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commuting? aaauggh!!

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Dash8

alllll riiighht!!
Joined
May 23, 2002
Posts
1,156
well its happened, i'm being forced to commute starting next month, and not really looking forward to it since i've never done it before :confused:(but i've known a few and have sympathized with their plight, i never actually picked up on what the specifics of it were like)

so i guess what i'm asking is, any tips/advice for a newbie commuter (not newbie in the company, just had always had the base right near where i lived)
particularly if left sitting reserve with the possibility of not being used much.

i can feel the stress building, but no calgon is gonna be able to take this away.....(ancient chinese secret my a$s)
 
If you are married, make sure you prep the wife on what to expect. She only thinks she is accustomed to airline life.

Commuting to reserve is the worst. Most of the time I was gone 10 to 12 days at a pop. Especially during the transition from the end of a month to the beginning. Screw scheduling always keeps you available for the float so most of the time you get your required 1 in 7 off but it is between two 6 day on cycles and you can't get home.

Best advise for you is to find a nice crash pad with some good guys in it. I started out in the cheapest thing I could find, BIG mistake, Spend a little extra for a place with cable and internet and a big fluffy couch!! You will be there more than you think while on reserve. Once off reserve then you can get the cheap crappy joint, or depending on your schedule just motel it if needed. Also our pad was near a park with a nice jogging trail, it helped stave off the reserve gut.

Oh I forgot, get a pager to go along with your cell phone, cell phones cannot be trusted in theatres and large stores, a pager will probably save your bacon from a P/O'd scheduler, and a no contact. Also do not give the schedulers the phone number to the crash pad, they will use it to troll for other poor slobs on their day off but couldn't get home. When the crunch is on the schedulers get very creative in trying to hunt folks down. Some even start lists of who stays at what crash pad so they can try to get you to give up a buddy, And that doesn't make you very popular around the pad!!!

I feel for you, My blood pressure always ran a few points higher when I was having to commute.

P.S. Choose the worst looking POS that runs good as your crashpad car. Trying to get a taxi to the airport at 04:30 when you have just been called out with a 1.5 hour show time is next to impossible. We had 5 cars around the crash pad, and all together I think the value was less than $4000. At my base the commuters changed but the pad cars stayed the same, sometimes they would change owners a couple of time a year....had to drive the DMV crazy trying to keep up!!!
 
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KeroseneSnorter said:
If you are married, make sure you prep the wife on what to expect. She only thinks she is accustomed to airline life.
Click to expand...
essentially single, but this is gonna do wonders for what pathetic semblance of a social life i had before

KeroseneSnorter said:
Commuting to reserve is the worst. Most of the time I was gone 10 to 12 days at a pop. Especially during the transition from the end of a month to the beginning. Screw scheduling always keeps you available for the float so most of the time you get your required 1 in 7 off but it is between two 6 day on cycles and you can't get home.
Click to expand...
our res scheds generally have 2 off between shifts (just enough time to get home do laundry sleep in my bed one night, and come back)

KeroseneSnorter said:
Best advise for you is to find a nice crash pad with some good guys in it. I started out in the cheapest thing I could find, BIG mistake, Spend a little extra for a place with cable and internet and a big fluffy couch!! You will be there more than you think while on reserve. Once off reserve then you can get the cheap crappy joint, or depending on your schedule just motel it if needed. Also our pad was near a park with a nice jogging trail, it helped stave off the reserve gut.

I feel for you, My blood pressure always ran a few points higher when I was having to commute.
Click to expand...
have found what is supposed to be a decent one (pricey imho but what do i know about commuting to a big city [lga]) but its definately cheaper than the rediculously priced hotels in the area....
thx for the input kero, i appreciate it
 
Not sure about what cities you are going to and from...but this website helps me sometimes. It will let you search flights from all airlines that you may be able to jumpseat on. Sometimes it will even show you how many open seats they have.

https://www.itn.net/cgi/get?jet/tools/air/one_way:NQpo38s29cq*itn/ord=1046542641.21974,itn/pl/amexconsumer

Good for back up plans. I assume you are using USairways most times? Nice thing about them is you always have a shot at the cockpit jumpseat as well. I am assuming you are a Wholly owned.
 
bra, thx for the site, pretty good info on it, yeah i'm with a WO, and the majority of the flights to lga from here are on us so jumpseating is ok if necesary

kero, the pad i'm getting into is like 5-10min walk to the terminal and theres a hotel van that will take ya there 'on the dl' ,as it were, if ya slip em a buck or two so no need for a car (not that i could afford it anways, i'm prolly gonna go broke between mortgage and bills, and the crashpad and extra food, personal BK here i come)
 
