Author Topic: Commuting by plane  (Read 2315 times)

ETBen

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Commuting by plane
« on: September 23, 2018, 08:53:44 PM »
My dream job is going through a merger. There is a 90% chance I will keep my job, with a promotion. HOWEVER it will require me to travel to the new location 2-3 weeks per month (go Monday, come back midday Wednesday). At my cost. It’s cheap flight and 1 hr away.

If you’ve done this kind of “commute” any thoughts?

- It’s not expensed but the increased salary will cover it. Plus mad travel points lol
- work from home all other days. I’ve worked from home for the past 8 years, except for meetings and clients. So this isn’t a change.
- I’m a high earner. To make this locally would likely require giving up some flexibility.  Going to an office 8 hours a day, etc. And I probably still would take a pay cut from what I make now, pre-raise.
- I currently save 50% of my take home income.
- The culture of the combined new company is still unknown
- Was my dream job, would still be that but higher. Except I honestly wouldn’t be trying to climb any higher if the situation had not arose.
- I could get a local position with the company  but not guaranteed. And would still require a 2 hr drive once a week. The flight is only 1 hour.
- Time and fatigue. How exhausting is this really going to be?  My kids are with their father the days I would be gone. But every time I step off that plane I’ll be right back in the middle of soccer scouts baseball homework etc.

WalkaboutStache

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Re: Commuting by plane
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2018, 09:43:45 PM »
Seems feasible if you consider the added flexibility.  Some people talk about taking a pay cut to get days at home, you are taking a "commute cut" but also getting a pay raise.

On the other hand, your flight is NOT 1 hr.  You need to account for time to and from the airport (and attendant expenses), getting felt up by the good people of TSA, and sitting on lounges. All of that is offset by the time you already spend commuting and the commuting time you will save on the days you work from home. 

Would it make sense to drive and claim the increased depreciation of your car on taxes?

Considering that you can always quit later, it seems worth the experiment UNLESS you get a sweet severance package if you don't take the job.

I'd be inclined to do it.

bacchi

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Re: Commuting by plane
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2018, 10:03:14 PM »
I commuted for 2x/month. It sucked. Granted, it was a 4 hour flight and it was also Mon-Thu. I WFH the other 2 weeks.

Get some good credit cards and start churning those points.

nnls

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Re: Commuting by plane
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2018, 11:20:41 PM »


On the other hand, your flight is NOT 1 hr.  You need to account for time to and from the airport (and attendant expenses), getting felt up by the good people of TSA, and sitting on lounges. All of that is offset by the time you already spend commuting and the commuting time you will save on the days you work from home. 



This is important to remember, my work is about a 1.5h flight from home, I only live 15 minutes from the airport, and security at the airport moves pretty quick but I still spend a lot of time just sitting in airport lounges.

I would do it, if you dont enjoy it you can always look for a different job thats within your home town.

Syonyk

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Re: Commuting by plane
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2018, 09:52:50 AM »
On the other hand, your flight is NOT 1 hr.  You need to account for time to and from the airport (and attendant expenses), getting felt up by the good people of TSA, and sitting on lounges. All of that is offset by the time you already spend commuting and the commuting time you will save on the days you work from home. 

You can get TSA PreCheck, assuming you're the sort of upstanding citizen unlikely to bomb airplanes.  $85 for 5 years.

https://www.tsa.gov/precheck

And, as an added benefit, Congress got annoyed by non-precheck people in their fast lane, so they're passing a bill to prevent any non-precheck people from using it: https://www.sfgate.com/chris-mcginnis/amp/TSA-Precheck-bill-ban-non-members-13207142.php

Well, well worth it if you are traveling that often.  Keep your shoes on, laptops in a bag, walk though the metal detector like a civilized person instead of the porn-o-scope or the Freedom Grope(TM), and you're good!

Airport lounges aren't a bad place to work from, if your airports have something decent in the wing you fly out of.

ETBen

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Re: Commuting by plane
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2018, 01:44:50 PM »
Some how I think this double posted oops

Yes I have precheck and would probably get Clear bc my home airport has it. I’m definitely the person that gets to my flight last minute (at least the one going there) so there is a time factor but it’s not huge. Parking cost is also an issue, you’re right. I hate driving in traffic more than anything so in my mind this is all a reasonable trade off. Not sure though.

 I think I’m definitely leaning towards doing it, the worst case scenario is I leave if I don’t like it. Or try to get a more regional role if they would allow it. I haven’t been there long enough to get a good severance but I did consider that too!

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!