commuting
- Thread starter Bradooo
- Start date
My husband's first airline job was with Scenic Airlines in Las Vegas. He was dating a girl who he liked very much, and he really thought was 'the one'. He came home pretty much every week (jumpseats courtesy of America West, thank you very much). The girl decided she couldn't deal with him being gone. She lined up another boyfriend who had a 'real' job, then kicked my dh to the curb. (While it sucked for him at the time, hey, he ended up with me! So it wasn't all bad!) She's a prime example of the kind of girl who can't deal with 'the life'.
Commuting can add hours/days to your work schedule. You have to watch loads & weather constantly. Many people do this and have perfectly happy relationships. The key is to explain to the significant other exactly what to expect. That way when you can't make it home because of cancelled/oversold flights, they understand, and don't get angry or resentful. However, there are people who just need their significant other to be around constantly, and can't deal with being alone, or not being able to call whenever. You will probably date one or more people like this, and hopefully you'll not be hurt too bad by one of them.
Commuting is neither good nor bad. It is just, well, commuting!
I think there have been a few other threads about commuting, do a search here in the forums and you may find out some more info!
ps. Send the significant other to Kristi's great website, Families of Commercial Airline Pilots.org there's lots of us significant others there who can give advice on dealing with the 'lifestyle'.
Commuting can add hours/days to your work schedule. You have to watch loads & weather constantly. Many people do this and have perfectly happy relationships. The key is to explain to the significant other exactly what to expect. That way when you can't make it home because of cancelled/oversold flights, they understand, and don't get angry or resentful. However, there are people who just need their significant other to be around constantly, and can't deal with being alone, or not being able to call whenever. You will probably date one or more people like this, and hopefully you'll not be hurt too bad by one of them.
Commuting is neither good nor bad. It is just, well, commuting!
I think there have been a few other threads about commuting, do a search here in the forums and you may find out some more info!
ps. Send the significant other to Kristi's great website, Families of Commercial Airline Pilots.org there's lots of us significant others there who can give advice on dealing with the 'lifestyle'.
FL270
New Member
I have been explaining to my girlfriend for some time now what to expect with me in an airline job. She expects to see me probably no more than two days in a week (figuring four duty days and a day for the vagaries of commuting each week). Amber is right ... communication is key. Your SO has to know and understand the demands of your job. If they can deal with that, great. If not, then it'll never work out in the long run. Amber said it best ... some people can deal with having a pilot for an SO ... some can't. As pilots, that's one of those things that is critically important to figure out when choosing a partner for life.
Think too about the nature of commuting. Most pilots I know commute because that's where "she" wants to live. (Not in all cases, of course, but quite a few.) You could live in base and have more time at home, or commute and live wherever you want. Take my own example. I love Texas and would happily live there for the rest of my life. However, there are a handful of my new employer's pilot bases where I could be happy living for a while as well. I plan to live in Texas and commute for my SO ... because her family, education, and job all are there. She knows she'll see me less as a result, and has accepted it as a consequence of being with me.
Also agree wholeheartedly with the FCAPA suggestion for your SO. It's good to have a support network for the times (and they will inevitably happen) when being with a commuting pilot gets extremely frustrating.
Think too about the nature of commuting. Most pilots I know commute because that's where "she" wants to live. (Not in all cases, of course, but quite a few.) You could live in base and have more time at home, or commute and live wherever you want. Take my own example. I love Texas and would happily live there for the rest of my life. However, there are a handful of my new employer's pilot bases where I could be happy living for a while as well. I plan to live in Texas and commute for my SO ... because her family, education, and job all are there. She knows she'll see me less as a result, and has accepted it as a consequence of being with me.
Also agree wholeheartedly with the FCAPA suggestion for your SO. It's good to have a support network for the times (and they will inevitably happen) when being with a commuting pilot gets extremely frustrating.
FL270
New Member
[ QUOTE ]
Can anyone tell me what it is like to commute half way across the country to a regional airline?
