Nonrev/Commuting Question

A-9er

A-9er

Well-Known Member
Guys,

When you go nonreving, what's your philosophy about scheduling flights? In my initial forays into nonreving, I've scheduled the first flights of the day from the airport. The reason is that, if I get bumped, I have other options during the day. I've done this both ways, i.e. going to my house and returning to STL. I was wondering if it would be safe to schedule a later flight, particularly on the return leg? For example, I'd like to spend more time at my house, but I don't want to take chances on getting left high and dry, either. What are your thoughts?
 
I'd consider a few factors, including:

- What are the typical load factors for the city pair?
- Are there good back-up options? Alternate routes?
- What time do I have work the next day? 5am? Dang, too early to catch an emergency morning flight.
- Is it a popular route for pilots/will the jumpseat be available?
- Weather. Is it typically affected by winter/summer weather?

I used to do a lot of flights to SLC on my return flights from home. I'm also a lazy traveler, so I used to bid for the easiest travel days off (Tue/Wed/Thur). Eventually you learn what to expect with a city pair. I learned that there's quite a few pilots commuting to SLC, so don't trust that you'll have the jumpseat. Found out that the first flight of the day was typically empty by ~50 seats (except in the winter, where they switched from an A320 to a E175 on that particular flight). Speaking of winter, holy smokes winter weather can really make everything hard to predict! Also learned that the AA flights were typically oversold. Not leaving a buffer day and taking a later flight caused me to do several alternate routings, including several mad scrambles to catch a flight to IAH. I even had to do an overnight Spirit flight to Vegas, which caused me to spend 6 hours waiting for a connection (while listening to vacuum cleaners). All things considered, I would check the route you want to fly, and your backup routes, even on days you don't have off just to get ideas of what to expect.
 
Leave yourself a 1 day buffer. Remember you are on probation for your first year and no commuter clause for dispatchers at Golf 7. Blowing a commute is a crappy way to lose a job. As others have said have at least a plan B and possibly a plan C


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I commuted for 2.5 years weekly so I'd say I've got good a good perspective. I always gave myself 3 options to get in before start of shift. I commuted the day of if the weather wasn't nasty and took the first flight otherwise the night before. I suggest passrider.com, but make sure you remember it doesn't account for changing Airlines on two leg commutes.

I never missed a shift, Plan A or B worked every time.
 
Winter weather will always throw your best laid plans out the window. Also remember changes happen, flights get downgraded and what was suppose to be a 757 has now turned into a 737. Mechanical issues, and as rare as this may occur it has happened - jump seat was already taken, flight showed 1 open seat available - no big deal as I was the only one listed - unable to go as the seat was on MEL, seat back wouldn't stay up. Always always have a back up plan
 
Not to take away from the topic, but as I am still several months from 23 (thus being able to dispatch), when does one non-rev vs jumpseat? Is it preferred to non-rev when it appears the flight is relatively open?
 
Nonrev you don't need to be blessed by the captain. Jumpseat you do. Jumpseat affords you the opportunity to ride on airlines you don't have nonrev agreements with.


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Also as a note - always do a quick scan of who is wanting to board the plane. If there is a bunch of little kids, I will ask to ride up front no matter how uncomfortable. It is better than listening to crying babies and noisy toddlers or someone kicking the back of your seat the whole flight. Plus you will get off the plane quicker!!
 
Thanks for all the great answers! I've visited home twice so far, and both visits were a month apart. I went home mainly to check on my house, do a little cleanup, that sort of thing. I normally stay in STL on my days off.

At G7, I can use both United and Delta. I normally use Delta because I can connect through DTW; DTW is MUCH better for connections than freakin' ORD; ORD is a PITA! I hate going through ORD! When I used ORD as a paying customer in the past, I'd often have to go from the far side of C Concourse to the far end of B. On a good day, that literally takes 20 minutes, easy; if my knees are acting up, I have to rest and it takes longer to connect at ORD. With DTW, I can get from one flight to the next in 10 to 12 minutes-15 if I take my time. DTW is set up to make a quick, easy connection-especially with that express tram. I love that thing! DTW is well laid out, so I prefer to use it if making a connection.

