesa even though they are PHX. I know TSA I could hold DEN pretty darn quick but its still a commute (1-2 flights daily or a 4 hr drive).

Commute Required
 

No idea what their commuter policy is, but if it involves giving yourself multiple options for getting to work, 1-2 flights daily will make that difficult to comply with and leave you sitting around the airport for hours after you get done working just waiting to go home if you choose not to drive it. If you have to commute, try to maximize the number of daily direct flights you have.


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Yup understood -- just not an option from where I live -- and a move is not going to happen. TSA happens to be who flys into our little mountain town year round.

Probably ask on the specific airline forum about the commute policies.
In addition, look at passrider.com for number of flights between different city pairings. Generally, more flights is slightly better than a short commute with few pairings. But there is a trade off.

Thanks - I have been jumpseating for a bit for pt135 work so well aware of my options. Tradeoff of mountain town living.

Will ask each airline was hoping there was info online somewhere that I missed.

Only thing I can think of- some 737s and A-320s have 2 jumpseats.
Look at own metal, but understand that may change for regionals.
Consider temporary relocation until you can hole commutable lines. Mountains don’t matter if you can’t see them because you’re working.

The regional which flies to your hometown is not as significant as which major they work for... regional flying can and will be shuffled around from year to year.

If it's United for example, and you work for any UAX regional you would have elevated nonrev and JS priority on any other UAX regional which happens to get assigned to fly to your town.

While this is true, but I will disagree about fully disregarding which metal ie regional is operating in and out of your town. (This was a big driver with my decision a couple years ago which paid off big dividends).

All else being equal, the best commute is on your own metal of course (assuming you have travel privileges on that brand, if not you'll be last priority for cabin seats, although typically first for the jump).

This isn’t going to be popular but I would consider doing something else. There is no guarantee of mainline and the thought of being at a regional and commuting until age 65 is not pleasant.

There's some truth here. Anyone who might not make it to mainline for whatever reason (in truth that could be anyone, but there are some pretty reliable predictors either way), should consider carefully before getting stuck in a permanent commute situation at a regional.

Factors are family situation and the difficulty, or ease of the commute.

A bad commute to a crappy regional schedule could be worse QOL than just getting a real job in the hometown.

Thanks all for the replies. I have been commuting to Alaska - so well aware of hard commutes. We are working on becoming PHX located atleast for part of the year but have a business and house w/horses thats not ideal to chase the regional world but it's just part of it. Nope, nothing is given in aviation it's why 20 yrs after graduating with all my ratings I am back at it because it was not good times back in the late 90's early 2000's. Still the best wages / advancement potential in my tenure being around aviation. Our town has been served by TSA for a number of years - UAL flights arent going to end and during ski season we pick up American flights also - plus have other airports.

I got my commuter information and seems Compass and TSA both have generous commuter policys that outpace Skywest's. Those 3 are where applications are in with interviews at 2 so far.

Although schedules can change I’d say your own metal is the right idea.

With few flight options you are especially hamstrung in the not infrequent situation of a cancellation. #1 you miss that flight and #2 the next couple days may instantly go to zero seats

You will not be enjoying mountain town living. You will be in hotels and on the road working plus spending 40 hours a month hanging around airports hoping to get on a oversold flights. Consider a temporary relocation until you have the stability and seniority to make what sounds like a very difficult commute work.
Keep in mind that most airlines that have commuter policies still require sound judgement in planning. If you have a trip Tuesday morning early and the flights on Monday are sold out or the weather forecast sucks your going to have to leave on Sunday for your Tuesday trip.

Skywest doesn't have a commuter policy... other than to be reasonable. The SKW policy worked better for me than the contractual policy at my other regional. Commuter policies are double-edged swords... unless you're commuting between two big cities, the policy criteria are often impractical to comply with. And if you miss a commute at a union airline and DIDN'T comply with policy, they're probably going to throw the book at you. Make sure you understand what YOU have to do in order to comply with the policy, and if that's even possible on your route.

Agreed. The lack of a commuter policy was the best thing SkyWest had going. Don’t abuse it and its all good.. no need to have a certain amount of flights available etc.

Yes many of these commuter policies will require you to list for two flights to get you there by a certain time before check-in that have seats available. Out of a small mountain town with limited RJ service only this could be literally impossible. Also the computer policy is not unlimited you will only get a certain number of missed commutes within a certain time before it counts against you on the attendance scale. Once you max out the scale they will fire you. Then you will have the awkward situation of explaining what happened on future airline interviews. So you can see how most of the time commuting is a very bad idea.

That's a broad overview. More specifically stuff like this....

Two flights, on airlines in your regional's partner system (so managers can verify seat availability), both flights must have open CABIN seats with 24 hours of departure, and there must be three hours between your two flights.

PHX-LAX, not so bad. BZN-BOI, not so much...

Must read the fine print before you rely on it.

