Keep in mind crashpad costsl, as others have alluded to.

I've been based in LGA, BOS. LAX, and ORD. All AE, or former AE domiciles.

LAX was by far the most expensive. Sure, you might be able to find a good deal like I did. But a lot of LAX crashpads can be hot bunk arrangements are not cheap compared to the other domiciles.

The $11 or $12 fee is the least of a commuter's concerns. Crash pads will run you a couple hundred bucks a month in the Chicago area, plus you'll need some form of transportation to and from the airport. Hotels are in the $35 to $40 range. Meals are another consideration. Plan on 10 nights a month in a hotel in base if on reserve. You can commute for free as a jumpseater on other airlines but plan ahead. You can be bumped by an online commuter at the last minute. What is Eagles's commuter clause? Commuting means getting to base a day early and maybe leaving the day late depending on flight schedules and flight loads. And remember, you don't get per diem while in base.

No yearly subscription to the nonrev benefits. You pay for what you fly.

You have to show proof (boarding passes usually) that you attempted to get on two flights that will get you to your sign-in on time.

GOOD FAITH COMMUTING POLICY LETTER 05-03
1. ELIGIBILITY, NOTIFICATION AND FAILED ATTEMPTS
A pilot will be allowed three opportunities in a rolling 12-month period to miss a flying assignment due to commuting difficulties so long as:
a. the pilot notifies crew scheduling four (4) hours prior to his sign-in time or after the first failed attempt at commuting, whichever occurs later: and,
b. the pilot notifies crew scheduling after a second failed attempt at commuting: and,
c. the pilot has made two commuting attempts via scheduled air service, the later of which would place him in his domicile no later than his original sequences scheduled sign-in time; or,
d. the pilot makes one of the two commuting attempts above but due to delay enroute, is unable to notify Crew Scheduling.
NOTE: the Chief Pilot may waive any of the above requirements if in his opinion the pilot has demonstrated a good faith attempt to get to work. These provisions may be utilized by a pilot commuting for purpose of a Reserve Availability Period (RAP) or Reserve Duty Period, but do not apply to a pilot whose first attempt to commute to a flight assignment issued during his RAP or Reserve Duty Period takes place after the commencement of that RAP or Reserve Duty Period.

That is absolutely ridiculous that pilots get charged to fly to work. INSANE...

Ok, If I may inject a question in here (since I haven't figured out how to start a new thread yet) that I think should be pertinent to the topic. Is the typical schedule (other than reserve) always 4 on 3 off? I'm considering commuting from TYS (Knoxville, TN) to maybe ORD (assuming I can get ORD as a domicile). If I did this: would there be any good estimate as to how much off time I would lose to commuting? I mean like is it risky to catch an evening flight the day before i'm supposed to be @ work so I can retain at least some of the day at home or am I gonna be grabbing a morning flight the day before and losing the whole day to commuting? Hopefully this is a somewhat answerable question... i basically know nothing about anything at this point

oh... let me layer on another question: Are pilots able to claim hotel points for themselves when staying at hotels while on Eagle trips?
Thx.

I'm not an Eagle guy but I'll try to answer your questions...It would depend on the trip you have that week. If the trip shows late on day one you can probably commute in day of and not have to lose a day at home or pay for a crashpad/hotel. Just make sure you can cover your butt with any commuter clause if you need too. Same is true on the last day of a trip. If the trip ends early enough on the last day then you can grab a flight home and, again, not have to worry about a lost day off or a night at the crashpad/hotel. This is what pilots mean when they say a line or a trip is "commutable" (shows late on the first day and releases early on the last day).

Note: on reserve, this is pretty much out the window since most reserve callout periods don't have enough time between them for you to get home and get back to base in a reasonable fashion. If you are commuting to reserve, you will most likely need a crashpad. Your mileage may vary depending on reserve rules at different companies (long call vs. short call reserve, callout times, reserve pilot pickups, etc)

Short answer: Depends on the hotel. At XJT some hotels have it negotiated in their contracts with the company that they either DO or DO NOT give us points. Sometimes the front desk drone doesn't care one way or the other and will give them to you. Sometimes a little schmoozing/flirting can get you points you would otherwise not have gotten. I guess the long and the short of it is this: it doesn't cost you anything to sign up and it doesn't hurt to ask so you might as well. Sometimes you get a little bonus you weren't expecting.

Typical schedules for lineholders can range anywhere from daytrips to 4 on 3 off. The daytrip lines typically go relatively senior so you wouldn't have to worry about getting stuck with those as a junior commuter. Reserve lines are typically 5-6 days on with 2-3 off and while on reserve you'll only get 11 days off per month.

With something like 6 flights per day, TYS to ORD is a completely viable commute. Like others have said, as long as you comply with the commuter policy your ass is covered. When I was on reserve I was able to make my commute work with fewer flights per day than you'd have and I only had to use the commuter policy once because of a massive event being held in town. Because our reserve callout time is only 2 hours you wouldn't be able to head home while sitting reserve unfortunately... unless you decided to get ballsy, take the risk and run (totally possible but not recommended while on probation). Being a lineholder makes it far easier and commutable trips (trips which start late on the first day end early on the last day) are not hard to come by in ORD. I've gotten into the habit of commuting up to work the evening prior to my trip just because it usually allows me to sleep later and not have to stress about making that last flight out before my sign in time. Unless there was some serious weather there's no reason you should have to leave any earlier than the afternoon prior.

As for your last question, I have no idea, I've never tried

I posted this question in another thread and got a few good answers, i might get a few more here Would it be advisable to for a new hire on reserve to commute out of MIA into ORD?

on a daily basis?
depends on how much you want to keep you job.

I believe, all reserve lines have to have 3 days off together for 2/3 of the month, if not a 4day off block has to be built and minimum 11 days off for the month.