Commuting at AWAC
 

For those at AWAC,

What is the current situation regarding commuting at AWAC? Definitely tough as it used to be (based on old posts) or getting any better. I live in Indy and was considering PHL or DCA. Early shows, late finishs?

Thanks a lot

Skull

Hi Skull! I am at AWAC and commuted out of IND from Jan to late Sept last year before moving to the burbs around DCA. Here is a snippet from our commuter clause:
I dunno how it is now, but there were 9 non-stops a day M-F between IND and PHL, 3 on Pinnacle and 6 on AWAC/Chautauqua/Republic. Saturday dropped down to about 5 nonstops, and Sunday was 7 I think. Pinnacle flights actually worked out best for me usually (one left IND at 0900 and one left PHL at 1840) and those guys were ABSOLUTELY GREAT about getting me to work and home. Between IND and DCA there used to be 7 flights, 3 NWA/Pinnacle and 4 mainline US/AWAC. Once again, I don't know how it is anymore. Try www.passrider.com to get a better idea on timing of flights.

Our schedules are not very good for commutability...then again not many places have good schedules these days. The good news is you can make a semi-early show (10am)and get home with a semi-early finish (1830) and normally have two shots each way living in Circle City. Off the top of my head, there are (at least) 4 AWAC pilots that commute out of IND along with a half dozen-ish mainline pilots. There used to be a few more AWAC FOs commuting out of IND...but they bailed to RAH earlier this year!

Lots of IND overnights now that Chautauqua has cut way back on their US Airways Express 50 seat flying...in fact I have 4 IND overnights later this month. Sleeping in your own bed always helps with the QOL...good luck!

BoilerUP,

Thanks a lot for your reply. The details are extremely helpful. I would not mind being there the night before but being able to get back home on my last day would be a big plus. Anyway, I am not there yet and let see if I can get a shot with AWAC any time soon. I will try to meet with them at the Chicago Job Fair in August .

Fly safe and thanks again

Skull

The vast majority (but not 100%) of our 3 & 4 day parings allow for either a late check-in on Day One or an early checkout on Day Last.

That depends on where you are based. I think PHL is better that way.

I am in DCA and bid very senior. Right now I have not been commuting so it doesn't matter. But out of DCA there are a lot of trips that start early on the first day and finish around 8 PM on the last day. Of course, the last day will have 6 legs and finish right around 8 PM, when the last flights out leave.

I think PHL is better for the schedules, but DCA is otherwise not bad.

I commute out of MSP, So far, in the last 2 months, I have only not made it home on the last day 1 time (although last night was a magic show, I still made it home). It all depends on what you make of it. To me, it is worth living where I want to live, instead of paying the high cost of living in our domiciles, and not really liking being there anyways.

Anybody commute out of PHL - PBI/FLL? How are the loads on those particular legs?

We have a couple people that do that, and they say it isn't bad. There are a ton of US flights a day to FLL and WN also does its share.

And that is exactly the reason I am moving back to the Midwest. Even when I am off work in domicile it's not "Home" and never will be. The days off between a trip are just waiting for the next trip to start.

Besides, living out east is too spendy.

That said, there are a couple easy commutable places we fly to which would be cool to live in:

ITH and BTV are nice surprises for the US Airways system. Both are nice and would be easy commutes to PHL.

How does a commuting pilot schedule these required flights? Is it using a pass, jumpseating, etc? Certainly you're not paying for it, right?

Jumpseating or using a pass. You just need to be able to demonstrate that you made the effort and were bumped. Any type of paper proof will do.

I don't like commuting but have found that if you make an honest and creative effort it works OK. They guys who sweat the most are the ones that take 'illegal' commutes and have the flight cancelled or something.

I only used the commuter clause once or twice and only then to report that I would be delayed, not that I wasn't going to make it. No biggie.

What is considered an "illegal" commute?

Also, since jumpseats are basically space-A, how far in advance can you actually schedule them?

An illegal commute would be, for example, only giving yourself one leg to get to work that is scheduled to arrive only 20 minutes before your show time...not that I ever did that or anything...;)

You don't schedule jumpseats in advance; you show up and hope that there are open seats in back, you're the only one requesting the cockpit JS or have priority over other interested people. Priority depends on what company you work for, what airline you are trying to jumpseat on, and your DOH.

Boiler up...do you know if there are a lot of comuters at AWAC that commute from BOS, MHT or PWM???? Just curious becuase i f i EVER get the call to interview and am hired, those are the 3 airports that are closest to me for commuting. Ideally I d love to move home to PWM.

There are a few that I know (probably a few more that I don't), as well as likely some Republic/Piedmont/mainline pilots...but with the sheer number of flights out of those airports to either PHL or DCA you shouldn't have any problem getting to and from work.

PWM is a beautiful city!

thanks for the info and yes I love Portland! Miss it everyday. See ya.

Thanks for the info.

In regard to the commuter clause, how does a commuter prove on paper that he had a flight scheduled that he was going to jumpseat on, but when he showed up the flight was full or he didn't have the priority to get on? Is it best to just use a pass that can be hard scheduled? Can passes even be hard scheduled or are they also space-A?

The best thing to do is to get a boarding pass printed by the gate agent. However, they usually will not ask for proof, because they can check the CASS system if you off line, or check your listing if you are using US.

AWAC seems like a good place to work, as far as commuting goes though What needs to be taken into account to see if comuting would be possible? Is it ONLY how many flights are available to and from the dominciles? For example, if I wanted to Commute from ORD would that be easier to do simply because the number of flights to DCA and PHL? Or are there other factors which affect commutability as well. Just curious I am a while off before being ready but, would like to live near home (ord) and was curious if Eagle and SKW were my only options.

How true is LGA becoming an AWAC Domicile?????????

Management has said repeatedly that LGA is not an option.

They also said we had a long-term contract with United in 2003, too.

I counted 11 of our airplanes in LGA at one point today...so while it may happen, I'll believe it when I read the memo about it. With the Port Authority wanting a large reduction in RJs at LGA, Republic and PSA may start to have a larger presence there with 70+ seaters.

I see, ya I was in LGA last week and there were 9 AWAC RJs on the ramp, big presence there, Boiler UP, good news Whiskey finally called me today! However I was working out and missed the call. When I called Tina back in Pilot Recruiting I got her VM and had to leave a message. I am hoping they touch base w me lnext week , we ll see.