Commuting out of Charleston

[Yahtzee]

Can anyone from Southwest, FedEx, or JetBlue offer any comments on commuting from Charleston, SC to their pilot base?

I'm moving soon and will be working as a reserve bum. I would like to buy a home, but would like to get more info from the commuters before making any decisions.

I'm hopeful that JetBlue, FedEX, or SWA may call my name one day, but I realize there are plenty of qualified applicants for each of these companies and any call my way may take a long, long time.

Appreciate the advice.

Yahtz

P.S. AlbieF15, if you have the time, your inputs are encouraged.

 

[jetdriven]

i am an Airmidwest pilot and we have a crew base (1900D) there. Multiple jumpseaters approved and we usually arent full. good luck.

 

[WileE]

I was based out of CHS for 2 months

We flew lots of jumpseaters to and from RDU on the 1900. There are lots of Air Force part timers that fly the C-17's out of there and they seem to have no problem getting too or from work. The CHS airport has a suprising number of flights going in and out every day considering that it's really not that big an airport.

There are probably almost 50 departures a day flying out of there. Some of the airports that have more than 4 direct flights every day out of CHS: Atlanta (8), Charlotte (10), Chicago, Cincinatti, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Newark (7), Raleigh/Durham, Washington DC, and Baltimore. There are a lot more that have only one or two flights a day like Phoenix, Philly, and even Toronto. Commuting out of CHS should definately not be a problem, especially when a lot of the airlines going out of there offer up multiple jumpseats (Air Midwest and ATA for example).



PS: I found Charleston to be a great city to live in for the short time I was there, but I'm guessing you've already figured that out. Folly Beach was 15 minutes from our crashpad.

 

[Yahtzee]

Jetdriven & WileE,

Thanks for the inputs.

Do you know which airlines only allow one or two jumpseaters per plane? I think AA has this policy.

The more and more I look at the situation, it's probably best to rent for the first year. I probably won't be home much anyway.

Maybe in a year the market will have turned the corner, SWA will fly into Columbia (or Greenville-Spartanburg), and the Dawgs will beat Florida in Jacksonville!

Yahtz

 

[WileE]

Air Midwest flys out of Greenville-Spartanburg as well. Heck we'll take 19 jump seaters if the planes empty. SW has a lot of flights into RDU too.

Basically of all the cities I've commuted to and from (I'm on my fifth different domicile in the past 7 months), Charleston was by far the easiest to jump in and out of.

 

[dondk]

If you are looking to head north (DTW) we take 3 jumpseaters, but I will be honest and tell you that at times it can get tight.

I have brought in many flights with a full boat and one in the cockpit. Most guys will sit up front if it gives another a ride in the back.

Several NWA people live in the CHS area, we are usually guaranteed at least one jump per flight and several non-revs. We are adding more flights in about a month that should make it easier, but it can still be tough on us.

I wish we would spend a little more than the minimum rest, I hear the city is great!!!

 

[tredding@swa]

CHS

Yat-Z -

If you need some help once in CHS, give me a PM, I grew up there.

It is a GREAT town - just voted #1 most polite city in the US by some magazine.... wonderful beaches, golf courses, places to eat & party are VERY abundant. Schools are fair, others better than some - you will enjoy living there.

Tred

 

[Tbone]

If you are going to settle in Charleston, don't forget to bring your banjo.


Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

[Yahtzee]

Thanks

TBone,

I think you have the wrong state. I'm guessing your thinking of West Virginia. I'm referring to South Carolina and the 300+ year old Charleston. If you never been there, it's a very nice place...for families, single folks, young or old. You can get your tea either sweet, unsweet, or a combo...called the "half & half."

Dondk & Tred

Thanks for words. I think the convervative approach is to simply rent a place for one year and see if the economy turns north, SWA drains the pool, and starts interviewing. FedEx may start interviewing in the spring, and I think JB is interviewing bi-monthly now.

At the same time, I need to buy a new vehicle since my current one is 10.5 years old and pushing 200K miles. Buying a house and a vehicle at the same time scares me. Maybe I will end up like Adam Sandler in "Big Daddy" and find a Sugar Mama. (Great movie if you need a laugh.)

Tred,

Do you have a wealthy sister in CHS?

To everyone thanks for the inputs...

Yahtz

 

[tredding@swa]

Sorry... Y-atz

no seester is CHS.... however, there are lots of beautiful Charleston belles in the downtown area - most are itchin' to git hitched and many have nice trust funds!!!!

Good luck!!! Tred

 

[flaps30]

CHS-CVG

unlimited jumpseats to CVG, DCA, LGA on Comair 9 flts total. Easiest commute I've ever had, haven't been stuck in CVG since last spring, no hotel, no crashpad.

 

[ex208driver]

unlimited jumpseats also allowed on continental express to IAH and EWR. not sure on the nmber of flights between the two though. good luck.

 

[Nealon Bobb]

Ahhh Charleston....

TBone, shoulda left that one alone. You've obviously never been to Charleston. I'm a Yankee, and I've loved just about every minute there. Now go back to Joisey where you belong.

Yahtzee, bring your charm and protection. The women in Charleston are amazing. Beautiful, intelligent, easy to get along with....most of my friends showed up single and left married to hotties. It's an incredibly romantic city. All of which augers well for the single man. Take the time to enjoy it! Good luck.

 

[Globemaster]

I'll join the bandwagon about Charleston ... this place rocks! I just wish they had a decent lake to drop the ski boat in ...

Anyway, ASA allows multiple jumpseats, but Delta does not ... I hear they're working on this, behind the other 69 issues they're dealing with. Between ASA and Delta, there are 8 flights per day to Atlanta, and 3 per day to Dallas, and they're all pretty easy to commute on. You'll probably even get to sit up front and sip your favorite frosty beverage.

As far as your living and automobile arrangements, I've got a room at my crash pad available, and my trusty 300ZX is for sale ... one stop shopping. Drop me a message if you're interested.