Crash pads?

[Lianna]

So my fiancee just found out that he is being based out of Charleston. We were hoping it was going to be Houston, but we were obviously wrong. So now that I've set everything up for us to move in TWO weeks to Houston, we are not sure what is going to happen. I know he can commute, but if something arises, he has to go to a crash pad. Can someone explaing this concept to me a little better? :googleeye I'm just really stressed with the moving and a little peeved that I went through all this trouble and we get told we're not even moving to where we thought. Maybe I should move this to the venting thread?:frown: Anyway, any help will be great. Thanks.

[lucky81698]

A crashpad is a house or apartment where usually a large number of people split the "rent". I have seen as many as 18 for a 3 bedroom. It would be very rare that everyone would be there at the same time. They are usually furnished, some with assigned beds, some "hot beds" and some a combo of both. Some require that you bring your own bedding/towels. Usually the "rent" is monthly and includes everything. Some are co-ed and some are all guys or all girls. Some have transportation available and some don't. If he doesn't think he will be there more than a couple times a month, then sometimes just buying a hotel room for the nights he needs may be a better choice.

Is he with Colgan? Unfortunately, they have been known to open/close bases at a whim. They do this so they have pilots based at their outstations and do not have to pay for hotels for them and then in turn they don't pay per diem either. (at least they didn't used to pay per diem unless on an RON which they don't have many of due to all the bases!) Is he commuting to Charleston WV or SC? if it is WV then he may end up with a 2 leg commute since there is only 1 non-stop a day on Continental Express.

I can understand why you are disgusted with this since you planned to move to IAH. One thing in this business, is to live where you want to live not just where the base is for just this reason. Especially with the smaller airlines like Colgan. Do you want to move? Does he think it will be long before he ends up in IAH? Keep in mind too that they are just a contract carrier for CAL and they could end their contract and the flying in IAH would go away. So anyway, if you don't really want to move is it too late to change your plans? Good luck to you both.

[Lianna]

Thanks for the info! From what I gather, Colgan is trying to build the IAH base, so he can rebid in a few months for that base. It just sucks for the first couple of months. My family is in TX, so moving to Houston is really good for us. Thanks for the input on moving where you want, not where you are based. It makes a lot of sense.


He is out of WV. I think the hardest part is him trying to get a flight out, since Colgan people are bottom of the rung in flight benefits. U.S. Airways and Continental people go first, then Colgan people get seats. He's afraid that he might get bumped and not make his flight.

We are hoping to only be with Colgan for 2 years. They are giving Captain upgrades within a year and a half. So we shall see what happens.

[Kristie]

if he's afraid of getting bumped on his flights and he's commuting, he may want to do the commute a day before his trip starts to give him the best opportunities to get out there and be there for the trip.. i know at some airlines, commuting and NOT making your trip because you "keep getting bumped" is not a good enough reason and they'll fire you for stuff like that.

so if he's worried about that, he should plan on commuting a day before (at least) just in case.

commuting is a *choice* and that's exactly how the airlines see it.

[lucky81698]

Originally Posted by Lianna

Thanks for the info! From what I gather, Colgan is trying to build the IAH base, so he can rebid in a few months for that base. It just sucks for the first couple of months. My family is in TX, so moving to Houston is really good for us. Thanks for the input on moving where you want, not where you are based. It makes a lot of sense.


He is out of WV. I think the hardest part is him trying to get a flight out, since Colgan people are bottom of the rung in flight benefits. U.S. Airways and Continental people go first, then Colgan people get seats. He's afraid that he might get bumped and not make his flight.

We are hoping to only be with Colgan for 2 years. They are giving Captain upgrades within a year and a half. So we shall see what happens.

Are you sure about that? The flight is operated by Continental Express so he should get on before a US employee. I'll look in SONIC and see what the codes are. I'll get back to you on that.

[lucky81698]

Lianna,

Is he with the Continental Connection part of Colgan or the USAir Express part of Colgan? I was assuming if he thought he would be in IAH it was the CAL part. If he is with the Continental part he is a SA5A which means he gets on after all CO employees and their families. If he is with the US part then he is a SA5P which means he is pretty much the bottom of the barrel, after all ID 90,s 95s, buddy passes etc. Pretty close to last. And if their were 2 of them travelling on the same flight and only one seat after everyone else was boarded, then the one with the most seniority would get on. The USair employees would get on before him in that case because they would travel on an ID90.

[Kristie]

woah.. those pilots are AFTER buddy passes???? that's CRZY!!