What does "commute" refer to for airline crew members?

In the context of airline crew members, the term "commute" specifically refers to the practice of traveling to work from a different city. This is common in the airline industry due to the nature of flight attendant and pilot schedules, which may not align with where their home base is located. As a result, many crew members may live far from their assigned base and need to fly to their work location before starting their duty. The commute can involve scheduling strategic flights to ensure timely arrival for their shifts, and it often requires careful planning to manage layovers and ensure compliance with duty time regulations.

Understanding this definition is crucial for airline crew members as it directly affects their work-life balance, scheduling, and recovery time between flights.