How bad is commuting

[lownslow]

I thought I enjoyed commuting but after seeing some responses here I must be wrong.

[frog]

Commute = crash pad = jumpseat = nightmare.

[fish4life]

Living in yyz = nightmare
Driving to yyz = nightmare

I guess it all depends on your perspective

[notwhoyouthinkIam]

Living in yyz = nightmare
Driving to yyz = nightmare

I guess it all depends on your perspective

The issue with driving to YYZ is that you're either driving the 400 where, even if you're doing 140, there are people up your ass and passing you on both sides, or you're driving the 401 which is shit in Milton and shit north of Toronto.

I'm sure one day they'll put a regional train that stops at the airport... actually, scrap that, our government can't figure out their ass from their head (it's a wonder people believe that this pandemic was planned).

[frog]

I guess it is a matter of perspective, I agree but I remember not being able to enjoy my time home being worried about not being able to catch my flight back to work.
Once at work, worried about not being able to catch my flight home and sometimes, it is not even worth it to go home if you miss a couple flight.
Also, spending a day in the airport waiting for the gate agent to call your name and...."sorry, try the next one..."

And of course, the crashpad....

And i almost forgot :

The schedule is coming out and....10 days of reserve peppered over a month...now you're not going home...

[DanWEC]

It really depends on the company and the ability to build a commuting schedule.
I know of guys who had to quit regionals because they couldn't/wouldn't/afford relocation from their home to YYZ or YVR.
Personally, I've commuted for every single job except being a flight instructor, and it's generally terrible, but manageable if you put enough thought into it. Do your research, contact every hotel you can for discounts, have a plan B,C, and D for every trip. It gets easier, but then it gets tiresome.

If it's a temporary, rung in the ladder necessary evil, then you can make it work, but as a lifestyle until retirement, yikes. As frog said, the anxiety can be terrible, and perpetual. I've only lost the game once in 7 years and didn't make it, but came wayy too close too many times, and I always planned to come in the day before. Just remember, even if every flight for hours all have 20 open seats, one AOG and they all instantly fill up.

I used to have a 2 hr drive to my base, that wasn't bad. Made for some early mornings, long days, and late nights, I just didn't bid for single days. But it was reliable and, the biggest plus, entirely under my own control.
Later that turned into a commute by plane to YYZ. Not as fun, and downright risky. When things pick up again I'll be doing a 4 hr drive with the truck, towing a nice 24' trailer. Doing three round trips a month and burning tons of propane in the winter is exponentially better than the uncertainty of standby for me, but I always need all my ducks in a row. You might not be as neurotic.

[‘Bob’]

I thought I enjoyed commuting but after seeing some responses here I must be wrong.

Hey, don’t let us persuade you otherwise.

Most of life is based on outlook. The person who is truly happy with commuting is always going to be ahead of the person who is miserable while they don’t.

[frog]

It also depends on your situation.

If you're in your 20 ies, and single, it will easier than if you have young kids at home.

[Launchpad1]

How about YHZ to YYZ? I know it's obviously pretty bad at the moment but did anyone make this work in normal times?

[Cavalier44]

At the end of the day it comes down to the individual and their own personal situation. I spent the first decade of my airline career living in reasonable proximity to whatever my base happened to be at the time, and after watching friends and colleagues struggle with the stress of commuting I told myself I’d never accept a job where I’d have to do the same.

Lo and behold, COVID-19 hit and I lost my job. After spending the better part of a year unemployed, I was fortunate enough to be offered a flying job in another province. I like where I’m living now, and due to my personal situation I’m not particularly interested in relocating to where the new job is located, thus I’m now commuting back and forth. Is it an ideal situation? Perhaps not - but I feel tremendously fortunate to be flying and making a decent income once again, one that more than offsets the cost of commuting back and forth. After experiencing the struggle of trying to make ends meet on CERB/EI/CEWS, commuting certainly doesn’t seem so bad by comparison.

