LGA is total poison. Cost of living there is easily 30% to 50% higher compared to DFW, MIA or ORD. Add in commute time, cost of car ownership / parking and it's a non starter for a lot of people when they have choices.

Labor follows the same economic winds of supply and demand. The QOL hit of being a perpetual junior captain in LGA isn't covered by a $45,000 bonus. It might not even be covered by a $150K bonus. We need to go outside the box.

They are going to need to get very creative if they want to solve this problem. Perhaps a satellite base thats an LGA outstation with every trip starting and ending with a deadhead. Cost of living in this city is lower and it's a desirable place to live. Dont know where that would be perhaps something in NC or PA. Maybe an hours flight time from LGA. No clue on how reserve would be staffed or what would happen with the existing people in LGA but something has gotta give. Gone are the days where people are falling all over themselves to come here. Sure we have a zillion FOs but thats not what we need and the HVA program isn't bringing in the numbers to right the ship.

Union has been a little more mum then I would like and not sure if they are in flow coast mode or what. It's in everyone's interest, top to bottom that we solve this problem. Most people are here for the flow, unless this captain problem is solved they will continue to dig their heels in on increasing the flow and exasperating the captain problem.