Stockup on bite size candy bars for the gate agents and stews.
It makes a great first impression and will take a lot of stress out of it for you. If there's a seat in first, you'll probably be in it. I do it twice a week and it's really a fun way to travel. Been doing it almost ten years.
This helps; ID in one hand, handshake with the other and say;
"Hi, my name is____may I request the privilege to list as a jumpseater going to______." The word 'privilege' speaks volumes.
 
crashpad said:
Stockup on bite size candy bars for the gate agents and stews.
It makes a great first impression and will take a lot of stress out of it for you. If there's a seat in first, you'll probably be in it. I do it twice a week and it's really a fun way to travel. Been doing it almost ten years.
This helps; ID in one hand, handshake with the other and say;
"Hi, my name is____may I request the privilege to list as a jumpseater going to______." The word 'privilege' speaks volumes.
Click to expand...
If your ID is in one hand, and you shake with the other, how do you slip them the candy? :)
 
Ailerongirl said:
If your ID is in one hand, and you shake with the other, how do you slip them the candy? :)
Click to expand...
if its a cute fem fa, i can use my tongue :rolleyes:

but i got one of dem der fancy quick clip type id holders so i can pass out the candy coming in the door, then when that hands empty pop the id off to head up to the cockpit :cool:
 
Dash8 said:
but i got one of dem der fancy quick clip type id holders so i can pass out the candy coming in the door, then when that hands empty pop the id off to head up to the cockpit :cool:
Click to expand...
Those quick-clip ID holders are the single most helpful invention when it comes to Jumpseating, IMHO..... I also generally find that making small talk and smiling when you ask to list at the counter makes for the easiest time, no matter how haggered and tired you really may look.

Commuting is a b!tch, but it's nice to have the option....
 
T
yeah its pretty sweet, thankfully i'll mostly only need it at the gate (with who i'm always very nice and personable to) since theres generally alot of direct flights from my home to my soon to be new prison.
its not so much the physical commuting thats get me in a tizzy, but the whole crashpad situation, most people i've ever lived with that weren't my family was 3 other people, so communal living is going to be a very strange thing. not to mention the specifics of crashpad living that i'm unfamiliar with....
 
Sorry man. I commuted for too long to even fake the word "privelege". That's as corny as meeting your girlfriends dad and saying "it's a pleasure to meet you" when in fact you are pi$$ed that you even have to meet the guy at all.
Forget it, I just say "Hi, Terry_____, ___ airlines. If it's OK I'd like to thumb a ride with you today". And then when I'm done, I hunt them down to thank them and offer them a ride on us.
Commuting sucks, cheesing it up makes it worse.
 
I'll add some thoughts. Always list yourself! This will save you more times than you think. First of all, it will let other jumpseaters see that someone else has listed for the flight before they leave their house. Nothing sucks more than showing up for the last flight and missing it because five other jumpseaters are already there. This way everybody can make alternate plans and everyone gets to work. Second, it will save you if the A/C has a weight restriction. Example: A/C restricted to 46 pax, out of 50. 45 revenue pax show up, plus 3 non revs and of course you, the jumpseater. Well if only 46 can get on, the non revs will take boarding priorty over the jumpseater all day long. You miss the flight. If you list, pilots usually have the higher boarding priority, and you get the seat. It is a great back up plan. Usually it is free to list yourself, because you are not charged for the pass unless you use it, if you jumpseated you didn't use a pass.

Also know your companies jumpseat policy well! If possible carry it with you or at least know where to reference it. It is usually in the campany FOM.

Keep in your cell phone the phone numbers for every airline that you may need in case of an emergency. I also keep the flight schedule booklets for Southwest and Independence in my roll aboard bag, in case I need a quick reference.

Always have at least one backup plan. If your company has a commuter policy use it, and follow the rules.

It sounds like you are commuting to LGA. Get to know EWR, and JFK as well, just in case. I believe there is a bus that connects all three airports for $10 or so. Have a plan.

Most of all good luck, commuting does suck.
 
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Commuting definately sucked.... I used to do it from DFW to San Juan, Puerto Rico. I couldn't stand living in Puerto Rico. The 4 to 5 hour flight back from San Juan was more comfortable than going to the crash pad.... Good luck man..
 
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