Every airline pilot’s day looks a little different. Some pilots live in base and have a simple commute to work, while others (like me) commute to their assigned base before starting a trip.
Commuting to Work
Today, I had a commutable trip, which means I was able to get to my base and start my schedule without needing to travel the night before.
0615 — Wake Up and Get Ready
The day started a little earlier than planned because Teddy chose the morning of a trip to remind me that dogs have impeccable timing. 😅 After making sure he was okay, I finished getting ready, grabbed my bags, and headed out to commute to work.
My alarm went off at 0615, giving me about an hour and a half to take care of Teddy, get myself ready, and head to the airport.
One of the hardest parts of this job is leaving him behind. I hate saying goodbye just as much as Teddy hates watching me go.
He’s become an expert at recognizing my suitcase and my “work morning” routine, which means he usually knows what’s coming before I even walk out the door.
To make our goodbyes a little easier, I always give him a bone before I leave. It’s become our little routine — a distraction for him and a little peace of mind for me.
Everything else was packed and prepared the night before because early mornings as an airline pilot don’t leave much room for last-minute scrambling.
One thing that makes pilot life easier? Preparation. Everything was already packed and ready to go from the night before. When your workday can start before sunrise, the less you have to think about in the morning, the better.
Getting to the Airport
I drove to the airport and parked in employee parking, which is an expense I pay for as part of my commute.
After parking, I made my way through special security, and headed to the gate just as boarding groups 1–4 were beginning.
Since I was commuting to work, I was flying standby. Luckily, I was able to get an aisle seat, but standby travel is never guaranteed. That’s why my company requires pilots to have at least two viable commuting options to make sure we can reliably get to work.
The downside? Commuting can make an already long day even longer.
Arriving at Base 12:05pm
Once I arrived at my base, I walk about a mile to get to the terminal I needed to be in.
I had some time before reporting for duty. I used that time to review the flight, check the weather, go through the paperwork, and (of course) get some caffeine.
There’s a lot that happens before passengers ever step onto the airplane. Preparation is a huge part of being an airline pilot.
Lunch 1330
I hadn’t eaten since 6:45am so I opened my lunch bag only to discover that I’d only packed a spoon for a utensil and my pasta salad had somehow turned into a popsicle. 🥶
I packed plenty of food for the trip, but everything that wasn’t frozen needed to be heated up—and my travel food warmer was buried somewhere at the bottom of my roller bag.
I could’ve dug it out or truck over to the crew room, but with boarding not too far away, Starbucks suddenly sounded like the easier option.
So… breakfast wrap it is. Not even one flight into the trip, and I’m already buying airport food. Airline life keeps you humble. 😂
45 Minutes Before Departure
Forty-five minutes before departure, I arrive at the gate to meet the rest of the crew. We checked in with the gate agent, headed down the jet bridge, stowed our luggage, and got the airplane ready for departure.
Everything came together surprisingly smooth. We closed the aircraft door early, pushed back on time, and taxied straight to the runway with no delays—pretty rare at such a busy airport! We even arrived at our destination and blocked in about 30 minutes ahead of schedule.
Arriving at the Hotel
After securing the aircraft, we made our way to the pick up area, and, in a rare stroke of luck, our hotel van was already waiting for us. It doesn’t always work out that way, but today everything seemed to line up perfectly.
Once we checked into the hotel, we stopped by the crew room for a quick snack before heading upstairs.
It’s a nice little perk that some hotels provides for flight crews and is always appreciated after a long day.
Slam click!
Finally Behind the Hotel Room Door
The best feeling after a travel day is finally closing the hotel room door behind you.
I unpacked my lunch box into the fridge and tried out a new portable food warmer since this hotel didn’t have a microwave in my room, and I couldn’t be bothered to go downstairs to use the one in the lobby.
And can I just say… what a luxury this purchase has been for me. 😂
Some flight attendants recommended it to me months ago, and I finally caved. Best purchase ever.
I plugged it in along with all my other devices, took a shower, ironed my uniform, and did my skincare routine. By the time I was finished, my food was plenty warm.
I turned on the TV, enjoyed my dinner, and finally got to relax.
Calling It a Night
Tomorrow’s van leaves at 5:10 a.m., which means my alarm is set for 3:40 a.m.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t leave enough time to explore this city, but tomorrow’s overnight is much longer, and the crew and I are planning to get out and do a little sightseeing.
And that’s pretty much it! Airline life isn’t always glamorous. Some days are sightseeing and amazing overnights, and other days are 3:40 a.m. alarms, frozen lunches, and heading straight to bed. That’s just part of the job—and honestly, I wouldn’t trade it.