Hawaii commute

[FlyFastJets]

Anybody out there have any experience with this? Considering a move to the islands and being based on the west coast. Thanks in advance!

 

[Mookie]

I know a couple of people who do this for AS...they are tan, but tired...

Mahalo

 

[dash8driver]

What exactly are you looking for? Some people can make it work and others cant. It really depends on your personal situation and what you can and are willing to put up with. The factors affecting your commuting QOL is going to be your base, the island you're moving to, the schedules you can hold at your company and how much time you expect to be at home.

 

[Z_Pilot]

I did it for a while. I was based in KOA. I would typically go home to PDX once a month. I had no commuting nightmares, however, I did have to connect in the other islands on occasion.

 

[Tail Gunner Joe]

*cues lightbulb over my head*

I was wondering why a bunch of uber senior CAL Captains would jump out of their cushy "widebody" seat on the next bid and shoehorn their 'widebodies' into the 737 proposed L.A. base.

Now I know.

But to answer the question: Good Luck commuting during peak vacation season, but there are many jumseat to be had:
AA - 4 flights, all 757
UA - 4 flights, 3 - 763, 1 - 757
DL - 3 flights, 1 - 763, 2 - 753
HA - 2 flights, both 332
CO - 2 flights, both 738

Of course, this is just LAX-HNL

 

[igneousy2]

Depending on your seiority...very doable to LAX or SFO...others are pretty limited and you may need a 2 leg commute depending on your start time. As with most East bound commutes you will have to leave a day early to get to most sign ins. Freighters usually don't help East bound because most leave between noon-and 5pm.

On the HNL side, all airlines are in one terminal so going from UAL to DAL than to HAL is not an issue. Getting home, LAX is a commuter pilot nightmare. I haven't tried going between terminals at SFO lately.

A lot more jumpseats than commuters. Much easier to get from HNL-LAX than JFK-LAX.

Getting back home can be a problem also because most of the HNL bound flights leave fairly early in the day. Your last shot is usually around 5pm. When Aloha went under, HA added a late bank of flights from most of the outer islands...This lets you get into LIH, OGG, or KOA late and still make it back to HNL the same night. If you get desperate to get home...there is the HAL out of LAS at 2am and UPS flies out of ONT at around 4am.

It's been awhile since i've done it so the times might be off.

I think it would be easier than a LAX-East Coast commute (less commuters and generally good weather on both ends). If you are currently doing LAX-IAH or LAX-DEN and hating it then you should not bother with this.

Good luck.

 

[FlyFastJets]

Thanks for the replies. Was looking into living on Maui. Would need to be senior in category and try to bid OGG layovers.

 

[CaptBiff]

Looking to take vacation during the last two weeks of april in hnl.....anyone out there have an idea what the loads are like for nonreving during this period? From a historical point of view....thanks for the help

 

[GuppyWN]

Why in the hell would anyone willingly accept a 6-7 hour one-way commute? I've done it unwillingly and I ********************ing hated it.

Gup

 

[jonjuan]

Why in the hell would anyone willingly accept a 6-7 hour one-way commute? I've done it unwillingly and I ********************ing hated it.

Gup

No kidding. Like some East coast based folks who just decided to start with SW and are looking at years of commuting to OAK and LAS. Yikes!!!

 

[dash8driver]

Why in the hell would anyone willingly accept a 6-7 hour one-way commute? I've done it unwillingly and I ********************ing hated it.

Gup

Because Maui has the best $10/gal milk and $4/gal gas around!

 

[dash8driver]

Thanks for the replies. Was looking into living on Maui. Would need to be senior in category and try to bid OGG layovers.

HNL is going to have way more flights than anywhere else, and thus be the easiest. It's doable from OGG, just depends on your tolerance for DHing is. You may find yourself routing thru HNL to get to work/home.

You can research the flights to commute on with any one of those flight schedule sites like skyguide or www.passrider.com.

 

[slackass]

Did it for a couple of years about 10 back. Usually not a problem going West. Getting off the island is another story. Going back this April just to visit. Bought tickets for two. Much less worry!

 

[Redmeat]

Crazy.

I learned A loooooooooooong time ago that this is a MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE job when you live in base...

 

[go!ng for broke]

Because Maui has the best $10/gal milk and $4/gal gas around!

Milk is only $10. gallion if you buy local and "BUY MAUI"...