60+ here. Only regional I've ever been at is Eagle for 20+ years. Only commuted a few times and it is a horrible thing. It's been a fine life. Wish I could have moved up to the majors but I make around $130k, which is plenty for me, and my schedule is good - it used to be amazing until Doug and Tonic started taking away all of our mid day flying and creeating crap schedules for all!

 

I'm not over 50 but I'm over 40. I'm a so called hobbyist. I made my money in another field and then sold my business. Also, I am previous 121 from when I was much younger.

 

When you guys are saying the commuting is horrible, are you talking multi leg commutes, across the country commutes, etc? Wouldn't seem like a short (1hr) one leg commute on company metal would be soo bad, esp when there are multiple flts a day? Just asking from having no experience doing it.

 

I would say that is a fair statement. Single leg one hour commute on mainline metal 10x per day.

 

I'm 48 next month. Spent 20+ years in engineering. 6 figure income. Quit and went to ASA when I was 43 at 20k/yr. Best job I have ever had, but I could go back to engineering and 6 figures tomorrow if I wanted to, so I don't live with the same concerns a lot of guys have. Also, my kids are grown and I saved a lot when I made a lot.

 

From someone that DOES have experience commuting, 15 years and still going. As well as been through SEVEN domicile closures, and been in 9 different domiciles.

FIRST OFF, ALL COMMUTES SUCK. What you are outlining above simply means a less sucky commute. But here's a few possible scenarios/contingencies to consider that MIGHT pan out;

1) If there's a lot of commuters that are offline, THEN mainline partner hands over said route segment to ANOTHER regional provider, that can suck.

2) Mainline partner decides to drastically cut the schedule between said cities. And even though it's "company metal", NOW you're having to spend MORE personal time commuting. You're now waking up to catch the 6am departure to make a 12 noon show, to fly 5 legs, and you wont get to the hotel till midnight. Because there ISN'T another/later flight that can get you there before noon. But at least you spent a night in your bed.

3) Mainline partner decides to downsize said domicile and you get displaced out of said domicile. And NOW you are commuting to ANOTHER domicile that DOESN'T have hourly service, on your own metal. There MIGHT be a slight chance you can get back to said domicile, maybe not.

4) Said domicile for said regional is extremely senior, and a new hire CAN'T even hold it, for years.....

5) Mainline partner decides they are done with your regional provider in said mainline hub, and completely shuts down the operation. Now that hourly service, on your own metal, once an hour is............GONE. Along with the domicile.

I'm pretty sure that in my seven base closures, I've experienced a majority of the above.

In theory, yes. In the above situation, I did hub to commutes 4 times. 10 flights a day on "mainline metal" is nice. Till they start canceling, and snowball effect happens. You show up for the 8am, but the 6am canceled, and ALL those JS'ers and Non-revers are all waiting at the gate when you start waltzing up. Especially if the 6am was a wide body (high capacity) aircraft.

OR, there's simply a metric crap-ton of mainline commuters that are commuting to the OTHER city simply because the home city DOESN'T have wide body seats/int'l flying. So all those super senior guys commute, and their hire/pass travel boarding dates are in the early 80's. NEVER MIND all the FAs/pilots taking what few open seats are left in the back. And the FAs have boarding dates in the early 70s.

 

This is all very true.

 

If it gets to be too much, I just call in sick and try again another day. I try and sound concerned on the phone.

 

Don't sell yourself short by calling yourself a hobbyist. You are still young enough to make it a career.

I am considering waiting 1 more year before making my move. I am planning on being just as involved with the union side of things as any other pilot.

 

Well hopefully there aren't a lot of commuters from MEM to CLT or BNA to CLT...That's my only option at the moment due to family situation. I still have a 2hr drive to one of those two airports. With that said, there are 4 guys in my hometown that work with 3 different major carriers. They have all commuted 99% of their careers, and they all say that commuting is a state of mind. They said if you go into it knowing their may be days you have to go up a day ahead, or stay a day after the trip, it isn't all that bad.