How does FAR flight time work?

[khelm]

I was wondering, how is personal flight time counted in your FAR maximum. Say you can't find a jumpseat to your domicile, but you can rent a plane. (if your domicile is like 400 miles away) Would that be added to the time you spend flying revenue jets, thus lowering the amount of hours you can fly? Do airlines have rules set up that prohibit a pilot from flying a certain number of hours before his/her scheduled flight?

Thanks in advance for your help

[yoni63]

Kevin, Justin could answer this probably more accurate, but when I first started taking my training, any flight time at all was counted regardless of what your flying. But as far as being "over hours" I think it only counts towards your commercial time. ie: if you are at max hours, you can fly your 152 home, but you can't fly max hours in your 152, then get into your 744. Don't quote me on that as it was 25 or so years ago.

I edited this part, on the private flight option, I used mine in FSFK once, I was practicing on another aircraft and was curious of how I was doing, so I used my FSFK to critique my flight LOL>