commute or not......

[svcta]

I think I know the answer to this one already but what the hell:

Please answer 1 or 2

1. Commute to a job as a lineholder

2. Sit on reserve where you live.

Same A/C, slightly better pay at option "2".

 

[b82rez]

Commute....It'll give you something to complain about

 

[apdsm]

Do not commute unless you have a VERY good reason to do so!!!

 

[cathal]

Given these options, do not commute.

 

[91100 100 set]

Everybody always talks about how awesome commutting is, I'm excited to try it. A nice 2 or 3 legger from one back-water to another through a busy NE hub on two different airlines in different terminals. Yeah, awesome.

No, seriously, stay at home and sit reserve. You'll have time to do stuff other than work and commuting to and from it.

 

[utahpilot]

never commute unless you have to. sitting reserve at home will turn into extra days off when they don't call you, allowing you TONS of time to do 'around the house' stuff. or, depending on how far you live from the airport, go out and do whatever. plus, reserve will come to an end and you'll hold a line where you live.

what companie(s) are you considering, or what domiciles?

 

[wahoo250]

thats like asking someone if they want to drive 5-6 hrs to work or 1-2 hrs. pay is the same either way. pretty easy to decide. but sometimes you get home to late to catch the last bus so you sacrifice your off day to get home, and get to sleep at the office.

 

[ilkwamh2]

Def. #2. It's not worth commuting, sit home on reserve and goto the gym, go shopping, fix up the house, do some landscaping, whatever else. Unless you absolutely have to commute, avoid it like the plague.

-W

 

[LearLove]

Dude are you nuts? Commuting blows and I have one of the easiest in the industry. When I was on reserve at my base where I live (before I was bumped out, thanks management) I was doing cartwheels. I only flew like 3 days per month and had a 2 two hour call and was only 45 min to the airport so I could do whatever I wanted. Logged about 10 hours per month just enough to to get my fill and not have to deal with the hassel. Can't wait to get back.

 

[sweptback]

You won't always be on reserve, but you'll always commute.

Sounds like an easy choice to me, if everything else is equal.

 

[Freighter]

stay on reserve at your home base forever. It would be better than having a line if they don't use you very much.

 

[Clutch_Cargo]

Commuting is the devil.....

You said it!! No such thing as a good commute... go with number 2.

cc

 

[Cosmo1999]

Grab a good pair of golf clubs or take up some other hobby and enjoy reserve at home. I for one hope to never do it again. Its nice to be able to live where you want. I never plan on moving unless I want to. It would take a ton to make me commute again. Also commuting can really nickel and dime you. Having to pay for hotels/crashpads can add up each month.

 

[Flyeys]

If you aren't suicidal now, you will be after commuting.

 

[328dude]

If you aren't suicidal now, you will be after commuting.

Sit at home dude. I've been commuting to sit reserve for the last 3.5 years with travel times anywhere from 5 hours to 14 hours. I now my situation wasen't on your list, but you get the idea.

If you can stay at home, do so. As Flyeys said, I've been commuting so long I don't know any other way and thought about maybe getting myse...............(bang)..............

 

[SLFLYHI]

As if enough hasn't been said already.....

Commuting ruins your life. Especially since half of the lines you'll get when you're junior will not be commutable (i.e. you'll get done with your trip after your last flight home has already left) and you'll be stuck at the crashpad getting up the next day at the butt-crack-o-dawn to make the first flight home on your 1st day off.

Don't do it. Suck it up and move to the hub. Sure, whatever city you're hubbed at will not be exactly like "home" but you'll at least have more time and less stress to deal with.

 

[DDpaysoff]

Having done both, I would stay at home on reserve.


However, if you are faced with a 12 year upgrade with bills to pay.....commute.

 

[T-prop]

It depends on the commute and the lines, OMA-SJU, is not fun, but OMA to ORD sounds like heaven to me. 10 direct flights a day, 1:10 min. flight. Lotsa lines with lotsa days off. Personally, I hate large cities, unfriendly, dirty, cramped, comparable to being a cow in a feed lot.

To live in a decent quiet area in the city where you are based will require almost the same amount of time commuting in a car as it does in an airplane. Not to mention, that you can live like a God in rural areas on our pay.

$1500/month for a 1 bedroom 300 square ft apt. in the city with 2 roommates. Or, $500/mo. mortgage for a 3 bedroom house with garage.
Hmm, let me think.

To me, commuting is worth it if you have a good schedule, good place to live, one-leg short commute with multiple flights. But, that's just me.

 

[Midnight Flyer]

Don't commute.
It's all about QOL. Commuting sucks the life right out of you. By the time you're done commuting home, you're tired and half the day is gone.
The name of the game is to get a good flying job, then be on duty the least amount of time you can and make the most money you can.
I used to live at my prior airlines base, and I was lucky enough one month that screw scheduling didn't call me to fly even once. So basically, I had a month off. Maybe they forgot about me!?

 

[svcta]

Yeah, that's about what I figured. I already work for company #1. And, you're all correct, commuting sucks. I'm just trying to put off interviewing again, but it will just have to happen. I live 10 minutes from the airport where I'd be based if I get on with company #2. Driving home after a day(or 4) of work sounds like a good situation.


Thanks for the kick in the pants.

 

[upndsky]

What are the companies? You might want to commute to a good one than sit reserve at sh!tty one. If the companies are the same, sit reserve at home.

 

[EatSleepFly]

It depends on the commute and the lines, OMA-SJU, is not fun, but OMA to ORD sounds like heaven to me. 10 direct flights a day, 1:10 min. flight. Lotsa lines with lotsa days off. Personally, I hate large cities, unfriendly, dirty, cramped, comparable to being a cow in a feed lot.

This must be D.,...

What's up man? It's MA, from your class...

 

[saabdude]

To answer your question truthfully: It depends if you are senior to me or junior. If I know that; I can tell you exactly what to do.

Grow a pair and do what's in the best interest for your lifestyle. It's not like the majors are hiring at a rapid rate. Your need to rate your prioritys in the following order: God, Wife, Family, and Job. You play by these rules. Life will be fine.

 

[svcta]

"Your need to rate your prioritys in the following order: God, Wife, Family, and Job. You play by these rules. Life will be fine."


Well, two out of four ain't bad.