Special K

Hey everyone. I have been instructing for a while and I am approaching the time where I will most likely begin submitting applications to the regionals.

Just curious as to which companies, if any, allow pilots to keep their hotel rewards points. And also any differences between flight benefits at the regional airlines (ie positives and negatives).

When looking at the various carriers I am mostly concerned with the above two things and then also domiciles. I am in a situation where pay is not so much a concern since it sucks pretty much anywhere in this part of the industry.

tennisguru

As far as the hotel rewards, that is totally independent of the airline. Just depends on which hotel you stay at on any given night. Even at the same hotel some staff will do it for you and some won't. The problem is that the airline is already paying a very discounted price (one manager at one property told me they only make $3/room/night) so there is no incentive for them to also add on to that hotel rewards points.

You should be much more concerned about domiciles than flight bennies. Pretty much all regionals are the same, and pretty much all have crappy flight benefits. Flights will always be full, and as a regional partner your priority will many times fall below that of any mainline employees, including rampers and gate agents. Having said that, there will always be opportunities out there to travel, if you have the time off, so picking an airline simply because their travel benefits are marginally better than another's isn't a good move.

Pick your airline based on where you want to live or commute to. Look at their junior bases since that is where you will be stuck for some time. If you can stick it out there you may be able to gain some good quality of life/days off/better schedules since as the junior base most people try to leave. If you do want to end up in a base other than the junior one be prepared to take a bigger hit to days off, etc. as many people more senior to you will also be in that base.

If you can, try not to commute and live in domicile. It will save you money and many headaches trying to jumpseat on full flights with 10 other more senior pilots ahead of you.

The Juice

Hotel points??? Seriously one of the main things you are concerned with in a regional airline? Pay and QOL is secondary to hotel points???

You need to have a heart to heart about what you are really getting yourself into...

hc0fitted

ARE YOU KIDDING ME ????? HOTEL REWARD POINTS ???? That is what your going to base on what regional you would like to apply to ???? HOTEL REWARD POINTS???? Thats your main concern??? LMAO . Im at a lost of words.... lol Good Luck .....

Special K

No, domiciles are equally important to me as well. Pay doesn't matter to me because I am in a relationship where my pay doesn't affect my bottom line nearly as much as it would affect others. Sorry if that offends you or others but I am worried about myself and my needs, not you or anyone else.

samballs

Get ready for all the fun answers you're going to get with this question. You'll get the top responses such as
1. Worry about passing first
2. Worry about getting hired
3. Attitude like that you'll never get hired
4. Not even in training yet and already convinced you are cut out for it
I hope this response stops it from happening but it won't.

As far as benefits. I can answer for a couple.
1. Midwest airlines or skyway = suck don't seem to work!
2. Any delta connection carrier kind of bad because all delta employees come first then theirgrandmas. Gate agents won't clear u till the last second. And no real way to see where you fall on list till at gate. 50. A yr. Priority based on doh after all dl employees. And you have to watch what carrier you're going on. Basically it sucks I guess for all dci carrier.
3. AE good but u pay for first 5 yrs. But all are equal. Priority based on check in between AA and AE.

See people getting rewards all the time but a lot of hotels say no.

Bases. Apply to a company with bases you like and eventually you'll hold it. But most likely when you can hold it they will close it. Its great to live in base but a lot of company's close bases a lot. Check the dci carriers on this site they change all the time. Don't know who you're looking to apply with but the following stay relatively locked on bases.
1. AE
2. SKYWEST
3. ASA
4. AIR WISCONSIN

Others maybe, but I'm done pooping now and could care less anymore . Good luck

Special K

Well I never said I was approaching the time where I was going to get a job in the regionals, I said I was approaching the time where I would be applying. You guys need to relax a little bit. Everyone's situation is different here. Maybe people could take that into account before attacking me.

samballs

See now you went and made it worse By saying I'm worried about myself. How do you know you can make it through training. And what do you expect to do with those hotels points. Use them for a crash pad. There was a guy in one of my many new hire classes that had a rich wife, he just wanted to gland have benefits. He failed his indoc test(nobody fails this test) anyways he now lives with his wife and all people that pay taxes pay him

The Juice

As I said, you better have a heart to heart before coming into this industry. Guys in the past who have preached "their needs" and what is "best for them" have not done too well. It is that attitude which has caused much trouble for some...I cant say the word because the mods get too excited...

Special K

I can't tell you for sure if I will make it through training. I have done my fair share of instructing and I love aviation and I want to make it my career. I could fail horribly or I could be number 1 in the class. I am approaching looking for a job as anyone else would. What is important to people differs based on their situation plain and simple.