Ydf commute

[NorthernTundra61]

Wondering if anyone out there is commuting from ydf? Can anyone comment on if its a tough one, or something that can be done with relative ease?
I would think that commuting during the summer months would be easier due to the increase service to the area.

Thanks

[CAL]

are you serious?......its hard from yeg....ask some of the boys from yhz for an honest answer....
dont commute it will destroy your westjet experience just move to yyc...

[NorthernTundra61]

Yeah I'm serious Cal.

East coast is beautiful and it's home. Guys commute from the maritimes, and as Far East as you can go in yyt. People are doing it and making it work.

[BverLuver]

Yeah I'm serious Cal.

East coast is beautiful and it's home. Guys commute from the maritimes, and as Far East as you can go in yyt. People are doing it and making it work.

NorthernTundra61,

If You already have all the answers, then why bother asking the question? If you only wanted positive responses, why bother asking the question? It seems Cal may be on the money from the right coast people I have talked to.

BL

[DTO-2]

Hey Northern...

I commute from YDF and it can be done. You have to watch the weather of course and have plan B in your back pocket. Its all about mind set. You have to remember you're a Calgary based pilot, getting to and from work is all on you. We have a great culture here at WJ with pilots from coast to coast, good salary, good benefits, good commuting schedule.

Hope this helps...

best of luck,MP me if you require more info.

Cheers

DTO-2

[highlander]

DTO-2 is bang on!

The commute can be done- but you have to have a back up plan. We even have a pilot living in Europe!!!!!!

To reiterate- it's all about the mind set. I have yet to meet a commuter who enjoys commuting! It's not easy, but we all have our own reasons for doing it.

I live in YWG so my commute is very different than a commuter in YDF. Probably the strategy is to bid smart- bid for longer pairings (i.e- 4 or 5 day pairings) and perhaps try and bid to have long stretches of time off- once you can- u could bid your vacation almost every other month. The loads from YDF to YYZ in my experience have always been fairly full. Especially in the summer.

if you have any questions- you can also pm me.

[KAG]

Just be prepared to lose additional days off in order to live back east. As long as you have the right frame of mind you can make it work. Once the regional gets going out east it should improve the commute but that's a couple of years away.
Good luck

[streets ahead]

DTO-2 is bang on!

The commute can be done- but you have to have a back up plan. We even have a pilot living in Europe!!!!!!

To reiterate- it's all about the mind set. I have yet to meet a commuter who enjoys commuting! It's not easy, but we all have our own reasons for doing it.

I live in YWG so my commute is very different than a commuter in YDF. Probably the strategy is to bid smart- bid for longer pairings (i.e- 4 or 5 day pairings) and perhaps try and bid to have long stretches of time off- once you can- u could bid your vacation almost every other month. The loads from YDF to YYZ in my experience have always been fairly full. Especially in the summer.

if you have any questions- you can also pm me.

Can't you port out of YWG?

[NorthernTundra61]

BL,
I never said I had all of the answers, thats why I asked the question in the first place. I know there were guys commuting from the east coast, so the question was directed at them.

Thanks guys for the responses.
I'll take the opportunity to pm you both if you don't mind.

NT

[NorthernTundra61]

DTO-2 and highlander,

I sent you both PM's

Thanks guys

[DTO-2]

DTO-2 and highlander,

I sent you both PM's

Thanks guys

No problem NT, happy to help. Check your messages...I sent you some info. DaveP is also a great resource to your questions aswell. He's a very busy man but checks the site from time to time to answer questions.

Take care

DTO-2
YJT

[twinpratts]

The way it's going with the loads we have, it's only gonna get harder. This summer it took my family and I, 3 days to get from YHZ to YYC.
I'd say give it 4-6 mos and see how you like spending so much time in Airports and in the Jumpseat. Then move out to YYC and see how much your life improves.

In all seriousness, best of luck with your decision

TP
(Former commuter)

[Kestral]

I don't fly for WS but I do live on the east coast. I know a former PAL pilot who flies for WS and commutes from YYT. He loves working for WS but not the commute. It is doable as mentioned above, but not without issues. Flights from YYT are full a lot of the time and then throw in the weather delays from snow storms/Fog and look out. Although the Fog delays would not be so much of a factor from YDF.

[highlander]

DTO-2 is bang on!

The commute can be done- but you have to have a back up plan. We even have a pilot living in Europe!!!!!!

To reiterate- it's all about the mind set. I have yet to meet a commuter who enjoys commuting! It's not easy, but we all have our own reasons for doing it.

I live in YWG so my commute is very different than a commuter in YDF. Probably the strategy is to bid smart- bid for longer pairings (i.e- 4 or 5 day pairings) and perhaps try and bid to have long stretches of time off- once you can- u could bid your vacation almost every other month. The loads from YDF to YYZ in my experience have always been fairly full. Especially in the summer.

if you have any questions- you can also pm me.

Can't you port out of YWG?

Yes I do port out of YWG. But port flying is never a guarantee. There are many variables. So while some months I have had all port flying- yippee! Other months I have not. It is important for people to truly understand how the ports work- AND, it's important to still understand that your base is YYC. otherwise you will be disappointed and disillusioned.

[gianthammer]

How do the Vounteer Days off work for the Ports and the Comuters, as I understand it that's a huge reason as to why WJ doesn't have a reserve system?

[Bleed Air]

I fly for CX and commute to YDF (then on to Bay SGeorge) for the summers. Mind you I only have to do it once a month from YDF to HK return, but it is doable.
From what I've found summer season is all one way directional, everyone heading east at the start of summer and light loads back, and everyone heading west at end of summer with light loads out.
Christmas time is usually a mess, with the odd storm thrown in for good measure. That being said my wife and son just made it back there on DEC 27 all the way from HK no problem.
You guys at WS ran double daily for part of the summer which was great!! And down to daily right up to end of Oct. There usually wasn't too many staff travellers on WS, I never saw more than 3 listed, and as I assume you have JS, you should never have a problem as long as you have a flight going(as far as YYz that is)
Big Red has one direct from YYZ (2 in summer) and 4 thru YHZ (5 in summer).
Try to avoid YHZ like the plauge, lots of AC commuters outta YHZ and the place can fog in in spring and fall. When they use the dash outta YHZ they block 3 or 4 seats for weight restrictions. Which is actually good as they don't oversell those seats so if the flight show full, there is always 3 or 4 open seats, then it's up to the day if they have the weight to release those seats.
There is a very low, no show factor to YDF, most people who buy seats show up and with crap loads of baggage. Lots of people on those flight are workers whose company is sending them back from the oil sand in AB. If however there is a miss connect then there will be lots of seats come open last min. However if your flight looks good, and a connecting flight from earlier misconnected, there now could be tons of people go-show for the flight you were waiting for, now the rest of the seats for the rest of the day will be shot also.
Last word, take a direct flight that gets you as far as you can everytime, regardless of how early ahead of when you wanted to be there it gets you, as things can go for a crap in a hurry.
Good luck, see you in the last row next summer!!