I have yet to meet anyone who enjoys commuting. If you take your local base, you expect to spend $255 per month on gas (a reasonable extimate). If you commute, expect to pay that much or more for a crash pad. Don't forget you will need transportation from the crash pad: at the least, bus fare; at the most, a "transportation special" car. And you have to get to the airport you are commuting FROM: either catch a ride, take the bus, or pay parking. I have asked a few guys how much they figure they spend on commuting. The cost ranges from $400 to 700 per month. OUCH! Taking a job that pays $2 more per hour and requires a commute could cost you in the long run.

About the cost of driving, keep in mind that how many times you drive to/from base has much to do with the kind of schedule you get (after you get off reserve). If you can get 2 day trips, your driving would be cut in half; 3 days, one third.

 

Ya'll are calculating this money thing and driving/commuting way too much! All those numbers give me a headache

And for the record, I personally know of one Captain (I have flown with her several times) that actually does enjoy commuting...

 

Does she smoke crack?

11 years in the 121 airline business and I have never met anyone who, "Enjoys" commuting! I know many pilots (I am one of them) who drive over 100 miles each way to work to avoid commuting. Even at Majors with decent schedules. Gas and tolls suck, but knowing your car is waiting for you when you are running late on that last leg home is priceless. Not to mention sleeping soundly in your own bed the night before a trip instead of tossing and turning wondering if you will get bumped off some RJ flight to work. Crash pad and out of domicile parking costs easily make up for the cost of gas anyway unless you are driving a Peterbuilt to work!

If you have to commute.. avoid anything more than one leg and RJ's (especially 50 seaters) like the plague! If you have to rely on either of these to get to work you will have to be so conservative with your commute that you will never see your family or friends anyway. If you are not conservative on a one or two leg RJ commute, I promise you you will miss trips and end up in the chief pilot's office. You might even find yourself on the street especially if the company gets a little fat on pilots during the downturn. Try explaining a termination on your next interview.

Pick a decent company in case you get stuck there for 5 years, (or 9 like I did) and avoid commuting if possible, especially on RJ's. (or older props)

Good luck!

 

Pretty rare I'd think. However I enjoy my current commute to a certain degree... I bid afternoon shows, fly in on the early-morning flight, and go skiing. Then I go to work later. If I get a layover in-domicile I can usually get in a half-day or a few hours too.

This works because there's no skiing where I live, I really like to ski, and my domicile has several good resorts. Also it's stress-free commuting because I leave so early that there are several backup options if I don't get on the first flght.

 

APC is reporting that Eagle just dropped thier accepting applications to 350/50, but american eagles web site still shows 400/50. Anyone know if there is truth to this?