phx_suns1319

Currently I am swimming in the pool (Nov 27th interviewee) and have a question regarding commuting and what it's really like. For those who do commute, is it really a nightmare that you hate looking forward too, or is it a managable annoyance that just comes with the territory of living away from base?
As a new hire, I know you sit reserve for awhile, and I was wondering how commuting works while sitting reserve. Obviously, it is much better to live at your base, but can commuting be a viable option, or do most give in and move to their base? Thanks!

pscraig

I'd say it depends highly on where you plan to commute from-distance, frequency of flights, load factor, etc. I have friends who commute to IAH from DAL who love it and find it easy with 10 30-minute flights a day, where Denver commuters could tell you some horror stories of full planes. My limited commuting experience from DSM to IAH wasn't that bad, but with only 2 flights a day you spend lots of time waiting around and lose a lot of sleep.

Also consider the base-IAH has lots of commutable lines/trips, with a lot of trips starting around lunch. EWR gets the shaft, they have incredibly early showtimes and late release times.

I commuted as a fairly senior lineholder and as I said it was OK, but I only flew maybe 14-16 days a month. On reserve, with 11 days off a month, it would suck.

phx_suns1319

Thanks for such a great answer, I appreciate it. Yeah I'm looking to commute from RDU...I was told that IAH is actually a great place to commute to as you just mentioned, but from RDU that is quite a haul. EWR would be my best option distance wise, but as you mentioned, EWR is a complete nightmare for commuters.

schoolio

I'm an RDU-IAH commuter.

Commuting to sit reserve sucks, especially with the amount of flying our reserve FOs are doing right now. Keep that in mind.

Commuting out of RDU isn't that bad at the moment. Sure, the flight is long, but there are usually 6-7 flights a day in each direction, with at least 2 being on CAL. It's starting to get a little more difficult since guys are switching from EWR to IAH, but I have never not made my commute yet. Being first year, I always list for two flights and take the earlier one. I've been in the JS several times, but it's better than not making it. I've held a relief line since November, and only once have I had a trip that was less than fully commutable.

Hope that answers your questions. If you have any more RDU-specific, send me a PM.

DUNNTPA

I agree with all of the above posts. I commute from MCI to IAH and it isn't that bad, due to the amount of flights every day. A good buddy of mines lives in RDU and he commutes to EWR, has to leave the night before and usually can't make it home the same night his pairing is finished. As schoolio says, I think RDU-IAH would be a much easier commute, as far as schedules are concerned. It is a longer flight, but with CAL in the market that is always good, and the 737-500 has 2 cockpit jumpseats. Be careful with CHQ flights if they are in that market, as they have a tendency to be weight restricted. Always living in base is the best, but commuting is possible with a little pre-planning. Good luck to you!

phx_suns1319

Thanks man...Yeah I'm currently swimming in the pool, and after listening to the conference call today and seeing everything that has been going on, I'm actually glad that I didn't get a class date amougst all the uncertainty (there was a chance that we would have been furloughed had they hired all of us). I think HR did us a huge favor by not bringing us on after our interview.
Yeah, I've heard EWR is an absolute nightmare, and that IAH, while far for most commuters is actually the easiest commute, so thanks for everyone's input into the question. On another note...while classes will eventually restart (July at the earliest I think) what do you think the company will be like after this summer? If Branded folds, what happens to all those airplanes? Are people thinking a buyout might be on the horizon? If purchased...XJT would be combined with a strong carrier, and could be an even more stable place to be...thoughts?

laflight

Funny thing about my commute is EWR is the best for me and its the farthest base from where I live as well. I commute from LAX, which has at least 10 flights from LAX and another 15 from SNA, ONT, and LGB (LGB being to JFK, but hey TV the whole way on JetBlue). The great thing about the commute is the direct Fedex flights from LAX to EWR. The last one is at 8:30pm and there is a 9:55pm CAL flight, so my 2 flight commute policy is covered. They both get in around 5am the same day I work, so my time home is greatly maximized. I always gain 3 hours when I go home after work, so that is a plus as well.

I would not pick CLE or SAT over EWR because of this and IAH is still a worse commute because I have to leave earlier in the day than going to EWR. It's all relative to where you commute from I guess.

DUNNTPA

This is absolutely true, I wasn't trying to bash EWR, just from this guys standpoint, I think IAH would be a better choice for him. Man you have the greatest situation, nonstop FedEx flights, I wish they flew MCI-IAH.

BeachBummer

I've commuted from MCO-MDW, JAX-MDW, JAX-EWR, JAX-IAH, JAX-LAX, and JAX-ONT. If you plan on commuting and dont want to have a heart attack, know that you will not make every flight and have 3-4 back up plans. The easiest commute I had was JAX-IAH one leg lots of frequency and I had seniority to hold the trips I wanted. Think long and hard before you do a coast to coast, it will wear you out and take a toll on your family. I think I was home for 6 nights one month. If you live where you want and it's worth the time spent away do it. If not move to your base and you will be much happier. My wife makes a $hit ton more $$ than me so we stay where we are until I find a "permanent" Job. If you plan it right it's not that bad most of the time. Sometimes the commuting gods will smile upon you and somtimes they get angry!

Good Luck

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NeilPeart

Live In Base. Don't Communte. Your Life Will Suck!!!!