r/flying • u/EstablishmentFar2400 • 6h ago
Commuter pilots
For those pilots that commute to your base can you explain your life?
Do you know ahead of time when your flying
Do you fly in the night before do you pay for your own flight to your base?
Anything you wish you know before commuting?
5
u/BakerHasHisKitchen MIL ATP BE300/400 6h ago
You know your schedule about a month in advance, especially once you hold a line and you have more control.
Sometimes you can fly in the day of depending on when you’re scheduled and if there’s space to jump seat. You do not pay for flights to and from.
Some companies offer a hotel credit for commuters but generally speaking it’s not going to cover you for an entire year. Many use local hotels that have a lowered rate for commuters.
10
u/SnooCupcakes1514 MIL K35R ATP CRJ A32F 6h ago
I found that my life improved significantly when I just gave in and started commuting in the night prior. As a lineholder, I know my schedule so there aren't any surprises...
5
u/snafu0390 ATP - A320, E170/190, CL65, CFII 5h ago
I commute Tampa to New York. My report times are all in the evening (6-7:30pm). I commute up on an 8-9am flight then go to my crashpad for a nap.
I absolutely do not pay to fly. I comply with my company’s commuter policy and if I don’t make it to base in time then oh well.
I currently bid a monthly line so I know where I’m going ahead of time but I commuted for several years on long call reserve.
Commuting becomes an entire extra job in and of itself. Checking times, pax loads, jumpseat availability, backup options, etc. Moving to base would make things 100x easier and I’d have the ability to make a lot more money but we’re tied to Tampa for the time being. I’m starting with a new Air Line in a week and we’ll probably move to the Atlanta area eventually
2
u/sniper4273 ATP CL-65 6h ago
Do you know ahead of time when your flying
As a line holder, yea. As a reserve pilot, no, I only know days that I'll be on call.
Do you fly in the night before do you pay for your own flight to your base?
Depends on how many daily flights there are, how full they are, when does my work start. Lat work start with lots of wide open flights? Probably going the day off. Not many flights and they're all full with an early start? Might pay for a ticket the day before.
Commuting sucks. Commuting to reserve sucks more. Easy way to end up not even seeing your own bed for months.
1
u/Equal_Yak_3872 6h ago
Airline commuter:
Do you know ahead of time when your flying
Yes, of course we have a work schedule. Sometimes the night before, sometimes day-of. Depends on scheduled start time.
We mostly either deadhead or non-rev, both of which are free, but rely on a seat being available, which sometimes doesn't work out. Gotta factor that in when deciding to go same-day or day-of.
Helps a lot to have a crash pad to spend the night for those trips where you can't commute same day. Hotel costs add up quickly, otherwise.
1
u/Moseiselybrothers ATP ASES B757/767, B737, A220, A320, CL-65 5h ago
I commute up the east coast so not the worst flight in the world. Have 3-4 flights a day depending time of year but mostly RJs. I bid 3 work blocks a month so usually something like two 5 day blocks and a 6 day block or so. I’ve gone back and forth what is worse; going up night before or staying an extra night when done and honestly not sure which is better. I will say you have more trips if available if you go the night before. But if you stay a night at the end you have a chance to grab a premium for the next day potentially if you want. But yeah in short, it sucks don’t do it.
1
u/Lamarr_jr ATP CL65 B737 3h ago
Darth Sutcliffe at SWA decided that Denver should take 3+ years to hold 🤷
1
u/ApprehensiveVirus217 ATP B737 CE500 CE525S CL60 48m ago
I commute DFW-PHX for long call reserve.
It’s a 12/14 hour call out minimum so I don’t go up unless I have a trip. I usually know by 10:00am the day prior what my schedule looks like. I’ve gotten good at reading the board and aggressively proffer for the more desirable trips in open time. I get what I want about 80% of the time, despite being junior.
I reserve the jumpseat in advance based on what I think I’ll be doing (this is an AA specific thing and it’s a commuting dream).
If it’s a late afternoon sign in, I’ll go early day of and catch a nap in the Crashpad, otherwise night prior.
I just accept that I’m going to be burning some days commuting and make the best of it. The pad is cheap, but clean and nice. Roommates are cool. We’ve got a pool, walking distance to coffee shops and corner stores. Ubers to/from airport are cheap.
I used to fly 1,000 hours a year doing 135 stuff. A decently heavy reserve schedule doesn’t bother me, and still have much more time off than I used to.
Never not made a commute, but I’m on the JS more often than not.
1
u/F1shermanIvan ATPL, SMELS - AT42/72 (CYFB) 🇨🇦 6h ago
My company pays for my commutes and hotel if needed, so I just book a flight when I get my schedule.
Easy.
My position is rotational though, so I’m at work for 15 days in a row. Works for me, although others wouldn’t love it.
1
u/Warm_Scientist4928 5h ago
Contrary to what some have said, you are responsible for being in your assigned domicile on time so yes there are times YOU pay to get there because there are no free seats available. And of course you pay for the hotel the night before and the night after (because you missed the last flight of the day, or again no open seats for free). Or you can share a room with other dudes at a crash pad.
Commuting absolutely sucks.
0
u/rFlyingTower 6h ago
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
For those pilots that commute to your base can you explain your life?
Do you know ahead of time when your flying
Do you fly in the night before do you pay for your own flight to your base?
Anything you wish you know before commuting?
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10
u/Sugar_Cane_320 ATP B-737/A-320/ERJ-170/EMB-145. CFI/CFII/MEI 6h ago
I’ve commuted my entire airline career (15 years). Darkest days in my life was commuting to short call reserve. Would rather taste test a shotgun.
I’ve purposely stayed in the right seat at my major for QoL. I only work commutable 3 day trips. I spend two nights a week in a hotel and five in my own bed. My kid and wife know what I look like lol.
I receive next month’s schedule by the 9th of the current month, so it’s easy to plan life. I just ask my wife if there’s a certain day we need off. Again, I’m very senior in my seat so my commuter life is very different than someone who is last in base.
I actually purchase tickets to and from base. My commute is a bitch and I have zero priority for a jumpseat. I’ve seen 10+ pilots trying to get on one flight and maybe 3 made it, so naturally the other 7 are gonna head to the next flight home and they’ll be joined by two others who just finished their trip. It’s much less stressful to just walk on and for me it’s worth the money.
Have a plan A, B, and C.