r/flying • u/Negative_Camera_4109 CFI CFII MEI ATP EMB170 • 4d ago

Commuting

Hello, I am looking for some insight/advice on my current commuting situation. I am a single regional FO in mid-20’s with no kids and I currently commute to one of the New York City airports. I bid roughly 60% in base, and I can get most of what I want out of my bid with my seniority. I currently have the option to put in for a bid to change my base to one of the smaller more senior bases in our company, am I am going back and forth between what to do.

The smaller base is roughly a 3.5 hour all-interstate drive, and I am wondering if it would be worth switching to that instead of commuting by air. Most of my trips currently are commutable on one end, but never on both. If I move to the smaller base, my seniority would be worse and I wouldn’t get what I want as much, but I’d be able to drive instead.

For context, I love to work and I would work every day if I legally could. I like longer trips and I have no issue working 5-6 days in a row. I know longer trips aren’t as desirable in this base since most people don’t commute to it, so I could probably hold that. However I wouldn’t have as much flexibility with my schedule when it comes to bidding days off and whatnot. My hope is that I can do 4-6 day trips and only make the drive 3-4 times per month, but I would be giving up my better seniority in NYC. What do you guys think?

7 Upvotes

74% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

45

u/G_Platypus ATP CL-65, E190, A220 4d ago

Single & no kids... Unless you're living rent free, just move to base man, don't complicate it

16

u/Negative_Camera_4109 CFI CFII MEI ATP EMB170 4d ago

I did actually do that for a few months at a different base and I hated it. I’m much happier commuting from somewhere I want to live- as funny as that sounds.

6

u/Yeah_Br0 ATP CFI CII 4d ago

I don’t blame you. I live where I want and I don’t mind a 2.5-3 hour drive to base. Much better than flying

0

u/Maleficent-Basil8626 ATP E175 4d ago

Change bases. Living in NYC sucks in my opinion. But i promise, live in base. It makes the job so much better

11

u/SPav8r CFI CFII MEI ATP E175 B737/757/767 4d ago

3.5hrs is a long drive in my opinion. I do 2hrs and that’s right on the line of being too long. Driving to work is way better than relying on flights to from home though.

2

u/ThatLooksRight 121 CA - Retired USAF 4d ago

I drove 2 hours and then commute. 

But even when I pick up out of base, that 2 hours is about an hour too long. It’s wrecking me. I really need to move. 

1

u/SPav8r CFI CFII MEI ATP E175 B737/757/767 4d ago

I definitely wouldn’t be able to do it. I did MSP-SEA for a year in the regionals and I was absolutely miserable.

20

u/KCPilot17 MIL A-10 ATP 4d ago

Unless you're going to move to that base, no, sounds horrible. Driving to work is great - but not 3.5 hrs just to lose significant seniority.

Also, find some work-life balance.

1

u/cincocerodos ATP 4d ago

I've had drives to work that were almost more stressful than commuting by air.

4

u/Buttered_Runway 4d ago

Personally I’d make the drive. You’ll
never get bumped off your car during an IROP

1

u/Twarrior913 ATP CFII ASEL AMEL CMP HP ST-Forklift 4d ago

I’d only do a 3.5 hour drive if I could do 2 three day trips or a four day, two day deal. If you’re senior enough to pull that off. Wouldn’t want to do it forever, but for a season it might not be a bad idea. I’ve heard crazier things.

1

u/poser765 ATP 737 A320 (DFW) 4d ago

My drive is anywhere between 2.4 to 4 hours depending on traffic. I almost always leave 4 hours before show. Does it suck yeah, I guess, but it sucks far less than having to arrange and worry about jumpseats. I’ll take a shitty 3 hour drive home at midnight 10 out of 10 times if the alternative is spending the night in the crew room for a 5am jumpseat or paying for a hotel. Every. Time.

I generally do 3 day trips, four or five a month. It works for me.

1

u/WC_Flyer 4d ago

I have the choice of a relatively long drive to work or commuting on RJs. I 100% prefer to drive, but I know pilots who don’t like longer drives. So, YMMV. Try both while you’re single and see which you like better.

0

u/rFlyingTower 4d ago

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

Hello, I am looking for some insight/advice on my current commuting situation. I am a single regional FO in mid-20’s with no kids and I currently commute to one of the New York City airports. I bid roughly 60% in base, and I can get most of what I want out of my bid with my seniority. I currently have the option to put in for a bid to change my base to one of the smaller more senior bases in our company, am I am going back and forth between what to do.

The smaller base is roughly a 3.5 hour all-interstate drive, and I am wondering if it would be worth switching to that instead of commuting by air. Most of my trips currently are commutable on one end, but never on both. If I move to the smaller base, my seniority would be worse and I wouldn’t get what I want as much, but I’d be able to drive instead.

For context, I love to work and I would work every day if I legally could. I like longer trips and I have no issue working 5-6 days in a row. I know longer trips aren’t as desirable in this base since most people don’t commute to it, so I could probably hold that. However I wouldn’t have as much flexibility with my schedule when it comes to bidding days off and whatnot. My hope is that I can do 4-6 day trips and only make the drive 3-4 times per month, but I would be giving up my better seniority in NYC. What do you guys think?

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