[/ QUOTE ]Commuting east-to-west is probably easier than commuting west-to-east because the time changes work in your favor on the way to work. You will spend a lot more time in airports and on airplanes, worrying about the weather and the loads and whether you'll get back to domicile in time to catch that "last flight out". You'll spend more nights away from home, either in a crashpad or the occasional self-paid hotel. The quality of a commute depends largely on where you are commuting to and from.
The easiest commutes are shorter, feature multiple nonstop flights between your departure and destination airports at varied times of the day, and ideally are even served by more than one carrier. (Commutes between Dallas and Houston or St. Louis and Chicago are excellent examples of "easier" commutes.) More difficult commutes will be longer, have very little or no nonstop service, require you to commute offline, or have a heavy concentration of commuters or consistently high loads. Orlando is hell to commute to/from because many pilots live there and the planes are almost always full. This makes it tough to get a jumpseat or a seat in the back. Certain markets are difficult to commute in ... PNS-ATL is hard because many Delta and AirTran pilots seem to live in Pensacola. DEN-IAH and DEN-EWR are difficult because many Continental pilots live in Denver and commute (dating back to when there was a CO hub in Denver). AUS-DFW can be difficult because many American pilots live in the Texas Hill Country and commute from AUS.
The best advice I can give is to look at your situation once you get hired. I've thought about all kinds of commutes over the years, but now that I'm starting at a specific regional and know where I'll be living, I've only got ten possible commutes to think about, and I've already rank-ordered them. Now all I have to do is see what I'm awarded when I get to class.
Good luck ... hope this helps.
Can anyone tell me what it is like to commute half way across the country to a regional airline?
[/ QUOTE ]Commuting east-to-west is probably easier than commuting west-to-east because the time changes work in your favor on the way to work. You will spend a lot more time in airports and on airplanes, worrying about the weather and the loads and whether you'll get back to domicile in time to catch that "last flight out". You'll spend more nights away from home, either in a crashpad or the occasional self-paid hotel. The quality of a commute depends largely on where you are commuting to and from.
The easiest commutes are shorter, feature multiple nonstop flights between your departure and destination airports at varied times of the day, and ideally are even served by more than one carrier. (Commutes between Dallas and Houston or St. Louis and Chicago are excellent examples of "easier" commutes.) More difficult commutes will be longer, have very little or no nonstop service, require you to commute offline, or have a heavy concentration of commuters or consistently high loads. Orlando is hell to commute to/from because many pilots live there and the planes are almost always full. This makes it tough to get a jumpseat or a seat in the back. Certain markets are difficult to commute in ... PNS-ATL is hard because many Delta and AirTran pilots seem to live in Pensacola. DEN-IAH and DEN-EWR are difficult because many Continental pilots live in Denver and commute (dating back to when there was a CO hub in Denver). AUS-DFW can be difficult because many American pilots live in the Texas Hill Country and commute from AUS.
The best advice I can give is to look at your situation once you get hired. I've thought about all kinds of commutes over the years, but now that I'm starting at a specific regional and know where I'll be living, I've only got ten possible commutes to think about, and I've already rank-ordered them. Now all I have to do is see what I'm awarded when I get to class.
Good luck ... hope this helps.
Commuting is "ok" at best, but last month, commuting is pure "Satan Juice".
Here's an example of my March schedule:
OFF
OFF/Commute to ATL
Recurrent Training
Recurrent Training
Recurrent Training
Recurrent/Fly home
OFF
OFF/Commute to ATL
WORK
WORK
WORK/Fly home
OFF
OFF/Commute to ATL
WORK
WORK
WORK/Fly home
HOME
HOME
WORK/Commute same day to ATL
WORK
WORK/Fly home
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
Here's an example of my March schedule:
OFF
OFF/Commute to ATL
Recurrent Training
Recurrent Training
Recurrent Training
Recurrent/Fly home
OFF
OFF/Commute to ATL
WORK
WORK
WORK/Fly home
OFF
OFF/Commute to ATL
WORK
WORK
WORK/Fly home
HOME
HOME
WORK/Commute same day to ATL
WORK
WORK/Fly home
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
G
Guest
Guest
Well it is easier for you and your husband amber, as you are a flight attendant.
