CA1900
Big Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2002
- Posts
- 5,436
Don't be confused. Not a dig at fractional guys. Thicken up the skin. I commute in on the first day of my trip and am home on the last day of my trip. Riding in the back of an airplane to and from work is commuting the same whether the company buys the ticket or not...
No, it's not the same thing at all. Really.
An airline pilot commuting to work, even if it's at no cost to him, is still responsible for being at the airplane at the appointed time. If he's bumped off the flight, it diverts, or is late, it's the pilot's problem. He's the one subject to disciplinary action at many companies because he blew his commute.
A fractional guy reports to work at his designated airport, and from that point on, he's on duty for the company. There may be a plane for him to pick up right there, or he may be getting on an airline flight to go meet one. In the latter case, it's the company's responsibility to get him to the plane at that point. If the flight cancels, or oversells, or is late, it's the company's problem to deal with.
Similarly, it's the company's responsibility to get him back to his home airport at the end of his tour. If they don't, for whatever reason, he's still at work and being paid until he gets home. I've made a lot of money off airline delays and cancellations this year. US Airways' shameful handling of the ice storm in March made me nearly $900, because that was the day I was supposed to get home.
For an airline guy, it's the difference between commuting to work, and being deadheaded on company time to an assignment while on duty. There's a big difference there.