Actual example of an actual regional's commuter clause:

- Two flights, which can be on any airline. You have to arrive in order to be in position at report time.
- You need to be able to reasonably get to the gate for both flights. Do two flights leave within ten minutes of each other? If the gates are right next to each other, then you're fine. Don't lie, though.
- The burden of proof is on you to show that you aren't full of it, so save your standby/jumpseat request cards for OAL commuting. Screenshots of loads or available set maps are helpful.
- Keep trying to get to work even if your second attempt is unsuccessful.
- Don't come back with the same story every week for the same flights, because you will get in trouble for that.

That being said, I do agree that two-leg to an outstation sounds like not a fun commute.

Hi all, moving to base is not an option for me but I’m only 1.5 hour flight from an outstation with multiple daily flights to DFW. I know about crash pads but how do you guys/gals who commute to get around while on reserve? When I first started looking at regional life a place like LGA seemed easier due to the availability of mass transit but what about places where mass transit isn’t available like DFW? Anyway, looking forward to your advice! Taxi? Uber? Leave a cheap car there? Thanks in advance!

If no mass transit, then you have to balance ease/cost of getting to work vs. crash pad cost vs. crash pad local (ie stuff to do while you're hanging out).

Be aware that near some major airports, uber drivers will not want to take you to the airport... they get like $4.87 for a 1.2 mile trip but the traffic into the terminal costs too much gas and time.

Personally I ALWAYS stashed a car at any base where I commuted, most especially for reserve. That gives you much better flexibility as to where you stay and improves reserve QOL ( and will also make you popular). As a lineholder I would commute in very early for late shows and then I could go do something local (skiing, biking, hiking in my case). Reduced commuting stress because I had plenty of backup flights without being stuck with 6-8 hours post-commute airport appreciation.

I used to uber from Atlantic at MDW to the terminal at MDW... They might not be happy about it but I never had a problem getting a ride.

If you’re looking at a regional, safe to assume you’re entering the industry? And just starting off the bat you are already stuck where you are and cannot move? Yikes. How are you that inflexible before even really starting a 121 career?


Yup.

They are limited as to how many trips they can refuse. But lately they will call you BEFORE they accept the trip to verify that you're not going to the airport. I guess you could lie, might be awkward though.

Maybe MDW isn't as congested as some big hubs. My experience is with west coast hubs.

Definitely could be a regional thing. East coast and west coast Ubers seem a lot more like cabs, with all the nastiness that comes with cabs. I’ve been pretty lucky in Chicago.

Most of the Uber drivers have become very slick with their techniques to avoid unpopular trips. Also as others have said, most people give the reason for commuting is because of their family. However if you commute you won’t see your family very much.

Depends on the base and your seniority.
At one point commuting to ATL I had a really cheap “airport car” and you see plenty of them in the parking lots. I had a free crash pad in my cousins basement and it gave me flexibility.
Commuting to DTW I did without a car. The few times I needed to stay there I got a cheap hotel room. $54 out the door including breakfast.
DFW I only commuted to for a few months. Hotel rooms 1-3 times per month were cheaper than crash pads.
Did ORD for two months. Didn’t have to worry about places to stay as it never came up.

Thanks for the replies and thoughtful responses!

Actually returning - I was a product of the late 90's and choose to not go into aviation for numerous reasons. Kept invovled, owned a plane etc.. Making a run at it now after testing the waters in pt135 world. We own a business - hence cant move but putting in the sacrifices. Regional is the best option for ATP and turbine. Commute aside not going to uproot everything for regional life and I have a number of good options to make it doable but will include a drive to various airports if needed.

So, you’re too good to work for Mesa?

Looks like the APC gossip board has done a number on you. Good luck upgrading in a couple of years.:rolleyes:

Lol. They've gotten slightly better, but you still have 15+ year Mesa guys jumping to other regionals. What does that tell you?

If mesa didn't suck so badly you wouldn't have alumni from DECADES ago bothering to weigh in...

They'll leave a lasting impression, that's for sure :mad:

Well if you’re at any regional for 15+ years, you’re not doing something right.

Basically, people that bash other regionals are living in glass houses.

Every regional has had terrible working conditions at one time or another. Mesa isn’t alone there.

True, but they are more consistently crappy than most...:cool:

Meh, I’ve only been here 3 months. Seems about average crappy to me.

I’ll get back to you in 6 months on my take.

Dude... are you trying to set a record for number of times banned in one year?

Who is going to run the business for you?

My business partner/wife - plus I stay involved running backend type stuff that can be done anywhere - so both of us. I currently travel for pt135 flying so we have it figured out and working on an exit strategy / it's back up if the sky falls in aviation.

The mesa diversion on this thread is entertaining. Being a product of the late 90's aviation education, I chose to not fly other than for myself including plane ownership. Stayed close enough to know all the history of Mesa and while I am not 'too good enough' - I simply choose to not go that route based on close friends that have spent time there.

I am just another person trying to catch the wave making best choices as possible that works for me. Everyone has their own path.

How in the hell does anything in my post warrant a ban? Worry about yourself.