[ QUOTE ]
Well it is easier for you and your husband amber, as you are a flight attendant.
[/ QUOTE ]
I was a flight attendant. I'm currently furloughed.
It not any 'easier' for me than it is for anyone else, I just understand the life, having lived it myself for so long.
Well it is easier for you and your husband amber, as you are a flight attendant.
[/ QUOTE ]
I was a flight attendant. I'm currently furloughed.
It not any 'easier' for me than it is for anyone else, I just understand the life, having lived it myself for so long.
ya know.. i don't think commuting is easy on anyone, whether wife, f/a or pilot... we all understand the circumstance in a different way...but i have to admit, with myself, it's much better than living in a city you don't want to live in...
there's good & bad with commuting and you just take it as you go...I think everyone else has by far answered the question, so i really don't have anything new to add to it..
but i can say that moving around all the time makes commuting sound grand! having to start over all the time is no easy task....I dont know how the military families deal with the constant moving!
there's good & bad with commuting and you just take it as you go...I think everyone else has by far answered the question, so i really don't have anything new to add to it..
but i can say that moving around all the time makes commuting sound grand! having to start over all the time is no easy task....I dont know how the military families deal with the constant moving!
[ QUOTE ]
If you get hired by a regional, is it possible to start commuting from day one of being a line or reserve pilot? Or do regionals like you to move to where you're based out of for a certain period of time before you're allowed to commute?
[/ QUOTE ]
Trying to 'commute to reserve' is a one-way ticket to missing a trip and getting canned.
If you get hired by a regional, is it possible to start commuting from day one of being a line or reserve pilot? Or do regionals like you to move to where you're based out of for a certain period of time before you're allowed to commute?
[/ QUOTE ]
Trying to 'commute to reserve' is a one-way ticket to missing a trip and getting canned.
[ QUOTE ]
Trying to 'commute to reserve' is a one-way ticket to missing a trip and getting canned.
[/ QUOTE ]
I had a little 'issue' with commuting on reserve. It was two weeks before I was about to get furloughed again, so I admittidly had a really bad attitude, and just didn't care. I had somehow mis-read my days off, and I was supposed to be on my way to NY to sit RSV. Instead I was sitting in my kitchen eating a hot dog and suddenly had one of those "wait a minute, something's not right" moments. I was not off the next day like I thought I was, I was on reserve, and responsible to be on call. Oops. I ran upstairs to the office thinking maybe I'd get lucky and not have a trip on my schedule yet, or maybe a late show. Nope. I had a 7:30am departure out of LGA. The current time was 7:05pm, and the last flight from ORD to LGA leaves at 8. There's no way I could get dresses, packed, to the employee lot & to the gate in under an hour. So for the first time in 7 years I had to take a missed assignment.
Morale of the story, WATCH YOUR SCHEDULE! Commuting on reserve is doable, but you MUST be careful! Thankfully I was not on probation anymore, and my supervisor knew I was getting furloughed, so all I got was the "be more carefull next time" speech.
Trying to 'commute to reserve' is a one-way ticket to missing a trip and getting canned.
[/ QUOTE ]
I had a little 'issue' with commuting on reserve. It was two weeks before I was about to get furloughed again, so I admittidly had a really bad attitude, and just didn't care. I had somehow mis-read my days off, and I was supposed to be on my way to NY to sit RSV. Instead I was sitting in my kitchen eating a hot dog and suddenly had one of those "wait a minute, something's not right" moments. I was not off the next day like I thought I was, I was on reserve, and responsible to be on call. Oops. I ran upstairs to the office thinking maybe I'd get lucky and not have a trip on my schedule yet, or maybe a late show. Nope. I had a 7:30am departure out of LGA. The current time was 7:05pm, and the last flight from ORD to LGA leaves at 8. There's no way I could get dresses, packed, to the employee lot & to the gate in under an hour. So for the first time in 7 years I had to take a missed assignment.
