I’ve read the posts, I’ve watched the videos, I get it - commuting sucks! BUT......does it always suck? Is there anyone out there willing to share their experience of how it’s really not that bad for them? Sure, commuting half way across the country is probably a never win situation, but what about people who are one non-stop 90 minute flight away from their base? Can it actually be a livable long term arrangement in some cases, or will it always eventually burn you out and make you want quit and become a car salesman? (no offense to car salesmen). It’s obviously not ideal, but for some (i.e. me) it’s the only way they’ll be able to do the 121 thing, because moving may be completely off the table. Just looking for someone to say “it’s a bit of a pain, but it’s not that bad under the right circumstances”. If there’s no one that can say that, I guess my question is answered.

Yes, I positively hate it.

I can say it. Commuting isn't easy, but a good commute isn't hard. The key is to have more than one airline that flies the same route. That generally increases the number of early flights from home and late flights to home, which in turn minimizes the number of nights that you're not home.

On the flip side, a crappy commute can be a QOL killer. Measure carefully.

I believe your level of suck while commuting is directly proportional to your seniority level, how long your commute is, if you have direct flights, and the frequency of those flights. For a while I commuted from New York to LAX. The flight was long (which sucked), but I had great seniority so I bid schedules that worked for me (so I never had to take red eyes) and my schedule allowed me to commute in a way to maximize my time at home. Also, there is so much frequency on that route there is just about a flight every hour or so I never had to worry about missing a flight because there would be another boarding a couple of gates away. On the other hand if you live in Florida and have to commute to one of the smaller regional bases like e.g. TYS, DAY, insert small Midwest city here (so you have to two leg it through a hub) and you were commuting to reserve (so most likely you were having to leave a day early and get back a day late) then you are most likely wanting to gouge your eyes out after a couple months as you are sitting on a CRJ jumpseat for the 4th time in a row.

Commuting is no fun, but living somewhere that you aren’t happy isn’t either. Living in base is great if you like where you live, but if you wish that you were somewhere else the minute you walk in the door, commuting is worth it. I wouldn’t be happy living in any of our bases, so I commute.

HA!! Yeah, but tell me how you REALLY feel :-)

My commute is about two hours each way non stop. I've been doing it for 5 months now and it does start to wear you down a little. It hasn't been as bad as everyone makes it out to be from my experience. Try to get a base that has more than one airline operating to it. I have two different carrier options. Next look at the company you are interested in and see what the reserve call out periods are. Most commuter clauses are somewhere along the lines of you need at least two flights to get you in before the report time to be protected. If you can get a base that allows you to have multiple carriers that gets you two flights prior to reserve report times then you know you are at least protected if something doesn't go as planned.

Commuting during the holidays suck so it all comes down to the jumpseat. It also sucks if you finish a trip late and there are no more options to get home till the following day. If you go into it knowing it won't exactly be fun and that sometimes crap happens and you'll get stuck not getting home at the time you thought you would etc. then you'll be set.

Commuting always sucks.

The *degree* of suck is highly variable depending on the circumstances and needs to be weighed against the benefit of living where you want to live. Or where you need to live if you have family circumstances, spouse's job, etc.

The funny thing is, commuting is actually easier if you DON'T have family... takes a lot of the stress out if you have flexibility coming and going, without the pressure to be home at a specific time.

Commuting just for a few years aged me, I joke about it but I’m sure the stress was the reason I went from a full head of hair to now mostly bald . I stressed about it more than most, especially after missing a commute at OO and getting the hammer laid down on me. When I got to Horizon I still had to commute, I pretty much burned 1-2 days off a week, those add up when you only have 11-12 days off a month. When I ended up based where I lived, life got a lot better and I actually felt rested between trips.

Now I chase the home based gigs, not as much money but I can still live where I want. The no stress commute is worth more than large stacks of money. Currently in ACMI and it has been the best QOL I’ve had yet as a professional pilot.

It isn’t fun but at the same time it’s a great privilege. This is one of the very few professions you don’t have to relocate for. I would so much rather do the commute I am doing now than live where I am based anyways. The length of your commute and the frequency of flight options usually determines how good / bad the commute is.