Commuting questions
#1
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jun 2017
Posts: 23
Commuting questions
Hopefully these aren't questions that have been asked a million times.
I've got a class start date scheduled in a couple months, and I'm trying to prepare myself for what life is going to look like for the next year or so. I have a home and a family that won't be moving, so most likely I'm going to be commuting for a while.
My questions are on the details of how this works. Lets say I'm based at ORD and have a trip starting tomorrow. I'm at home in sunny San Diego. First, do current pilots have a better way to look up flights than joe blow with an expedia account? Can you see which flights are full, or how full? Can you hitch a ride on ANY airline (assuming in uniform and commuting to/from work) or just those SkyWest partners with? How do you go about securing a seat? Anything else I should know or be prepared for?
We can probably skip over all the "commuting sucks" and "move to base" comments. We've all read them before and in my case even if I wanted to move, my fiance wouldn't, and my daughters mother would be overjoyed to not have to share her with me anymore. I also happen to love where I live and own my dream home, so I will just deal with whatever joys commuting brings. Thanks!
I've got a class start date scheduled in a couple months, and I'm trying to prepare myself for what life is going to look like for the next year or so. I have a home and a family that won't be moving, so most likely I'm going to be commuting for a while.
My questions are on the details of how this works. Lets say I'm based at ORD and have a trip starting tomorrow. I'm at home in sunny San Diego. First, do current pilots have a better way to look up flights than joe blow with an expedia account? Can you see which flights are full, or how full? Can you hitch a ride on ANY airline (assuming in uniform and commuting to/from work) or just those SkyWest partners with? How do you go about securing a seat? Anything else I should know or be prepared for?
We can probably skip over all the "commuting sucks" and "move to base" comments. We've all read them before and in my case even if I wanted to move, my fiance wouldn't, and my daughters mother would be overjoyed to not have to share her with me anymore. I also happen to love where I live and own my dream home, so I will just deal with whatever joys commuting brings. Thanks!
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2016
Posts: 880
Hopefully these aren't questions that have been asked a million times.
I've got a class start date scheduled in a couple months, and I'm trying to prepare myself for what life is going to look like for the next year or so. I have a home and a family that won't be moving, so most likely I'm going to be commuting for a while.
My questions are on the details of how this works. Lets say I'm based at ORD and have a trip starting tomorrow. I'm at home in sunny San Diego. First, do current pilots have a better way to look up flights than joe blow with an expedia account? Can you see which flights are full, or how full? Can you hitch a ride on ANY airline (assuming in uniform and commuting to/from work) or just those SkyWest partners with? How do you go about securing a seat? Anything else I should know or be prepared for?
We can probably skip over all the "commuting sucks" and "move to base" comments. We've all read them before and in my case even if I wanted to move, my fiance wouldn't, and my daughters mother would be overjoyed to not have to share her with me anymore. I also happen to love where I live and own my dream home, so I will just deal with whatever joys commuting brings. Thanks!
I've got a class start date scheduled in a couple months, and I'm trying to prepare myself for what life is going to look like for the next year or so. I have a home and a family that won't be moving, so most likely I'm going to be commuting for a while.
My questions are on the details of how this works. Lets say I'm based at ORD and have a trip starting tomorrow. I'm at home in sunny San Diego. First, do current pilots have a better way to look up flights than joe blow with an expedia account? Can you see which flights are full, or how full? Can you hitch a ride on ANY airline (assuming in uniform and commuting to/from work) or just those SkyWest partners with? How do you go about securing a seat? Anything else I should know or be prepared for?
We can probably skip over all the "commuting sucks" and "move to base" comments. We've all read them before and in my case even if I wanted to move, my fiance wouldn't, and my daughters mother would be overjoyed to not have to share her with me anymore. I also happen to love where I live and own my dream home, so I will just deal with whatever joys commuting brings. Thanks!
Good luck.
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Position: 737 FO
Posts: 2,476
Hopefully these aren't questions that have been asked a million times.
I've got a class start date scheduled in a couple months, and I'm trying to prepare myself for what life is going to look like for the next year or so. I have a home and a family that won't be moving, so most likely I'm going to be commuting for a while.
My questions are on the details of how this works. Lets say I'm based at ORD and have a trip starting tomorrow. I'm at home in sunny San Diego. First, do current pilots have a better way to look up flights than joe blow with an expedia account? Can you see which flights are full, or how full? Can you hitch a ride on ANY airline (assuming in uniform and commuting to/from work) or just those SkyWest partners with? How do you go about securing a seat? Anything else I should know or be prepared for?
We can probably skip over all the "commuting sucks" and "move to base" comments. We've all read them before and in my case even if I wanted to move, my fiance wouldn't, and my daughters mother would be overjoyed to not have to share her with me anymore. I also happen to love where I live and own my dream home, so I will just deal with whatever joys commuting brings. Thanks!