As for the city pair, I go from STL to ABE and back. I normally fly via DTW, a major Delta hub. That said, going through ATL (the grand daddy of all Delta hubs!) is always an option. With ATL, there are flights with bigger aircraft on both legs. Going from STL to ABE via DTW means flying CRJs. Going STL to ABE via ATL means bigger aircraft available (MD80 or 90 class), which have more seats. I haven't used the ATL option yet, but it is there. AFAIK, I have two good solid options. I could also use EWR or even PHL, which are also within driving distance of my house. That said, PHL is a PITA to get to; plus it's a longer drive. I don't know what I'd do with the rental car though if I came in at ABE and left from EWR or PHL...

Oh, I NEVER thought about going back the day I have to work; that's crazy! For example, I go back to work tomorrow (Friday, Nov 3rd); I came back today, Thu. Nov. 2nd. Furthermore, I left on the FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY out of ABE, a practice I shall continue. Finally, because I'm a junior DXer, I work weekends. I'm off in the middle of the week on days that are less popular for traveling.

Thanks again for all the good responses; they were most helpful.
 
F9DXER said:
Also as a note - always do a quick scan of who is wanting to board the plane. If there is a bunch of little kids, I will ask to ride up front no matter how uncomfortable. It is better than listening to crying babies and noisy toddlers or someone kicking the back of your seat the whole flight. Plus you will get off the plane quicker!!
Click to expand...
And only middle seats left if you are a larger person
 
MarkM0228 said:
Thanks for all the great answers! I've visited home twice so far, and both visits were a month apart. I went home mainly to check on my house, do a little cleanup, that sort of thing. I normally stay in STL on my days off.

At G7, I can use both United and Delta. I normally use Delta because I can connect through DTW; DTW is MUCH better for connections than freakin' ORD; ORD is a PITA! I hate going through ORD! When I used ORD as a paying customer in the past, I'd often have to go from the far side of C Concourse to the far end of B. On a good day, that literally takes 20 minutes, easy; if my knees are acting up, I have to rest and it takes longer to connect at ORD. With DTW, I can get from one flight to the next in 10 to 12 minutes-15 if I take my time. DTW is set up to make a quick, easy connection-especially with that express tram. I love that thing! DTW is well laid out, so I prefer to use it if making a connection.

As for the city pair, I go from STL to ABE and back. I normally fly via DTW, a major Delta hub. That said, going through ATL (the grand daddy of all Delta hubs!) is always an option. With ATL, there are flights with bigger aircraft on both legs. Going from STL to ABE via DTW means flying CRJs. Going STL to ABE via ATL means bigger aircraft available (MD80 or 90 class), which have more seats. I haven't used the ATL option yet, but it is there. AFAIK, I have two good solid options. I could also use EWR or even PHL, which are also within driving distance of my house. That said, PHL is a PITA to get to; plus it's a longer drive. I don't know what I'd do with the rental car though if I came in at ABE and left from EWR or PHL...

Oh, I NEVER thought about going back the day I have to work; that's crazy! For example, I go back to work tomorrow (Friday, Nov 3rd); I came back today, Thu. Nov. 2nd. Furthermore, I left on the FIRST FLIGHT OF THE DAY out of ABE, a practice I shall continue. Finally, because I'm a junior DXer, I work weekends. I'm off in the middle of the week on days that are less popular for traveling.

Thanks again for all the good responses; they were most helpful.
Click to expand...
Avoid ATL if able, too many ahead of you.
 
I don't commute, but I nonrev somewhere almost every weekend (the last weekend I had that I stayed at home all 3 days was in June). The most important thing is to have plans A, B, C, D, E, F...... all lined up in case things go south. Luckily, as a dispatcher, that's usually not too hard to do.

