The World of International Commuting

[WestIndian425]

I'd venture to guess the veterans of the industry and this forum would have the best answer:

I've heard during my short tenure as a 121 pilot of some folks commuting internationally (particularly from Europe to here) to do trips and then go back home. In my eyes, that seems extreme, though commuting from east coast to west coast is pretty much the same thing. That being said...

• How difficult is it to do that?
• Are there just a handful of people or is it more than that who actually venture to do that?
• How is that organized so that they can spend ample time at home (considering such trips would require a day to travel) with family and work with their respective companies?
• How does that work with accounts/pay/taxes, etc?

So many quesitions, I know...

[MQAAord]

When Bill was with TWA he flew with a CA who pointed out the apartment in Paris where he and his wife used to live. He'd commuted for a few years from Paris to NY, at the time it was never a problem getting an open seat. Commuting was easy, though he did have to pay all departure taxes. Not sure what he did about finances, if he kept a U.S. address somewhere (parents or something). But when Bill flew with him he was living in the states again.

[mrivc211]

theres a guy whos based in ord and commutes from thailand for us. crazy

[Doug Taylor]

There's a guy in JFK that lives in Lyon, France.

You're probably going to have to stay very senior and pay a lot of departure taxes. Heck, commuting out of Britain would probably be what, $100 a commute?

[NC_BE300]

I've heard of a senior guy (FO i think) that commutes from Japan that flys for us. I'm not sure if he's CVG or JFK based though (i think CVG). But the rumor was that he still pretty much lived in the US.

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

There's a guy in JFK that lives in Lyon, France.

You're probably going to have to stay very senior and pay a lot of departure taxes. Heck, commuting out of Britain would probably be what, $100 a commute?

well, not if you jumpseat right?

altho that's not nearly as much fun as sitting in back for 8+ hrs.

[Doug Taylor]

I think you pay taxes jumpseating as well. Gotta ask JC's very own "Flying Anthony Bourdain", E dawg.

[E_Dawg]

Yes you do still have to pay taxes. Usually it's pretty cheap ($15), but if you're going out of say, London it can still be steep ($120.) I usually just list.

International commuting from Europe? I think you'd be more concerned with having to pay for everything in Euros than paying departure taxes a few times a month.

[WestIndian425]

Originally Posted by MQAAord

When Bill was with TWA he flew with a CA who pointed out the apartment in Paris

Originally Posted by mrivc211

theres a guy whos based in ord and commutes from thailand for us. crazy

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

There's a guy in JFK that lives in Lyon, France.

Originally Posted by NC_BE300

I've heard of a senior guy (FO i think) that commutes from Japan that flys for us.

Paris, London, and Lyon, I can understand although I find that crazy. But Japan and Thailand?

Originally Posted by E_Dawg

Yes you do still have to pay taxes. Usually it's pretty cheap ($15), but if you're going out of say, London it can still be steep ($120.) I usually just list.

International commuting from Europe? I think you'd be more concerned with having to pay for everything in Euros than paying departure taxes a few times a month.

I'd imagine from LHR/LGW it would be expensive.

How do people manage when commuting from so far? When I think of family life I can see how difficult that would be (it would take a really supportive spouse -- it's hard enough just commuting a few states here!). Certainly it's not as bad as the pilot in some movie who had wives in different places (can't remember the name of it... I'll get back to you on that one)

[NC_BE300]

I think the movie was called "Frequent Flyer". But dont hold me to that.

It would take a very supportive spouse under those conditions. If they can be happy-it will do leaps and bounds for quality of life. Especially if the spouse if from another country in Europe. They will love the idea of staying home in their country-while you fly to work-and come back when able. (I've heard this idea preached to me by the girlfriend). But it would probably take one heck of a good schedule to make that kind of international commute possible.
I couldnt imagine commuting from Europe, just to possibly sit around with a pager, not get used, and then have to fly back. But if you had an assignment, and plenty of flight backups-i guess it could be do-able. Just like any other kind of commute-except add a few hours to the flight time.

Now that i think about it-i've heard of a guy at ASA also that make the commute from Europe to ATL. And when asked why he does it......he only needs to show a picture of his wife...then it all seems to make sense. At least thats the story i heard many years ago.

