Flying Ninja

Can some folks shed some light as to how commutable are the following destinations from KJFK or KLGA? Insights to parking fees, hassles, space availability at the NY airports would also be helpful.

KBOS, KPHL, KDCA, KDFW, KDTW

The other side to this thread is, how commutable are the following airlines:

Air Wisconsin
American Eagle
Pinnacle
ASA

Thanks!

ERJ135

Well , I don't work for any of these airlines but I can offer you my opinion based on my research of how commutable different places are. I am looking at the same thing too except I am coming out of MHT. PHL and DCA seem very commutable depending on weather. I would check an airline timetables. Thats what I do. Find out how flights they have per day to that destination. For example if I went to AWAC based in PHL and wanted to commute I would use US Airways because they have APPROX 10 daily departures from MHT to PHL starting from early in the morning to late in the evening. I would use US Airways for the northeast corridor they seem to have plenty of flights. As far as DTW DFW I do not know too much on those destinations.
For Airlines I have heard AWAC is not very commutable but again that is a matter of opinion, though it would probably be almost impossible on reserve. Eagle I heard juniors guys and gals are going to SJU and ORD so I would check flights their. In BOS the most junior guy on EMB was hired MAR 04 and he is still on reserve. So I would not want BOS as appealing to me as it sounds thats too long for reserve. Pinnacle I don't kow much about and ASA I only know their domicle I believe is ATL so I would check flights there.

Flying Ninja

Why would AWAC be "not very commutable"? I'm assuming that if you got to fly or be on reserve on Wednesday, you fly out there on Tuesday night, no? Why is it "almost impossible" when you're on reserve? Pardon the ignorance.

ERJ135

Well, maybe "not very commutable" was not the right word. It maybe better to say that from what I hear, people that commute have a tough time with it because many of your days off are spent commuting esspecially in cases of bad WX etc. This is what I have heard from other threads. I am sure you could commute without a problem most of the time but I heard its not the best in terms of QOL. The "almost impossible when on reserve" is better said by saying that on reserve sometimes you can be on for a 2days maybe of a day off then on for four. So from what I have gathered it varies and your days off may not be in a nice chunk of 4-5 days off. Also depends on the company. I do not know what AWACS reserve is like but, if there are a few AWAC pilots out there I am sure they can give you insight. I know there is few. Once you get some seniority you can probably arrange your schedule to make commuting more easy for you.

TipsyMcStagger

The PANYNJ will sell you an off-base parking permit for LGA. The employee lot is 10E which is adjacent to the marine air terminal (sometimes called "the MAT"). The permit is about $185 annually. Just go to the main terminal, 3rd floor, room 3575 with your company ID and your checkbook. Tell them you're an off-base pilot and need a parking pass for lot 10E.

JFK is another story. There are no off-base passes available. You're better off taking the LIRR to the Airtrain if possible. You can also attempt to park on the street near the Howard Beach Airtrain station (station A) or on Lefferts Blvd across the Belt Parkway near station B.

LGA to BOS is a piece of cake. You've got the US Airways shuttle and the Delta Shuttle. JetBlue does JFK-BOS.

For LGA-DCA you have the shuttle. There are a few flights from JFK to DCA too, but LGA has much greater frequency.

USAirway's Express does LGA-PHL several times a day.

DFW is going to be to be on American from LGA several times a day with several connecting options. A few from JFK-DFW on AA too.

DTW will be NWA from LGA. You also have some connecting options. There's also a couple of NWA Airlink flights from JFK-DTW.

The following are great sites to check flight schedules:

www.panynj.gov/aviation/oagframe.HTM (for NYC flights)

www.passrider.com (for all flights)

Hope this helps.

Tipsy

fosters

It's not almost impossible, it is totally possible, BUT IT SUCKS. Why do you want to spend your days off commuting? The the point of having days off to enjoy them at home . I did it for a brief stint and hated it.

Eagle is commuter friendly depending on where you are coming from. I have a friend that lives outside of chicago and commutes to Dallas the same days of his trips.

Maybe AWAC has a skewed way of looking at QOL, but I'm digging it so far. If commuting the day before/after is SOP at other airlines, I guess I have just been spoiled here...

Short Bus Drive

I agree with this HOWEVER, don't forget Spirit flys LGA-DTW a few times a day also.

Flying Ninja

So essentially, commuting is good if you can commute same day in/out around your trip; bad if you have to commute the day before/after the trip. Fosters, thank you for the hands-on information. Sounds to me like if you're commuting, there is no QOL. That puts commuting to bed for me. Thank you all.