Originally Posted by
Spooledup
I would have to disagree with p1ayn. If you don't have another job offer, why not take it? If you get hired somewhere else, then you've lost nothing, and you may like it at Comair. There is no guarantee that you'll get hired at another carrier. (I know this is unlikely - especially in today's environment, but why take the chance?)
I've been at Comair for almost 12 years now. It's the only airline I've been employed by. While I don't doubt that FLAK's experience is true, I can say that you probably won't have it that bad. You will most likely be based in JFK for a while. You will be on reserve for a while and you won't like it. I've seen other airlines that have much better reserve systems. The pay here is average for the regionals. I am trying to get hired elsewhere as well.
On the optimistic side, we are going to be sold in the next year according to our management, Delta, and the airline analysts. No one is going to buy Comair without a growth plan in place (we don't have one now). The buyer will work out a deal with Delta that will specify a certain number of airframes over a set amount of time and we will start to grow again. We had 40+ people leave last month and that number is expected to grow. Training is top notch (according to people that have trained at other airlines) and is expected to do 2-4 classes of 14 or more a month starting in January. (I would expect that this would be based on finding people to show up for the classes!) Rumor has it that they are talking about upping the bonus to $5k to match some other carriers - ask about that when you call them back. With all that said, I would expect you to be able to move up fairly quickly and get off reserve faster than normal and if it keeps up, upgrades would be quicker as well - hopefully down around the 2 year point.
I couldn't blame you for going somewhere else if upgrade time was significantly less, but Comair is generally a good place to work, 99% of the people are great, and when our contract comes up in 4 more years, expect us to rise to the top of the pay scale again when we can negotiate without the clouds of bankruptcy hanging over our heads.
PM me with any other questions you may have. I'd be happy to try and answer them.
I will agree a few points in that if you get hired here try it out for your self. It cannot hurt and many FO's have tried this recipie and found they do not like it and have left. As you mentioned, many have quit. In any case, moral is pretty low and I personally have not seen any positive signs in four years. Please do not mention the 900.
Comparing with what comair was in 2001 and 002, the place has spiraled down and still is.
The mention of being sold in a few years? Oh good god! Pure speculation and no way can anyone confirm that.
Bottom line is this, and this is my personal opinion, The training is top notch here, with great people in there. Best in three airlines I have been. 90% of the pilot group are great folks and would have them by my side in any emergency. The problem lies in management and QOL. Bad hotels getting worse. Many many many bad trips with many many dead heads. Rsv is the worse I have seen HOWEVER as mentioned you will mve up quickly here due to attrition. Everything else from being sold to growing is nothing but speculation and hope no to mention hype that we have heard in the last five years and four CEO's. In whatever decision you make, wish you the best, just beware of the kool aid no matter where you go. Look at the facts and trend.