Commuting
03-19-2008, 09:40 AM
#11
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Go to expedia or orbitz or one of the other sites out there and many times you can click on "show availability" or seats or whatever they call it. Often times it will bring up a seat map of the plane with how many seats there are available. It does not always work and im not sure how accurate it is but it does typically work.
Once you find a plane that you think will work for you I always call the employee line or even the reservation line if I dont have the employee line to list myself as a non rev passenger. Before you go through all the trouble of listing simply ask them the availability to confirm. Sometimes they have a problem finding me in the system but they will still list me regardless. The point is to somehow someway get your name in the system because it starts you off on a great foot with the gate agents if you already have yourself in the system. No matter how you are listed in there they can always change you to where they want you the key is just be in there. It takes 5 minutes and I usually do it in the airport on my way over from my plane to the terminal.
-looking at his other posts, he works or will be working for Colgan. We have a few guys that commute from Texas and they say it is not that bad but you need to often plan on leaving the day prior for every trip and have MANY contingency plans such as flying to any airport you can get to closer to the east coast and then playing the jumpseat game to get yourself as close to EWR as possible. Dont be surprised if you end up in JFK or LGA taking the bus to the other bus and then the train to the air train.
03-19-2008, 10:13 AM
#12
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Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: DHC 8 Q400
Posts: 12
Why would you consider commuting from EWR to IAH??? I assume you're with XJT or CAL, both of whom have a base in EWR. Living in base is sooo mush better than commuting. Commuting sucks any way you slice it, and EWR-IAH is probably one the worst you could attempt. Like the above poster said, occasionally a flight is open, but 90% of the time those flights are packed. Just get yourself based in Newark. Many people are always trying to get out of Newark so it should not be a problem.
03-19-2008, 10:16 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: 7ER B...whatever that means.
Posts: 3,982
I thought Colgan had a IAH base. Sure have a lot of Saabs over there on the A ramp for there not to be a base here.
03-19-2008, 10:35 AM
#14
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Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: DHC 8 Q400
Posts: 12
your right my mistake didnt mean it like that. so what i meant to say dont have a base option for me at home for the plane that i fly. and for the interview i was offered this airplane and i took it..
03-19-2008, 10:37 AM
#15
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Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: DHC 8 Q400
Posts: 12
A few tricks I do.
Go to expedia or orbitz or one of the other sites out there and many times you can click on "show availability" or seats or whatever they call it. Often times it will bring up a seat map of the plane with how many seats there are available. It does not always work and im not sure how accurate it is but it does typically work.
Once you find a plane that you think will work for you I always call the employee line or even the reservation line if I dont have the employee line to list myself as a non rev passenger. Before you go through all the trouble of listing simply ask them the availability to confirm. Sometimes they have a problem finding me in the system but they will still list me regardless. The point is to somehow someway get your name in the system because it starts you off on a great foot with the gate agents if you already have yourself in the system. No matter how you are listed in there they can always change you to where they want you the key is just be in there. It takes 5 minutes and I usually do it in the airport on my way over from my plane to the terminal.
-looking at his other posts, he works or will be working for Colgan. We have a few guys that commute from Texas and they say it is not that bad but you need to often plan on leaving the day prior for every trip and have MANY contingency plans such as flying to any airport you can get to closer to the east coast and then playing the jumpseat game to get yourself as close to EWR as possible. Dont be surprised if you end up in JFK or LGA taking the bus to the other bus and then the train to the air train.
Go to expedia or orbitz or one of the other sites out there and many times you can click on "show availability" or seats or whatever they call it. Often times it will bring up a seat map of the plane with how many seats there are available. It does not always work and im not sure how accurate it is but it does typically work.
Once you find a plane that you think will work for you I always call the employee line or even the reservation line if I dont have the employee line to list myself as a non rev passenger. Before you go through all the trouble of listing simply ask them the availability to confirm. Sometimes they have a problem finding me in the system but they will still list me regardless. The point is to somehow someway get your name in the system because it starts you off on a great foot with the gate agents if you already have yourself in the system. No matter how you are listed in there they can always change you to where they want you the key is just be in there. It takes 5 minutes and I usually do it in the airport on my way over from my plane to the terminal.
-looking at his other posts, he works or will be working for Colgan. We have a few guys that commute from Texas and they say it is not that bad but you need to often plan on leaving the day prior for every trip and have MANY contingency plans such as flying to any airport you can get to closer to the east coast and then playing the jumpseat game to get yourself as close to EWR as possible. Dont be surprised if you end up in JFK or LGA taking the bus to the other bus and then the train to the air train.
03-19-2008, 02:13 PM
#16
ULTP-Ultra Low Tier Pilot
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,228
03-19-2008, 02:50 PM
#17
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03-19-2008, 03:45 PM
#18
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Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 61
Since this is a commuting thread, I thought I might pose this question: say you're based somewhere that you'd rather not be based, and you want to live somewhere else, is commuting worth it then? For example, suppose I want to live in California but my base is in Georgia or something (because I applied at any airline, regional or otherwise, that would hire me and got picked up by the one in Georgia), so I decide to stay in California and put up with the extra days spent flying because I like living in my home state. Is commuting worth it in that situation? Or what if your base closes? Or if you realize you can move to captain in another base but you can't in the base you live near? Would commuting be worth it in those situations, or is it all just a matter of personal taste?
I talked to a United pilot recently who knows someone who commutes from AUSTRALIA! He bids the end of one month and the beginning of the next month, then spends several weeks at home afterward until the cycle starts again. I would personally never be that extreme, but I think it really shows how some people deal with commutes.
I talked to a United pilot recently who knows someone who commutes from AUSTRALIA! He bids the end of one month and the beginning of the next month, then spends several weeks at home afterward until the cycle starts again. I would personally never be that extreme, but I think it really shows how some people deal with commutes.
03-19-2008, 05:39 PM
#19
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Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,966
I commute and it sucks. I own a home I love on land I love in an area I love (and more importantly, the wife loves) so It is a given that I am stuck with a commute. The only nearby options I had were Eagle, Bigsky, Alpha Flying and corporate if I got lucky so I waste days (and you definately waste days) commuting.
The schedule you speak of has been around before and we all know a guy who knows a captain who commutes from the other side of the world. I would venture to guess that those captains are top 20% in their seniority list or else it is just not possible without luck on your side.
The schedule you speak of has been around before and we all know a guy who knows a captain who commutes from the other side of the world. I would venture to guess that those captains are top 20% in their seniority list or else it is just not possible without luck on your side.
03-19-2008, 05:53 PM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 691
Don't you have to pay if you go this route (listing yourself)? Is it easier to fly as a jumpseater if are listed?
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