jimf15e

I should start indoc in August and we're thinking of moving to upstate NY - lots of family there. It's a 2.5 hour drive to EWR via the thruway. Definitely too far for a reserve commute (esp new hire) but otherwise would a drive like this be considered "in domicile" vs commuting for QoL purposes long-term? There's also a decent handful of ALB-EWR flights per day. I like the idea of staying at EWR since not many others want to!


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pilotgolfer

That's an easy commute. I've made the drive to Albany at different times of day, and it's very reasonable. Forget flying...its a nice feeling to know you can come and go when you want to by jumping in the car. Short calls will be a bit tight, but you can always claim the traffic was bad.

cadetdrivr

Absolutely, IMHO.

You'll be pulling in the driveway while your flying partners who commute are boarding their next flight home.

As long as you are OK with doing the one-way drive 8 times a month (give or take) it should be manageable.

MiLa

Being based and Newark and being able to drive will be good for QOL because your relative seniority in seat will progress much faster. I believe on the 737 guys are holding lines within 6 months. As a reserve you start out on long call which is a 13 hour call before push (12 to report time). The only issue you would have being 2.5 hours away is if they convert you to short call. The call out time on short call is 2.5 hours and in your first year you don't want to push it. You could drive to some place closer to EWR or all the way there for the days you end up with a short call... There are some strategies to help avoid short calls if you really want to avoid them. I'm in ORD so I can't speak for EWR but lately I've had good luck with aggressive pickup. If you are picking up trips, they can't convert you to short call. I am a traditional commuter (fly to base) so this is beneficial for me bc it gives me a little control of my schedule and I have only done 2 short calls in the last 6 months. The downside is that you end up working a lot more (which also means more $ if you go over guarantee)... It all depends on what you want but IMHO I think being based in EWR and having a 2.5 hour drive is very doable!

404yxl

If your really worried, just find a nice park 30 minutes from your house, bring a book, and hang out until they can't use you anymore. Beats worrying about going to EWR each day of reserve.

Grumble

What they said. You're right at the limit for sitting short call from home (remember it's LGA and EWR). So if you're nervous, drive down the road, see a movie, browse a Cabelas or something and go home.

sourdough44

If it's a 2.5 hour drive to EWR and you want to live near family, how about 45 minutes or so on the EWR side of ALB??

Yeah, once inside the 2 hour point, I'd lean to just drive to work.

East Aspen Dash

The ALB-EWR flight is most often delayed and sometimes Cx. I wouldn't bother with that...


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NEDude

I spent two years living in the ALB area and commuting to EWR. I agree with the driving thing. Occasionally I would jumpseat, but mostly I would drive. It is a bit far to do short call reserve and occasionally there can be traffic issues.

Here is my suggestion if you are really worried about reserve - do the crashpad thing while on reserve and still do the drive. You may spend a few nights away from home while on reserve, but you will still only be a 2:30 drive from home and you will not have the stress of trying to beg a jumpseat ride. When you get off reserve, ditch the pad.

Stud7094

Drive it. This is a no brainier. I drive from central mass 3 hours to ewr f lot. On short call I would drive 1 hour and read a book grab a coffee and even a movie. You have all the control when you finish a trip at 10 PM and can still go home. You might actually find your days off will be the ones you bid for as xommutabily isn't a priority. Just an example. I am 85% gline on ewr756 and can get 75% weekends off and those random days during week I need for kids stuff. It has made my home life better by driving. No stress about flights or delays or anything. Great time to decompress after a trip so when you arrive at home the job is behind you and your life is in front of you. Congrats and welcome.