I've got a class start date scheduled in a couple months, and I'm trying to prepare myself for what life is going to look like for the next year or so. I have a home and a family that won't be moving, so most likely I'm going to be commuting for a while.
My questions are on the details of how this works. Lets say I'm based at ORD and have a trip starting tomorrow. I'm at home in sunny San Diego. First, do current pilots have a better way to look up flights than joe blow with an expedia account? Can you see which flights are full, or how full? Can you hitch a ride on ANY airline (assuming in uniform and commuting to/from work) or just those SkyWest partners with? How do you go about securing a seat? Anything else I should know or be prepared for?
We can probably skip over all the "commuting sucks" and "move to base" comments. We've all read them before and in my case even if I wanted to move, my fiance wouldn't, and my daughters mother would be overjoyed to not have to share her with me anymore. I also happen to love where I live and own my dream home, so I will just deal with whatever joys commuting brings. Thanks!
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2017
Posts: 203
Honestly the smartest thing you could do is take the CRJ and go for a PSP base. I know, I know, SAN only has ERJs. You will likely get PSP before you finish training or soon after, hold a line faster, and be able to hold a CA position within a few years. Not only that, but if you decide to switch to the ERJ after your seat lock, upgrading in the CRJ will be piece of cake. You won't hold a CA seat in SAN for 5-8 years minimum unless something drastically changes.
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: I pilot
Posts: 2,049
There several other sites that people use to see what flights are available such as passrider.com. It works better than Expedia for this.
There’s no real way to secure a seat unless you pay for a ticket, since you will be flying space available. That’s the main reason why commuting sucks, because many people stress out about getting to work since it depends on a seat being available for you to get on. Many people use the jumpseat as a last resort since the paying passengers cannot ride in the jumpseat. Some airplanes have one and some have two. I have been in the situation where there were two jumpseats available but three pilots showed up to the gate and all seats in the back were taken. Good luck and welcome!
There’s no real way to secure a seat unless you pay for a ticket, since you will be flying space available. That’s the main reason why commuting sucks, because many people stress out about getting to work since it depends on a seat being available for you to get on. Many people use the jumpseat as a last resort since the paying passengers cannot ride in the jumpseat. Some airplanes have one and some have two. I have been in the situation where there were two jumpseats available but three pilots showed up to the gate and all seats in the back were taken. Good luck and welcome!
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2014
Posts: 310
Honestly the smartest thing you could do is take the CRJ and go for a PSP base. I know, I know, SAN only has ERJs. You will likely get PSP before you finish training or soon after, hold a line faster, and be able to hold a CA position within a few years. Not only that, but if you decide to switch to the ERJ after your seat lock, upgrading in the CRJ will be piece of cake. You won't hold a CA seat in SAN for 5-8 years minimum unless something drastically changes.
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2014
Posts: 310
Keep in mind commuting is not always about finding a base close to home. Try to get a base with more direct flights, better average seat availability, cheaper crash pads/hotels, and move up quick into line holder status. Commuting is easier and cheaper when you know your schedule.
I'm a DTW based, line holding CRJ captain, and live in SLC. Every week is pretty stable commuting and I can bid to come off my trips early on the last day to commute home. The DTW Delta terminal is probably the nicest in the country and easy to get through in a hurry.
Now if you stay on the ERJ, you can probably get SLC as an FO inside of a year after training.
I'm a DTW based, line holding CRJ captain, and live in SLC. Every week is pretty stable commuting and I can bid to come off my trips early on the last day to commute home. The DTW Delta terminal is probably the nicest in the country and easy to get through in a hurry.
Now if you stay on the ERJ, you can probably get SLC as an FO inside of a year after training.
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Position: 737 FO
Posts: 2,476
Keep in mind commuting is not always about finding a base close to home. Try to get a base with more direct flights, better average seat availability, cheaper crash pads/hotels, and move up quick into line holder status. Commuting is easier and cheaper when you know your schedule.
I'm a DTW based, line holding CRJ captain, and live in SLC. Every week is pretty stable commuting and I can bid to come off my trips early on the last day to commute home. The DTW Delta terminal is probably the nicest in the country and easy to get through in a hurry.
Now if you stay on the ERJ, you can probably get SLC as an FO inside of a year after training.
I'm a DTW based, line holding CRJ captain, and live in SLC. Every week is pretty stable commuting and I can bid to come off my trips early on the last day to commute home. The DTW Delta terminal is probably the nicest in the country and easy to get through in a hurry.
Now if you stay on the ERJ, you can probably get SLC as an FO inside of a year after training.
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Position: 737 FO
Posts: 2,476
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