Bear with me for a moment because I'm sure to a lot of people this is going to sound crazy. I'm currently a first year FO at XJT based in ORD. Last year I was invited to interview with Republic while I was in my initial training with XJT, however the details of the interview, where to go etc never got sent to me and I took that as fate telling me to stay with XJT. My family circumstances have just changed and I now want to give Republic another shot and I'm interested in people's opinions regarding XJT vs Republic.

I'm going to approach this from the perspective of being a new hire at each company, if anyone within Republic could give me their educated opinion I'd appreciate it.

Republic Pros:
- More bases, more options for my family.
- Better long term earning potential, especially if fate dictates that I should be unlucky enough to be a lifer.
- Operate some of their own services (Frontier) with possible plans for their own Republic branded flying in the future? Thus they sell their own tickets.
- Fewer 50 seaters, predominately made up of larger RJs which are less vulnerable financially
- Possible new flying contracts rumoured
- New contract at some point in the future
- Ability to make six figures in the long term

Republic Cons:
- Poor management/workforce relationship
- Strike vote in place, on going contract talks
- Recent furloughs
- Losing money, especially with Frontier
- Low morale

ExpressJet Pros:
- Decent pay for a 50 seat gig
- Good work rules
- Seemingly growing, getting more flying, 135s being brought out of the desert etc.
- Varied flying
- Line bidding for the time being with good control over schedule
- Lots of new hires and upgrades, seniority moving quite fast

ExpressJet Cons:
- All 50 seaters (bar a few CRJ700s/900s which are off limits for legecy XJT pilots). Ageing aircraft type which isn't particularly profitable.
- Losing money
- A merger which looks like it could turn toxic
- Poor choice of bases
- Low morale
- Lower base rate pay in the long term

I'd be interested to hear opinions from both sides. As I said, it seems crazy to be contemplating even doing this, but family comes first and there's a very long story behind why I'm even considering making the move. Plus, if I'm going to make a move, I'd prefer it to be now when I'm only in my first year, than in a few years time when I'd be sacrificing more.