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ElTenEleven

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Hello to all, I am being offered a posting to RAF Northolt on promotion but it is 77 miles each way, nearly all motorway from Swindon.

Is this too far to commute or shall I live in Mon - Fri?

Your advice is eagerly awaited!

ETE
 
I did something similar between Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Don't do it, is my take on it. You will be totally exhausted at the end of the week and lose days of your life staring at the back of the car in front - on some of the most accident prone motorway in the south.
 
Yeah, don't do it is my opinion mate, I used to go from Bristol to Odi every day, home to duty was nice but not worth the risk looking back on it.
 
1 Hour each way would be my absolute limit, but thats just personal preference, I know people that have happily driven an hour and a half each way for years and years.
 
In todays Airforce we seem to be commuting more and more. I have done it twice now and have to say I only lasted about two years in each post before I was absolutley exhausted.

If your only taking this post because its on promotion then it may be worth it, but beware its not easy.

However Northolt is a great camp to do it from being a nice sleepy hollow so you could get away early maybe a few times.

Mixed messages I know but you have to think about your situation and your life. If you've got kids then its time away from them and a burden on the wife. For a couple of years is it worth it?
 
Have you looked into renting out your own house? (I'm only assuming this by your posts content)

It is an option my Wife and I are considering if I find myself in a similar situation.
 
Thanks to you all for your advice, I am working on the wife to get a new car out of this situation, as I am sure she would like me to come home every night???

As to the sleepy hollow, we shall see. Once the official offer comes from ACOS manning I will arrange a visit to see how the land lies, who knows there may be a car share option available!

ETE
 
It's a toughy

It's a toughy

When I was expecting a call from the drafter of old I had a list of camps and the mileages for commuting purposes. I had already agreed with the wife that up to 50 would be commutable and over 100 would be the old weekend commute. The places in between would have been a pain in the rectum, knackering to commute and too close to stay away all week.

It's your call at the end of the day but what would it have been like commuting during the recent bad weather we've just had. Additionally HTD cuts off at 50 miles and starts reducing from 30 miles each way.
 
It will also depend on your working hours. If its shifts then you should be OK. I assume that the plan would be M4 , M25 and M40. However all can be slow at some really unexpected times

I used to drive down the M4 after a weekend visiting relatives. The queues to get through Reading start building from before 06:00 and the section from J7 to the M25 can be a nightmare. The M25 (M4 to M40) is usually OK as the main traffic flow is in the opposite direction.

Start looking on the Traffic England web site as there is a 'motorway flow' tab which shows actual traffic speeds. Just have a look at the times that you expect to be on the road. This should give you an idea of what to expect.
 
My advice Don't Do It !!

I travelled from Doncaster to Cottesmore daily (70 miles door to door). Every morning I was asked 'Good journey'? and every day the reply was yes and then after a few seconds I realised that I couldn't remember anything of the actual drive.

I had gone onto autopilot and was driving without thinking - not a good way to start the day!
 
I do 85 miles a day each way on the M5, it takes me 1:20. You have to bear in mind that you will only get 50 miles each way home to duty, unless you have a good compassionate reason for not moving to your new unit. I think you have to weigh up the pros and cons carefully before you make a decision. I had little choice for personal reasons and got the 70 miles maximum HDT allowance on compassionate grounds, but it does make for a VERY long day
 
ElTenEleven said:
Hello to all, I am being offered a posting to RAF Northolt on promotion but it is 77 miles each way, nearly all motorway from Swindon.

Is this too far to commute or shall I live in Mon - Fri?

Your advice is eagerly awaited!

ETE
Click to expand...

Promoted and still can't make a decision on your own!
 
What happens when your duty dog or pinged for guard etc. A 12 hour shift can bad enough without tagging a long drive on either end. I did a 35 mile commute for 6 months a few years back and it was far more tiring than I could imagine. However others seem to cope with adding an hour or so to each end of a shift just to be at home. Personal choice for each of us but for me never again.
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by snowball1
Promoted and still can't make a decision on your own!
Click to expand...
ha ha yes very good!

busby1971 It's a toughy

It's your call at the end of the day but what would it have been like commuting during the recent bad weather we've just had. Additionally HTD cuts off at 50 miles and starts reducing from 30 miles each way.
Click to expand...

Do the "management" still not have a say?
Turn up bleary eyed every day and I am sure they will request you get a room?
To be honest I would go for a room anyway, then can crash there a few days a week. Think you still get some allowances if you keep the family home.
 
Think seriously about it!

Think seriously about it!

I commute 55 miles each way every day and it is shattering, I agree with people who say you lose your weekend. The nigts you get home are no use you eat, watch TV and by 9pm you want your bed and tehn your up again at 0'my god its early AGAIN!
I struggle along the A14 and through the nightmare which is Catthorpe junction, but on the other hand when I spend a night in the mess I think "I can't do this way of life again!" However if you can use the Mess/block life effectively with Education or Gym time is makes it "less of a waste"

On a sobering thought what is the accident rate on your route? That is another reason I am moving on - the odds are shortening every day!
 
Drive it. Take a day out from work and drive the route at the times that you would expect to be driving it (there and back) once you are posted there. And then multiply it by 5, and don't forget to figure "end of the week tiredness" into the equation.
 
The HTD / RILOR rates have sneakily been increased, so the max distance claim is now 75 miles. I travel 55 miles each way, but do so around Lincoln ring road, so it often takes me over 1 1/2 hrs to get back.

It's really hard as by the time I get back, the 'quality time' that you get with your significant other is miniscule, after having dinner I am often crashed out on the sofa by 9pm, and Friday nights are for catching up on sleep, not going out.

However, I went on promotion, and worked out that I would be worse off financially if I moved into the mess, something else you have to take into account.

IMHO, if it's any more than 1hr each way, it's not worth staying at home, you become (more) irritable, and even more prone to a smash on the great British roads.
 
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