I also understand that there is more "entitled" abuse of commuting these days. Way too many folks who think they'll try the last possible flight and then bang out if it doesn't work out. I always left myself one backup flight, maybe two on a holiday weekend. Never had an issue, not once.

If your car breaks, just get it towed and save the receipt. Nobody expects you to abandon it on the side of the road and uber to work. And I can change a flat tire in about three minutes flat, if that's a problem for you might want to practice in your driveway. And make sure the spare is inflated, the little ones lose air faster than the normal tires.

Nobody is going to be unreasonable (at OO or most other airlines) if life happens. Just don't be the guy who constantly abuses it, unlike many other jobs the whole operation comes to a screeching halt if you don't show up.

Things are much better for pilots now, 20 years ago at some airlines a probationary pilot would likely get fired for one missed commute or flat tire, so you had to plan to arrive plenty early.

 

No, it's not always simply a "choice" to live out of base. To uproot the family, have the spouse quit their job they've had for a long time, have them start a new job, and expect kids to start at a new school across the country is not easy, especially for an average paying regional airline job. If the company needs, or is desperate for staffing at a new base they've suddenly opened, they can't just expect everyone to drop everything and move in base on their dime.
That's why many, including myself, commute. I always have a backup plan, but am not moving for a regional job.

 

This is the fact of airline life. Not commuting is great if you can swing it but not everyone can. People who consider commuters callously and have no empathy for them are tools... and they might find karma is a you-know-what if their base closes after they get all nice and cozy. Fact I knew such a guy, he was so anti-commute that he constantly tried to come up with excuses to not share the jumpseat in his small turboprop. After his small town base closed he stuck to his guns about not commuting and started planning the move. Then he got his divorce papers.

 

Consumers benefit from lower ticket prices. If a town need x number of pilots then the cost associated goes up as they become scarce. A certain number of people begin pilot training because they know they can live anywhere.

 

180 seconds?..that’s almost F1 speed.
Sorry couldn’t resist.

 

I’m almost positive there’s more to his story than just one missed commute. An airline doesn’t just casually spend in the ballpark of $50,000 on training a pilot just to later fire them for something completely unreasonable.

 

Not true. They were sitting reserve in san jose and based in LGA.... when they got called out he would call in sick.. or except the trip for the next day. Then realize he couldn’t make it and call in sick... in the mean time calling every day to ask to sit reserve in SFO...

 

Stupid is as stupid does.

 

Some people choose to commute from So. Cal. to MSP. Is that a choice?

 

Also had one get fired two years ago, sitting long call in PDX based in SEA. got assigned a standup and was having trouble getting on a flight. Called the CP and explained his benefits weren't working and asked if he could help get him out of it, CP said you've had 12 hrs to figure it out... So he called in.


point is SKW doesnt fire one for a "simple missed commute" theres always more to the story.


Also knew a ORD captain sitting reserve from his home in Redmond. Every time they would call him he would call out. Did this several times until he got called in. Surprisingly didnt get fired.