[I_Money]

A guy at BA used to do it from Australia - he was on the 747, at the time BA had some schedules which were 12 on 18 off or similar. They would go to Bangkok and then fly to Australia a couple times, and then back. Ideal for that situation.

With the weak dollar it must be very hard to do these days.

[TheAlchemist]

Quick question:

So when jumpseating internationally would I have to list myself on the flight?

Or is it like domestic jumpseating (except you can't ride the actual cockpit)... you just show up at the gate and go?


Thanks

[FSIPILOT]

I've never listed at the gate, always at the ticket counter but yes its just like jumpseating (from the US that is, and yes you sit in the back [offline only?]).

[BobDDuck]

Originally Posted by TheAlchemist

Quick question:

So when jumpseating internationally would I have to list myself on the flight?

Or is it like domestic jumpseating (except you can't ride the actual cockpit)... you just show up at the gate and go?


Thanks

List at the ticket counter. Often times you will have to pay taxes, and most gate computers aren't set up to do that. Also, if you are flying BACK into the US you probably won't be able to get out to the gate with just your ID and will need a boarding pass from the ticket counter anyways.

[Polar742]

We have guys living in all corners of the world. Just off the top of my head:

One CA lives in Sydney AU
F/O in Thailand
Loadmasters in Philipeans (I can't spell today)
Smattering of folks in the EU

If you live in a far-away place, I'd maybe look at the 74 cargo operations for a commute. Between us and our sister company, you can get to at least 6 continents...

[jspeed87]

International Commuting is the way to go. Your dollar goes a long way in another country no matter how weak the dollar. Just stay away from europe. But if you commute from like costa rica, man you can live like a king.

[Nick]

A guy at NWA commutes to ANC from Bangkok.

A guy at ExpressJet commutes from Paris to Houston, and another from Munich to Newark. Just a few more examples for ya.

Jumpseaters do have to pay the departure tax but I'm 0 for 3 on United as far as having to pay them. I'm not sure what other airlines and what particular stations forget to or don't know how to charge the departure tax.

Leaving the UK, as was mentioned, would be $150 in first class or about $100 in coach.

With the silly 30/7 rule for domestic flying I don't see how people would commute from overseas, but with the ability to do 9-12 days in a row with less rest rule interference flying internationally, it would be more reasonable.

[WestIndian425]

Originally Posted by Nick

A guy at NWA commutes to ANC from Bangkok.

A guy at ExpressJet commutes from Paris to Houston, and another from Munich to Newark. Just a few more examples for ya.

Jumpseaters do have to pay the departure tax but I'm 0 for 3 on United as far as having to pay them. I'm not sure what other airlines and what particular stations forget to or don't know how to charge the departure tax.

Leaving the UK, as was mentioned, would be $150 in first class or about $100 in coach.

With the silly 30/7 rule for domestic flying I don't see how people would commute from overseas, but with the ability to do 9-12 days in a row with less rest rule interference flying internationally, it would be more reasonable.

Out of Trinidad, I've had to pay departure tax once -- that's out of countless times I've gone. DL just took care of it at the counter.

You're right, though, Nick. Your schedule would have to be perfect to accomodate such a commute. Yet, it's about the same as commuting from coast to coast when you think of flight time or distance.

[TheAlchemist]

So you list at the ticket counter and I'm assuming later on the gate agent will print you a boarding pass in coach...right? Any tips on how to get a first class seat? Talk to the F/A or the Captain?

Thank you all for the great info.

[WestIndian425]

Originally Posted by TheAlchemist

So you list at the ticket counter and I'm assuming later on the gate agent will print you a boarding pass in coach...right? Any tips on how to get a first class seat? Talk to the F/A or the Captain?

Thank you all for the great info.

Well from my experience if there are seats available, it's up to the crew. The last time I was on DL and travelling with my significant other. We weren't seated together because the flight was full (except for first). The flight attendant tried to get us seats together, and eventually the purser just told us to come up front. Plenty of seats there.

I love SouthernJets!

[av8sean]

I've been test running my commute from Toronto to Detroit, and plan to get an apartment there next month. No issues, except having to pay the departure fee every time (about $30). Also, they don't seem keen on hitting the gate 10 minutes before the flight like on domestics. I think you need to be listed 90 minutes prior, etc.

[scramjet]

Pan Am pilots used to commute to the Berlin base from CONUS a lot apparently.