Commuting from YVR, Pairings, Destinations

[IcePharaoh]

Hi,

How feasible is it for a new hire to commute from YVR? Would they manage to have 4/5 day pairings most of the time if they bid that way? What do those multi-day pairings look like? Mainly overnighting away from YYC for the length of the pairing?

Is there a route map for Encore somewhere or a list of the airports they fly to?

Thanks.

[careerpilot?]

I’m interested in the answers too. Less of a commute for me (Edmonton) but I do have the same questions.

[JBI]

It is possible to commute from YVR. When I was at Encore we had lots of pilots who commuted. I'm not 100% sure I'd recommend it though, the flights between YVR and YYC are notoriously delayed with flow times and NavCanada issues these days.

I'm not sure of the most recent pairing distributions. When I was at Encore there were plenty of 4 and 5 day pairings with some, but not a lot of, YVR layovers.

As for the routes, if you go on WestJet's website and look at "Flight Status", all the flights with a 3XXX flight number are Encore. Let's see if this link to works for a map:

Great Circle Mapper Encore Routes

[IcePharaoh]

It is possible to commute from YVR. When I was at Encore we had lots of pilots who commuted. I'm not 100% sure I'd recommend it though, the flights between YVR and YYC are notoriously delayed with flow times and NavCanada issues these days.

I'm not sure of the most recent pairing distributions. When I was at Encore there were plenty of 4 and 5 day pairings with some, but not a lot of, YVR layovers.

As for the routes, if you go on WestJet's website and look at "Flight Status", all the flights with a 3XXX flight number are Encore. Let's see if this link to works for a map:

Great Circle Mapper Encore Routes

Thank you JBI. Appreciate you taking the time to create the map, the link works great.

[Eh380]

It is possible to commute from YVR. When I was at Encore we had lots of pilots who commuted. I'm not 100% sure I'd recommend it though, the flights between YVR and YYC are notoriously delayed with flow times and NavCanada issues these days.

I'm not sure of the most recent pairing distributions. When I was at Encore there were plenty of 4 and 5 day pairings with some, but not a lot of, YVR layovers.

As for the routes, if you go on WestJet's website and look at "Flight Status", all the flights with a 3XXX flight number are Encore. Let's see if this link to works for a map:

Great Circle Mapper Encore Routes

I’m also interested in this. Is there free jumpseat options or do you still have to pay to commute but at a discounted fare.

[JBI]

I’m also interested in this. Is there free jumpseat options or do you still have to pay to commute but at a discounted fare.

The fare for standby travel is $0, but you still need to pay NavCanada Fees and Airport Improvement fees. It depends on the airport, but it usually is $40-$50 one way to commute.

[Eh380]

Thanks for this. Definitely changes my perspective of the feasibility of commuting now

[JBI]

Thanks for this. Definitely changes my perspective of the feasibility of commuting now

No worries. I commuted for 4 years and I'm really glad I no longer have to. I'm not saying I'd never do it again, but it would take some pretty strong circumstances to get me to do it (i.e. an upgrade, big raise, temporary family thing etc).

The hardest part I found with commuting was when things went sideways. First I tried to do it without a crash pad but then you'd miss your last flight, the hotels would be super busy or sold out and one or two nights added up costing more than what a crash pad would have cost. So my unsolicited advice is if you're going to commute, have a plan A, B and C of what you'll do to get to work and get home (or just get a good night's sleep somewhere).