Hey all, I'm looking for some input as to whether or not I'll hate myself for trying to make a 2.5 hour drive work for my commute. I'm located 2.5 hrs from both IND and ORD and 3 hours from DTW. I'm likely looking at getting on with a regional based in ORD and have been planning to make the drive, figuring that it can't really be worse than a flying commute. Am I right or wrong here? Is anyone else doing this?

No brainer. Drive. Get a soda, some music, and enjoy relaxation before/after a trip. Although traffic on 294 outside O'Hare can be murder.

My current commute (drive) is 2 hours and 40 minutes and yes, I complain about it all the time, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I sometimes fly to work, and it's so much more of a hassle.

As said above, just put on some good music, bring something to drink, and you are set.

I've never missed a show time. Been close, but I always give myself an 30-45 minutes of wiggle room in case of an accident or heavy traffic.

Thanks guys! I appreciate the great feedback.

For what it's worth, I currently work and live in DTW and I'm making the move that would put me right at about 2.5 hours from DTW and 3 from IND. At least you control your destiny when you drive.

Work your schedule so you have 4 to 6 days on the road to minimize your driving. It's vastly better than wondering if you will have a seat, and coming back home knowing you always have a seat is priceless. If you worked at a place with all day trips, it would suck.

I will likely have to commute to a choice of two towns that are each about a 4.5 to 5 hour drive away from my home by car. However, it's not all that much faster to commute by air. So I haven't done either yet as I'm a newbie, I will likely drive as often as I fly for reasons stated above. Even on long call reserve, I know I can always get to the airport on time without wondering if I'll get a seat. I'll do it both ways and see. However a 2 to 3 hour drive would be much shorter than almost any airplane commute unless you live really close to an airport.

Man, I know we are different and are bothered by different things, but that is a LONG drive and I would get incredibly sick of it very fast...especially if you are on reserve for a while and you have to do it 2 or 3 times a week.

I just can't do it. That's 4 hours of being an attentive driver which can be stressful and fatiguing on it's on. Throw on top of that gas money and vehicle mx?

a 4.5 or 6 hour drive is what a 1 hour flight? Wheels up to wheels down? Let's be liberal and call it 1.5 hours block. Through on half an hour either side for boarding and deplaning and we are up to 2.5 hours. Who knows what your drive to the airport is like. Maybe it's really bad in which case throw this out the window. If it's just an normal commute figure in a half hour to get there. What are we up to now, 3 hours? That's 3 hours of mindless time you can do what you want...read, look at porn on 4chan, try to convince that nurse to go out with you. I'll take that over driving any day.

Again, different strokes/folks and all that.

Do you commute? Because what you described is in now way close to being accurate.

First look at the commuter policy. Most people do not give them self one commuting attempt to get to work. Depending on the frequency of flights they may be 1-4 hours apart. My company requires two attempts to get to work for a CP to kick in. Secondly, you aren't guaranteed to get on. Third, weather and canceled/delayed flights.

If your sign in time was 12 and you flew to work then you would have to start your commute early that morning 5-8am depending on the flight schedules. 5-7 hours by plane or 3-3.5 by car?

Drive. Drive. Drive. No question about it. But, try not to have to make it more than once a week.

I was in a very similar circumstance 20+ yrs ago. Lived 2 hrs from ORD working for a regional carrier (8 yrs). Was subsequently hired at a major and based in DTW ever since. That was a 3.5 hr drive. Sometimes I flew to DTW with driving as a backup plan. Other times I just drove to work. Kind of a dealer's choice.

After commuting 2 yrs to DTW at the major airline, my wife and I decided to move to base. Just a lifestyle choice.