Would I have ever considered commuting before going through this experience? My answer would have been an emphatic “no” - but here we are. Would I recommend doing it for an entire career if given the choice, certainly not, but our personal circumstances may make it unavoidable, at least temporarily. If you can find a crash pad with a friend or two it certainly makes the time you spend there more enjoyable; I also purchased a second (used) vehicle to keep at work, which makes life much easier for getting around, purchasing groceries so you’re not always forced to go with Uber Eats, etc. There are certainly things like that that you can do to make commuting more bearable.

[bcflyer]

It really depends on where you are commuting to/from. I have one of the the shortest commutes out there, YVR-YCD and it works fine for me. Quite often I’m home before my F/O’s that live in Abbotsford or other places farther out in the valley.

[valleyboy]

There is 2 different types of commuting, for pairings and for the actual job based base where you are away for at least 2 weeks at a time. Commuting for pairings is pretty easy for working for companies like Jazz but the whole "crash pad" world to me is pretty sketchy. Also the Buffalo NY crash has shone a light on airline commuting. It seems that we bitch about FDT's but are willing to stay up for 24 hours or more getting to or from work.

My commuting experience is mostly 2 weeks on 2 weeks off (not really it's actually 16 on and 12 off because of the commute. I much preferred 3 on 3 off but TC screwed that one up -- haha, this was the only formula for getting enough time off to do stuff.

I know guys who have commuted for most of their careers but for me it became very tedious and burnout was high since the company wanted to get at least a month's flying out of you in the "on" period. The other issue is if you can get the company to pay for your commute, if not it's costing.

In this time of craziness, obviously one is going to accept any reasonable employment, be prepared for training bonds.

[scdriver]

It really depends on where you are commuting to/from. I have one of the the shortest commutes out there, YVR-YCD and it works fine for me. Quite often I’m home before my F/O’s that live in Abbotsford or other places farther out in the valley.

I would think there’s quite a few guys and gals doing yvr-ycd/yyj/maybe yqq commutes, is that a correct assumption?

[NotDirty!]

How about YHZ to YYZ? I know it's obviously pretty bad at the moment but did anyone make this work in normal times?

I know a number of pilots who live in YHZ and are based in YYZ or YUL. I think it is a “popular” commute, so if you are low on the priority list, that can be an issue. But there are parings available on lots of fleets that have YHZ layovers…. Some may even start with a DH to YHZ, which is great if it works in your favour!

[Launchpad1]

I know a number of pilots who live in YHZ and are based in YYZ or YUL. I think it is a “popular” commute, so if you are low on the priority list, that can be an issue. But there are parings available on lots of fleets that have YHZ layovers…. Some may even start with a DH to YHZ, which is great if it works in your favour!

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping that in the not to distant future the airline I work for opens a YHZ base. There's not much out here at the moment. It's one of the few down sides of living in Halifax in my opinion.

[47north]

It really depends on where you are commuting to/from. I have one of the the shortest commutes out there, YVR-YCD and it works fine for me. Quite often I’m home before my F/O’s that live in Abbotsford or other places farther out in the valley.

I would think there’s quite a few guys and gals doing yvr-ycd/yyj/maybe yqq commutes, is that a correct assumption?

There are many commuting to the Island, including me. It’s been harder during COVID but still pretty easy. There is always the ferry as a backup which rarely cancels.

Stresses some out but not me. Best place to live in Canada IMO. Couldn’t pay me enough to live in YYZ.

[scdriver]

It really depends on where you are commuting to/from. I have one of the the shortest commutes out there, YVR-YCD and it works fine for me. Quite often I’m home before my F/O’s that live in Abbotsford or other places farther out in the valley.

I would think there’s quite a few guys and gals doing yvr-ycd/yyj/maybe yqq commutes, is that a correct assumption?

There are many commuting to the Island, including me. It’s been harder during COVID but still pretty easy. There is always the ferry as a backup which rarely cancels.

Stresses some out but not me. Best place to live in Canada IMO. Couldn’t pay me enough to live in YYZ.

Plus harbour and helijet, seems ideal for airline commuting.