Morale of the story, WATCH YOUR SCHEDULE! Commuting on reserve is doable, but you MUST be careful! Thankfully I was not on probation anymore, and my supervisor knew I was getting furloughed, so all I got was the "be more carefull next time" speech.
Commuting while on reserve really isn't that big of a deal. You have to be a little more flexible, but again, not a big deal. You won't be home as much as a line holder will, but you'll still make it home.
At Comair, I get 11 or 12 (30/31 day month) days off per month minimum while on reserve. A set of 4 in a row, a set of 3 in a row, and the other 4 or 5 spread out in 1 or 2 in a row. Not very different from the schedule Doug had above.
I live in Vegas and commute to CVG. Plenty of non stops each day and only 3 1/2 hours flight time. Not a bad commute at all.
At Comair, I get 11 or 12 (30/31 day month) days off per month minimum while on reserve. A set of 4 in a row, a set of 3 in a row, and the other 4 or 5 spread out in 1 or 2 in a row. Not very different from the schedule Doug had above.
I live in Vegas and commute to CVG. Plenty of non stops each day and only 3 1/2 hours flight time. Not a bad commute at all.
Could someone explain reserve a little but more in detail.
Is it basically a set number of days per month that you sit by the phone and wait for a call and then the other days during that month you could essentially do whatever you want b/c you are off??
Any explanation is appreciated.
Thanks,
Ryan
Is it basically a set number of days per month that you sit by the phone and wait for a call and then the other days during that month you could essentially do whatever you want b/c you are off??
Any explanation is appreciated.
Thanks,
Ryan
Bandit_Driver
Gold Member
I am currently sitting reserve in Indiana. I must be within 1 hour of airport during my assigned days. Usually 5 on 2 off schedule and must be available from 0430 - 1830. This reserve schedule is not commutable so I must stay in a crash pad during my five days of reserve. On my fifth day I usually ask to get released early and fly home. Getting released early usually gets me another 1/2 to 3/4 of a day off with pay.
If you have any further questions please PM me and I will go into much more detail...
If you have any further questions please PM me and I will go into much more detail...
av8trxx
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Can anyone tell me what it is like to commute half way across the country to a regional airline?
[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Commuting while on reserve really isn't that big of a deal.
[/ QUOTE ]
That really depends on where you are based, where you live and what airline you work for. Commuting 'halfway across the country' may be somewhat do-able, but coast to coast could be extremely difficult at the regional level.
I live in CA and used to be based in BOS. My reserve schedule was 5 on then 2 off, with one stretch of 4 days off per month. Commuting home was impossible on my 2 day weekends as it was a 6-8 hour evoloution just to get from the crashpad to my home. I would have less than 12 hours at home if I tried. With that commute, a relationship at home (or in general) was not possible. Now I am 114 miles from base and there is very little effect on my relationship.
Obviously, the shorter the commute, the better- for QOL and your significant other.
Can anyone tell me what it is like to commute half way across the country to a regional airline?
[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Commuting while on reserve really isn't that big of a deal.
[/ QUOTE ]
That really depends on where you are based, where you live and what airline you work for. Commuting 'halfway across the country' may be somewhat do-able, but coast to coast could be extremely difficult at the regional level.
I live in CA and used to be based in BOS. My reserve schedule was 5 on then 2 off, with one stretch of 4 days off per month. Commuting home was impossible on my 2 day weekends as it was a 6-8 hour evoloution just to get from the crashpad to my home. I would have less than 12 hours at home if I tried. With that commute, a relationship at home (or in general) was not possible. Now I am 114 miles from base and there is very little effect on my relationship.
Obviously, the shorter the commute, the better- for QOL and your significant other.