Buying a ticket may work well for some people. Living in a low COL city may save you many times over even if you do buy tickets, and have a much less stressful commute.

Still an awful idea if you live in NM and don't want to move. AA is better (1x nonrev or JS attempt, no $ ticket required), it's also driveable to Phoenix.

I get that paid tickets work for some people in some locations. That still doesn't take away from the main suck of commuting, which is the uncertainty and time sink of it. What if your paid ticket gets delayed and now you miss your trip? Sure, you don't get a missed trip on your record, but you still lose the pay AND you paid for a ticket. How about if you get delayed on the way back and miss your return trip? Now you still have to book a hotel and waste another day finding your way back home.

In the OP's case, working for AA makes more sense in every way. That's what I'm responding to, not the dumb replies from guys who didn't bother to even read the OP.

Unless we get positive space travel, commuting will NEVER be a nonevent. Fly for the home team. In ABQ that's AA and SWA, but even then you're still commuting. If you insist on commuting, there's not much else you can do besides aim for the most junior BES to get a line ASAP and write off thousands of dollars in expenses and far more in opportunity cost. But if you insist on living in breaking bad country that's just the cost of doing business. I've heard folks advocate for buying a refundable ticket on one airline and listing for a jumpseat on the other to hedge your bets. If the loads look great, roll your ticket back to the next trip. DEN and LAS are drivable (not to say you want to drive 8 hours routinely) but that's good to know in a pinch.

Keep in mind although the contract has commuter policy protections, when you're on probation you don't have the full protection of the contract. So if you miss a lot of trips the company can say you're not a good fit and give you the boot with zero recourse. What that number is? Who knows. I've been told by the CPO it's as short as 3 strikes of missed trips/unable to contact/noncurrent for CBT's or passports or medical expiring. Maybe they'll give you a few mulligans, maybe not. Bottom line is give your self plenty of time, know what the weather is like at the various hubs and know what is going on eith major events that make loads fill up to see trouble coming, and when in doubt go early. If/when you get sick of it, move to base and be much happier.

I know a dude at United who spends $1000-1500 a month buying tickets plus hotel costs because his 25 year seniority isn't enough to ensure a jumpseat on one of the two United flights UAL/UAX flights a day from his podunk town to base... it's okay, he'll be senior too one day.

UAL is the least commuter friendly legacy. OP is far better off going to AA. Or moving.

DEN 320

7 flights tomorrow ABQ-DEN

Shhh. Don't get in the way of the UAL bashers. They're just call you stupid lol.

‘yep… bid DEN if you live in ABQ… pretty good amount of commuters who live there but definitely doable.

Basic questions, you looking at 2 years of commuting or 30? That matters.

Do you have ownership in the equivalent of a family 'North Fork' ranch? 10,000 or so Western acres?

What about regular family ties, you and/or spousal unit?

If you live in suburbia, few ties, either side, and looking at 20+ years, I'd move. Since most go to work once or twice a week, no need to live on top the airport. Look at ORD, many are in WI, MI, IN, & a few Iowa & further, driving distance.

Now one may want to wait on the timing, for whatever reason.

I live in base, but I think the company and pilot group could have put this in with no negative impact….allow people to buy a discounted ticket say in economy but if you were going to get on anyway you could get refunded that ticket. I’d make it only between home and base so there’s no taking advantage of it. You’d probably get more upgrades or people into bases you want then to be in.

Sounds like money well spent. Stress free commuting and living exactly where you and your family want to is worth it.