Hey everyone–as someone who’s paying off their pilot loan bill, I’d like to get your thoughts on commuting…
In my instance, I am living in Orlando, but my base will be in Detroit. I’ve heard from many people, that living by your base is MUCH preferred vs commuting, especially in your first year working for the airline.
However, my situation in Orlando is that I am living rent free. Should I move to Detroit, I will have to pay rent, which will slow down the amount of $ I’m throwing at the monthly loan payments.
So my question is…
1- For people who have commuted in order to save rent $, did you find it worth it?
2- For people who DID move to their base, and ended up paying rent, were you satisfied in making that decision, or do you wish you just commuted?
(Yes, I am probably asking the most debated question in the world of airline pilots)
(for more background–I am not married, have no kids which leaves me a little more freedom to decide)
Not an expert here, but every single pilot I know and have heard of would 100% recommend NOT to commute if possible. That is if quality of life is a factor for you. Especially with a 3 hour flight up to Detroit just to get to work.
As I’m sure you’re aware, this is a highly complicated answer and very dependent on you as a person. What are your priorities? How much do you value time at home? Is flight time/money more important? How many flights are there between the 2 cities and how difficult will that specific commute be? See where I am going?
You’ll likely have to get a crash pad in DTW. So depending on that cost, it may be financially beneficial to make the move. It just depends how much your rent would be. As an example: Let’s say you could find a place with a roommate in DTW for $600/month. On the flip side, a crashpad there might cost $150/month. If you moved there, you’d have to make up that $450 difference. You’ll probably save yourself about 4 days off a month not having to commute (and a LOT of stress) and can probably make up that $450 by working an extra 1-2 days. Which means you’re still going to have 2-3 extra days off by living in base.
Of course this is only talking numbers. I don’t know if that’s your main priority. And I don’t know your personal financial situation or what DTW is like, if you want a roommate, etc. Only you can really decide that. I will say personally, living within driving distance is ten times better than any commute. You don’t stress about getting to or from work, you are able to work more, make more money, etc. But again, all of this is highly personal. I’ve commuted for 2 years broken up throughout my flying career. I know people who have done it for decades and don’t seem to mind because their priorities are just different. Good luck with your decision!
There’s no question (and I’m sure you’re aware) commuting is just a pain. That said probably more than half the pilots I know commute. Some dread it others treat as simply part of the job (attitude makes a huge difference in these decisions). There are a variety of reasons to do it, in your case it sounds like it’s financial (which is fine). As Jordan said there are simply too many variables for anyone to give you a “correct” answer to your question and to me the biggest variable and factor will be your schedule. If you can eventually get a commutable schedule, commuting is not that terrible, if you can’t it can be.
If it were me I’d simply give it a try. I know EVERYBODY wants to have their lives laid out and pre-planned down to what’s for breakfast for the next month and a half but again you’re trying to make a decision based on information you simply don’t have. If your schedule is completely non-commutable, there are limited flights (or if it’s a popular commute) and you have trouble getting there, the cost of parking in MCO is more than rent in DTW, or you just find it too much your decision’s been made. If however you get some decent trips, it’s a easy one leg flight that’s often open and you actually enjoy the down time to read, watch movies whatever then why not.
I’d worry more about flows, systems and the regs for now.
I have commuted for my entire career and I would absolutely recommend against commuting. While it may cost you to move to base, commuting has costs too. If you commute you will have Crashpad or hotel costs, parking costs at your home airport and lost wage opportunity costs because you will probably fly less productive trips because they are “commutable”. Not to mention the toll on your time and body that commuting takes.
I would really look into moving to base if I were you.