From ABE, as you already said, you can take UA to ORD or DL to ATL or DTW. Remember that you can also take AA to CLT or PHL. Many dispatchers forget that not only can they ride in the cockpit on their carriers, but they can ride in the cockpit (and in the cabin, if seats are open) on other CASS-participating carriers as well under the reciprocal jumpseat agreements. This is one of the best benefits to nonrevving as a dispatcher. As an example, say ABE-DTW on DL looks great but DTW-STL on DL is oversold with the jumpseats reserved and you're number 20 on the list. Southwest (a CASS participant) flies DTW-STL as well and they might have 20 seats open on their flight with no nonrevs listed. There's your ride to work. If you don't know people who can check flight loads for you on those airlines, try stafftraveler.com or joining a Facebook group called "Non Rev Loads" and asking in there.

If things are really looking bad in ABE, don't be afraid to drive to somewhere like AVP or MDT or even PHL to fly out. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to get to work. If you're really, really in a bind, you can always try out FedEx or UPS as well. Also, always check the weather before you hop on a flight somewhere. If it's summertime and they are calling for +TSRA in ORD or ATL around your arrival time, you probably shouldn't chance flying through there. Finally, one of the reasons I love my 1:30pm shift start time is that while you lose the ability to catch an afternoon or evening flight home on your last day, you have the added insurance of being able to take an early morning flight to STL if all of your options the day before go south. PM shift isn't for everybody, but I love it.

Good luck! Don't stress too much about it. With enough backup plans and vigilance, a plan is bound to work out eventually.
 
mrezee said:
I don't commute, but I nonrev somewhere almost every weekend (the last weekend I had that I stayed at home all 3 days was in June). The most important thing is to have plans A, B, C, D, E, F...... all lined up in case things go south. Luckily, as a dispatcher, that's usually not too hard to do.

From ABE, as you already said, you can take UA to ORD or DL to ATL or DTW. Remember that you can also take AA to CLT or PHL. Many dispatchers forget that not only can they ride in the cockpit on their carriers, but they can ride in the cockpit (and in the cabin, if seats are open) on other CASS-participating carriers as well under the reciprocal jumpseat agreements. This is one of the best benefits to nonrevving as a dispatcher. As an example, say ABE-DTW on DL looks great but DTW-STL on DL is oversold with the jumpseats reserved and you're number 20 on the list. Southwest (a CASS participant) flies DTW-STL as well and they might have 20 seats open on their flight with no nonrevs listed. There's your ride to work. If you don't know people who can check flight loads for you on those airlines, try stafftraveler.com or joining a Facebook group called "Non Rev Loads" and asking in there.

If things are really looking bad in ABE, don't be afraid to drive to somewhere like AVP or MDT or even PHL to fly out. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to get to work. If you're really, really in a bind, you can always try out FedEx or UPS as well. Also, always check the weather before you hop on a flight somewhere. If it's summertime and they are calling for +TSRA in ORD or ATL around your arrival time, you probably shouldn't chance flying through there. Finally, one of the reasons I love my 1:30pm shift start time is that while you lose the ability to catch an afternoon or evening flight home on your last day, you have the added insurance of being able to take an early morning flight to STL if all of your options the day before go south. PM shift isn't for everybody, but I love it.

Good luck! Don't stress too much about it. With enough backup plans and vigilance, a plan is bound to work out eventually.
Click to expand...

Good stuff! It occurred to me that I could use AVP also; that's about an hour drive from my house-closer than PHL. MDT & PHL, timewise, are about the same distance from me.
 
I try to get out early because there is always a couple knuckleheads who can't get up early enough and miss the flight. They usually get booked on later flights, which is another reason I try to avoid later flights. Redeye flights can be a toss up. Sometimes they'll have 60 empty seats on them and then suddenly an hour before departure you've dropped from #10 to #64.

I always have a backup for my backup and usually at least another carrier for another backup. I try to look up spoke cities that serve multiple hubs as well or if I know of through flights from hub to hub with a stop in a spoke.

If all else fails, I get as close as I can to another major city and rent a car. Often drives between major cities won't come with a "drop off fee".
 
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