I'm getting close to my mins and looking for a regional to start my 121 career with. Obviously, with the current environment a qualified pilot has their choice with the regionals. Originally I was planning on commuting (2hr drive to ORD hopefully followed by a one-leg commute anywhere), but the further I look, I see everyone says move to base if possible. Commuter policy could be the make or break for me on airline choice. A crash pad is not on my list of options right now, but if it comes down to it, I'll make it work. Some regionals are trying to eliminate crash pads by giving four hotels a month. Is this enough to merit a commute without a crash pad. I'm having a hard time deciding what the best course of action is here. Any serious advice on this would be well-appreciated.

 

You live a 2 hour drive from ORD? Then choose a regional with an ORD base. End of story. Commuter policy or no, you will hate life trying to commute out of ORD in the winter, the summer, spring break, etc. With plenty of choices, there's no reason to apply anywhere that doesn't have an ORD base. Trust me...

 

Yep... Just make the 2 hour drive to ORD for work. I make a comparable drive and really it's not that bad. It's leaps and bounds better than trying to fly to work.

 

Skywest has a junior ORD base. I would kill to be able to drive to work. I'd take a 2 hour drive over the 50 minute flight I'm doing now on my commute. Your car always has a seat for you and never leaves without you.

Other airlines with ORD are TransStates, HoJet, Expressjet.

 

If you can drive, DO EET. There are way too many carriers with an ORD base to consider commuting. And yes, I realize that any carrier can close a base at any time. Unfortunately, unless someone here can predict which one it will be, you just have to go with the information out there at the time.

Envoy, Republic, Skywest, Trans States, Go Jet, and ExpressJet have ORD bases.

Out of curiosity, which direction are you driving to ORD from? Construction along 90 from 290 to Rockford is complete so people who drive from the west have it a lot easier now.

 

A commuter policy does not cancel out the suck that is commuting, it may take the edge off financially, but it is still a reduction in quality of life spending 4-8 days just traveling to work in a month!

Or put another way, with or without a commuter policy, commuting still sucks. If you move to base your quality of life is instantly better.

To further illustrate, many people feel strongly about not commuting where they-
1.) Pick an airline based on where they live
2.) Move to base
3.) Stay reserve or don't upgrade just to stay in base
4.) Stay their entire career at a regional because of a base

If you are married with kids, living in base may be more important than money.

If you are single or just married and insane, you can commute and chase flows and fast upgrades, less quality of life arguably but nothing is perfect.

 

The only thing, is that a 2 hour drive might be cutting it VERY close when you are on reserve and you have a 2 hour call-out. Also, on reserve, it isn't that uncommon to fly a leg and back and be released to the next call out. So you will have to drive 2 hrs back home. And do it again tomorrow.

 

It would not be ideal but consider the alternative. Fly in day prior, hang out in crash pad until getting called, fly your leg, go sit around in crash pad.

OR, be at home, they call you. Sure you drive more than you flew but you get to go back home.

That is why chosing an airline with decent reserve rules or ability to control schedule can help. Envoy's commuter hotels apply even if you are not a commuter. Take your case - lets say winter in chicago happens as it always does and you time out around 1AM. They put you into 10 hours rest with a 9am sign in. True driving home to drive back would suck. Cash in on your hotel in this one case. (Not saying envoy is the best but it is indeed one benefit here).

 

Get a place maybe a little closer to ord and apply to Skywest. I still don't get all
These people that say commuting won't be so bad. It is

 

I commute, my entire 121 career has been commuting. Reserve with Mesa, have been able to commute in the day of, and commute out the day of 95% of the time. Never had to use our good commuter clause. I have a 2.5 hour commute. It is stressful at times but not horrible. QOL is always better however if you live on base.