Dispatchers who commute with families

The experience is going to vary quite significantly based on your own circumstances and what airline you work at. My current commute is probably close to best case scenario with a 1hr hop with 10+ flights on my own metal every day. Add on the ability to pre-list, I have a lot less "will I make it" stress and worst case if a massive IROP hits the network I could drive it (long but doable). Longer flights, less frequency, commuting on OAL, multi-leg commutes, and airlines without commute clauses will add to the drain and stress of it all. Commuting does also cost money to do (place to stay at work city, airport parking, etc) so probably not as finacially doable at the regional payscale.
 
fsxflyhigh said:
The experience is going to vary quite significantly based on your own circumstances and what airline you work at. My current commute is probably close to best case scenario with a 1hr hop with 10+ flights on my own metal every day. Add on the ability to pre-list, I have a lot less "will I make it" stress and worst case if a massive IROP hits the network I could drive it (long but doable). Longer flights, less frequency, commuting on OAL, multi-leg commutes, and airlines without commute clauses will add to the drain and stress of it all. Commuting does also cost money to do (place to stay at work city, airport parking, etc) so probably not as finacially doable at the regional payscale.
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Thanks, that sounds like you have the most convenient scenario. how do you make your schedule? How is family life?
 
I know I've stated this before. Check your tax liability. Even though the FAA considers us a crew member, the IRS does not. Best case scenario is the state you work in and the one you live in do not have a state tax. Worst case is both have a state tax and agreement between them. Thus you will pay the state tax where you work, have to file 2 state tax forms every year and hopefully not have to pay more to each state.

Consult a tax professional.
 
F9DXER said:
I know I've stated this before. Check your tax liability. Even though the FAA considers us a crew member, the IRS does not. Best case scenario is the state you work in and the one you live in do not have a state tax. Worst case is both have a state tax and agreement between them. Thus you will pay the state tax where you work, have to file 2 state tax forms every year and hopefully not have to pay more to each state.

Consult a tax professional.
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This is incredibly valuable info, thanks.
 
F9DXER said:
I know I've stated this before. Check your tax liability. Even though the FAA considers us a crew member, the IRS does not. Best case scenario is the state you work in and the one you live in do not have a state tax. Worst case is both have a state tax and agreement between them. Thus you will pay the state tax where you work, have to file 2 state tax forms every year and hopefully not have to pay more to each state.

Consult a tax professional.
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Agreed. I commuted for a bit when I started at my current shop. HR Block had a hell of a time learning the laws to get me taken care of, and I got wrecked in taxes (earning in a state that is not my residence so they taxed more).
 
F9DXER said:
I know I've stated this before. Check your tax liability. Even though the FAA considers us a crew member, the IRS does not. Best case scenario is the state you work in and the one you live in do not have a state tax. Worst case is both have a state tax and agreement between them. Thus you will pay the state tax where you work, have to file 2 state tax forms every year and hopefully not have to pay more to each state.

Consult a tax professional.
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I think for that exemption (taxed based on state of residence only) you can't have more than 50 percent of your work being within one state. Pilots generally are all over the place, so they get state of residence. Though I did hear years ago California tried going after some of the regional pilots who commuted in, but more than 50 percent of their actual flights were within California.

Dispatch though, it's an office job entirely within one state. No different than any other office job.
 
FlyingSioux1 said:
Agreed. I commuted for a bit when I started at my current shop. HR Block had a hell of a time learning the laws to get me taken care of, and I got wrecked in taxes (earning in a state that is not my residence so they taxed more).
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May I ask which state your residence was? I’m about to start commuting…
 
YMMV and probably does vary by state tax rules but I was able to credit taxes I paid to my work state to reduce taxes owed in my home state. Granted if you work in a state with no income tax you're for sure gonna get a hefty tax bill.
 
Texas, Tennessee, Nevada, Washington and Florida dont have state income taxes so if you dispatch for one of the airlines with operations centers in those states then you are dumb for not getting an apartment or rental in those states as your primary legal residence as you can lose money by paying taxes you dont need to.
 
It's based on where you work, not where you live so you don't technically have to reside where your air carrier is but commuting sucks all the way around. I live in an untaxed state, commuted to a taxed state, and got stuck with their state taxes which were overly spendy. Wasn't worth it, waste of time and money. The extra $ in crashpads, hotels, or second residences could go in your savings account. Unless going to a carrier with jumpseat privileges and cross-carrier jumpseat agreements... also factor in spring break, thunderstorms, irregular ops... I do not miss wondering every week if I'm going to make it to work. Each person has to do what works for them. Personally, I don't recommend commuting.
 
And to add to the tax side is things, I know a lot of states will make you make up the difference if where you live has a higher rate than where you work. So essentially, if you live in a state with a 10% rate and work in one with a 5%, there's a chance the state you live will have you pay them 5%.
 
I commuted between DFW and MEM for 6 months. I was on my own metal, 7+ flights a day. explaining it to my kids and missing certain things was the toughest I had to deal with. However, you can make it work, I was able to, and I made sure to make the Mrs. Know that I appreciated what she was doing (even though commuting is tough enough), because with a 10 and 6 year old, sports, school, homework, and general kid-like behavior, she was pulling overtime.
 
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