[bcflyer]

It’s probably as good as it gets for commuting. A bit harder with Covid but still way easier than most commutes. I did YYJ-YVR for many years as well and it was definitely a bit harder than my current commute. Simply more commuters on that route.

[Slugger]

Everyone has a different story about commuting. Personally, I have commuted for my entire 21yr AC career. Mostly YVR based and live in SK. First few years, had family in YVR that I stayed with. Was down in YYZ for 1.5yrs and that was awful. Not just because it was YYZ, but mainly the flop house crash pad I was in. Deplorable, but was cheap.

Have 1 bedroom suite in YVR now. Been there for over 12 years and has really worked out nicely. I split the cost with another commuter from YYJ. I do keep a car out on the LEFT Coast, and plate insurance is split, so car is shared.

As for back and forth from home, you make it work. I normally go out day before, especially when doing overseas. Back doing domestic now and still go out day before. No stress. Of course you have to keep an eye on loads. Past year, has been great as no trouble getting a seat. Before, if needed the jump, the JAZZ guys/gals have been great in giving me jump if needed. Generally get a seat.

[flying4dollars]

I had a really easy commute between YYC and YVR when I was at my last gig. Mind you my seniority climbed very quickly and I had the pick of the litter with the schedule. In my last year, I bid a 4 day pairing that started in YYC on Monday's at 330pm and ended at 11am Thursday. I'd fly to YYC monday morning giving myself 2 flights in case. I'd then fly home on the noon or 1pm flight after the pairing and I never didn't make a flight due to loads. It was as glorious as it got for commuting. No hotel required in YYC (maybe once a month if that).

In the beginning, I'd say I needed a hotel maybe 4 nights a month. It's different based on where you lived and what base you were commuting to, what airline you are with and what your seniority and schedule are like. It's doable, but sometimes expensive. Where I am now, some guys that commute spend up to 1k commuting. So obviously a very different story.

[Slugger]

I'm with AC and been somewhat junior most of my career. Just starting to see some better senority. I commuted to domestic reserve for a year in 2007-2008. Wasn't too bad as I was flying out pretty much each month. I did 7 months overseas reserve on the 767 in 2012-2013, but that was way more predictable. I try to bid 3 to 4 day trips that finish early, so can get home same day. This of course, when we were busy and China didn't start this shitshow we know as covid.

[Shinyjetsyndrome]

Has anyone commuted to YYZ or YUL from YOW? Curious what others’ experiences were like. I could see myself living here long term.

I know lots of guys who do YOW to YUL but they drive.

What is the reserve call out time for the airline(s) you speak of? I thought it was 90 minutes and it’s about a 2 hour drive to YUL from YOW. Do they all still have a crash pad in YUL or have enough seniority to hold a line?

[47north]

Has anyone commuted to YYZ or YUL from YOW? Curious what others’ experiences were like. I could see myself living here long term.

I know lots of guys who do YOW to YUL but they drive.

What is the reserve call out time for the airline(s) you speak of? I thought it was 90 minutes and it’s about a 2 hour drive to YUL from YOW. Do they all still have a crash pad in YUL or have enough seniority to hold a line?

At Jazz it's a 2 hours callout, but normally more notice is given. I have a friend that commutes YOW-YUL. On reserve he has everything ready to go and says it no issue to get there on time.

[boeingpilotguy]

I commuted for 3 years and disliked it. But I would only do it if it gets you closer to your goal of time building or jet time.

[Shinyjetsyndrome]

I know lots of guys who do YOW to YUL but they drive.

What is the reserve call out time for the airline(s) you speak of? I thought it was 90 minutes and it’s about a 2 hour drive to YUL from YOW. Do they all still have a crash pad in YUL or have enough seniority to hold a line?

At Jazz it's a 2 hours callout, but normally more notice is given. I have a friend that commutes YOW-YUL. On reserve he has everything ready to go and says it no issue to get there on time.

Oh right on. Great to know for future purposes.. Is AC a 2 hour callout as well?