Some Advice Needed...

[FlyChicaga]

I just found out today that there has been (and will remain) a major reduction in the number of lines in my base, which means I will be back on reserve. I will still hold a line, per se (what we call a relief line, or a "build-up line"), but I will not be able to have as much control over my schedule like I used to. I will definitely not have control over commutability, which is very important for my base, since availability of crashpads is very limited.

Because of the reduction, I am looking into transferring into a new base on the west coast. I hate to leave my current base, because I have had a blast being assigned there, but staying will not help me at all with achieving my goals.

Of the two choices we have on the west coast, both have some major pros and cons. I'd like to see what some of you think.

The first choice is more desirable to me because of the type of flying we do, the pilots based there, the overnights we have, and the schedules. I'd have healthy seniority and likely be able to hold 13-15 days off and 80-something hour lines. I would be very happy being based there... The only problem is the commute. It would be a two-leg commute, unless I took the one-leg morning flight to work, or the red-eye flight home. The benefit is that I'd be flying between airports that are not very prone to delays, unlike the alternative.

The second choice is desirable for two reasons: Very interesting flying (to many major cities and Mexico) and about 50 direct flights a day to work from two Chicago airports. The commute would almost be "easy," although long. However, the lines there are not as productive, and I would not be as happy with the flying or overnights while I'm at work. Basically, I wouldn't be as happy AT work, but I'd breathe easier getting to and from work.

I'll need to make this decision alone, but I'm wondering what others think. My only other option would be to move into base, or to a city that allows a much easier commute. However, I had considered that already with my current base, and now hindsight makes the decision to stay in Chicago a very good one. I don't want to move, but I also don't want to die from the stress of commuting.

Thoughts?

[Alchemy]

I feel your pain. It looks like it'll be back to true reserve for me next month, although my condo is just a shade over an hour from the SAT parking lot so it'll still work OK. Life sure was good while I was holding a hard line this summer though.

I would try LAX first because of the ease with which you will be able to get there....the commute shouldn't be too bad because the time zones will be working in your favor, even though there are a lot of pre-0700 shows in LAX. I'm sure you'll have to get a hotel room at least 3 or 4 times a month or find a crashpad. To me the advantage of having a dozens of direct flights to choose from every day (LAX) outweighs the advantage of having more commutable pairings (ONT).

If LAX turns out to really suck, I guess you can just switch over to ONT on the next bid, so you shouldn't be committed to either one more than 4 months or so I suppose. I know you want to avoid houston, but I bet commutable relief lines there are easy to come by (most 4 day pairings in IAH seem to be commutable). You're senior enough to avoid the SRJ b-scale too.

Looks like you'd be about 40 out of 140 in LAX and 75 out of 185 in ONT, so your relative seniority in LAX would be a bit better. top 29% vs. top 40%.

[H46Bubba]

Matt are you senior enough to hold a line on the DL side out of LAX? ORD would be an easy commute with plenty of flights between home and LAX. Ohh Ohh, you could go to Newark and be John's captain sidekick!

[Captain_Bob]

Matt...

I'm looking at your second option myself... The commute would be a lot easier for me as well, and the lines are looking much more commutable out there with the extra days off for your's & my seniority #'s.

I've just spent over an hour today trying to help another buddy commute from DFW out west to your first option on a 2 leg commute. It was pretty stressful for me just trying to help him... I can only imagine what he was going through.

I think your second option got a bad rap when that base first opened... lines weren't that good for commuters and weren't very productive. That has changed significantly... just compare the Dec. Bid Pack for the two and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Anyway... those are my thoughts... I'm heading west in 30 days... and even though I'm a line holder at your first option... I'm already stressed about it. Especially after talking with my upgrade buddies who were significantly junior to me and listening to them tell me how much they are enjoying the flying... the overnights... the days off, etc. at your second option. One of them commutes from Tennessee and the other commutes from Pennsylvania. It's worth it to them...

For what it's worth...

Bob

[Alchemy]

Originally Posted by H46Bubba

Matt are you senior enough to hold a line on the DL side out of LAX? ORD would be an easy commute with plenty of flights between home and LAX. Ohh Ohh, you could go to Newark and be John's captain sidekick!

He could hold a hard line in ONT or LAX easily. He'd be top 30% in LAX, which would be the best in-base seniority his number would hold. He would probably get a relief line in EWR or SAT, and would be reserve in IAH. He probably couldn't hold CLE unless he base traded in there somehow, at which point he'd be the 2nd most jr. captain in base.

[jtrain609]

LAX. Come the next perm bid, we can do some flying together

[Nick]

I would do LAX until being able to hold a relief line in IAH.

You know Pete -- he explained his plan to me and the more I thought about it, it is a no-brainer. You will probably get one hotel room per month at IAH even with a relief line. The stuff is so commuteable and if you get something that's not there always appears to be something in open time that is.

You wanna help the branded cause which is great but your own schedule ought to come first! That's my take on it if I were commuting out of ORD/MDW.

I'll see you in Tulsa tomorrow!

[Kingairer]

Your heart is telling you branded but your brain is telling you LAX for a nicer commute. gotta go with the smart choice and go with commutable and QOL.

[ERfly]

As part of the continual backslide of seniority in the first option, I say go to the second.

Seriously, though, the First Option commute isn't fun for anybody. The First Option is not very accessible except from select west coast cities or if you live in a select destination. The Second Option sounds like it would be much better, especially if you commute.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by ERfly

The Second Option sounds like it would be much better, especially if you commute.

And United and American are sending a combined five thousand seats per day.

[FlyChicaga]

I appreciate the comments guys. My seniority would be better in LAX for sure... better than any other base. Right now, going to a Continental base just really isn't an option for me. I love the west coast and the west coast flying, and that's what I'm going to stay doing. I have NO desire to be based in IAH. I've just become so attached at the idea of flying for "ExpressJet" and not another airline, it is hard to leave. But the two-leg commute... that's a killer.

I think my final decision will be to head for the easier commute. Although the flying isn't exactly what I want, the flying is very good to some awesome cities. We'll see how this all turns out.

Seriously... thank you for your comments. They are very helpful!

[mrivc211]

I feel your pain bro. I do the LAX/SNA-ORD commute weekly! It sucks! Specially getting home! I am bidding 77 out of 221 in ORD. I'd be bidding even senior to that in MKE but thats a two leg commute, so I wont do it. Best of luck to yah!

[DE727UPS]

Don't forget one leg commutes on UPS to ONT from many places, including RFD and DFW.

[mrivc211]

do you guys do ORD-ONT?

[DE727UPS]

Nope

[surreal1221]

Rockford is a good drive from Chi-town though. I suppose it's all relative. On the NW side, it may not be that bad, but on the S side of town. . .arg!

[kellwolf]

I'd say go with the one that's gonna net you the most days off. That'll maximize your time at home of the commute causes you to have to come in the day before or leave the day after a trip. Sounds like your first choice would net that, and you'd like the flying more as an added bonus.

[E_Dawg]

No way in hell would I do Chicago to ONT. Ya gotta stick with the one leg commute or you'll burn yourself out, regardless of how much fun you're having at work.

Besides, it's all about balance between work and time off. You say you like Chicago and don't want to leave, well you can maximize your time there by sticking to the easiest and quickest commute.

Just my thoughts.