Cool story bro.

You get 15 minutes to call them back
You get 3 hours upon receiving notification for a trip assignment. "Pilot ready to push" from the union interpretation.

Notification is defined as "positive contact or self notification"

Wow, I'm in the same position. I live 1:20 from ACY and have been driving since I started. I'm actually considering transferring to DTW and commuting from EWR (I'm 30 minutes to the employee lot). The trips in AC suuuuuuck (all east coast, rarely go west of the Mississippi, mostly lame Florida overnights, etc). I already have a commuter employee parking pass for EWR (it's $72/mo, in case you're wondering). In my time here I've done many out-of-base pickups, and I'll use EWR for commuting for training and for personal travel.

I've done most of my pickups from DTW. It's an easy commute from EWR, anywhere from 5 to 10 flights a day between UA and DL. Getting a seat is easy; only had to ride the jumpseat once. DTW has a lot of west coast flying (which I love) and a lot of commutable trips. Lots of west coast flights with late starts and redeyes to end (or arrive at DTW around midnight, where I just fall asleep in the crew room and catch the first flight back to EWR).

Also, my first opportunity to hold captain, which will likely be in a few months, will not be in ACY. It's very senior on the captain side. So I'm also deciding if I want to commute to reserve.

I have a very efficient car (40mpg highway) as well. It's 166 miles round trip. At current gas prices the amount I would save on gas is more than enough to cover the cost of EWR parking (and this is just gas savings. There's also mx costs, depreciation, etc). Also hotels around DTW, in my experience, are pretty cheap and plentiful. I've gotten the LaQuinta for like $65. As a lineholder, if you play your cards right, you might not need more than a couple rooms a month.

Thanks! That helps a little. LAS is where I’ll (hopefully) be driving to.

this is 100 percent accurate. 3h 15m ready to push using cincos first example.

The only way this ISN’T bad advice is if you amend it by saying “.......although I would not recommend this strategy for someone on probation.”

Also nice to remember anyone can get a “tire blowout” at any time, once. Just sayin’

But if you want to drive and sit at Starbucks for 14 hours, go for it

Also, keep in mind it’s rare that you get called with minimum callout. I did 6 months of reserve in two bases and only got called once at the minimum callout. Most of the time, I would get tagged a day early, self notify, and turn my phone off and chill.

not as rare as everyone says. It happens a lot. Move up pay will also be offered. It happens more to Crews in FL bases. That said, folk’s prior experience doesn’t guarantee future results

What exactly is the advice given that isn't explicitly what's written in the CBA?

The pilot has every right to do EXACTLY what Cinco said.

That being said, you best be ready to push by 3:00 from notification.


Let's be honest here, the crew is never the actual reason for any delay anyway.

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So true. Even IF a delay is on the crew, I’m willing to bet there is a section of the CBA/manual that relieves me from the delay.