I'm ready to start applying to the regionals. I will be commuting from Tampa. Trying to figure out which domiciles would be best to commute to based on flights from here.

If there where 3 flights a day non stop to a base, is that good? Or do you commuters think more options would be needed to make commuting easier? Ease of commuting is one of the biggest factors I'm looking at. (Not the most important, or I'd be applying to Silver)

Thanks for any thoughts

Would be helpful if you told us the domicile you are looking at commuting to. I know several pilots who commute from TPA to NYC for Endeavor.

Where are you looking at where there are only 3 flights a day from Tampa?! Tampa is a major market. I'd choose a carrier with a base somewhere with 10+ flights a day on multiple carriers. I know it's a bad example cause there are a ton of commuters from FL but Atlanta has 18+ on Southwest and Delta and you could find similar at other east coast hubs like NYC, PHL and CLT. Even Chicago would be great.

Im specifically talking about IAD. Air Wisc has a base there. I just sent in my apps to Endeavor and PSA, thinking about adding AW and Piedmont to the list as well.

Don’t they have a Chicago base too? That would probably be a much easier commute.

From what I've heard also a more junior base (better schedules).

I'm looking at 10-11 direct flights daily for a commute, about a 90 minute flight (gate to gate). Hope it isn't too bad...

Sounds good! Hopefully not hub to hub. Something like DEN SFO can be horrendous.

TPA-IAD looks like it could be a tough commute.
There are only 3 available flights, but luckily they are on your mainline partner. However you have plenty of senior mainline people who commute on the route.
As an example today flight #1 is showing only 2 seats available with 7 people competing for them, #2 is showing -1 seats available with 4 people trying to get on. And #3 is showing -8 seats with 3 people trying to get on.

I make the MCO-IAD run and we normally have 4 direct flights a day, (3 in the low season). It would be difficult commuting had I not had the option to get on Jetblue going to DCA.

Speaking of which, there are 7 flights TPA-DCA on other carriers.
So it might be doable after all...

How in the world do you check availability like that?

I’m hopefully about to get started in the 121 world and will definitely commute. I do have 2 “local” airports but they’re far enough apart I’d have to commit to one on any given commute. (VPS primary and PNS as a backup.) I would have assumed ATL would be my goal for quickest commute and a drive option if absolutely required - but I’m not sure?

It’s been mentioned that there are usually open seats on the ATL-VPS trip, and multiple options per day. But I haven’t seen any info with the fidelity you mentioned above out of TPA.