Originally Posted by Jungle Jim

YX LGA is going to be the measuring stick in NY. Shortest reserve (although not as short as it used to be) combined with the best work rules out of all 3 options make it hard to beat. We also have 2 large bases at EWR and LGA to choose from. I'm LGA based, and I have very little complaints about how things run day-to-day, but I'm also a line holder, and that makes things pretty easy around here. Is it worth the wait to get a class date? That's up to you. As previously mentioned, getting time quickly to move out quicker is pretty important.

I hear a rumor every few weeks is seems that Skywest isn't doing well in NY, so if they have any base that has a chance at closing, I'd presume it would be LGA. Again, rumor and largely unsubstantiated, but their NY performance numbers seem to correlate with that. I also hear nothing but awful things about their trip composition and reserve rules/usage directly from their pilots when I've been on their jumpseat, so if QOL is anything to you, might be something to consider, too. However, they are easily the quickest to get you through training and into a seat at the moment.

XJT has the CPP with United, so that might be worth a look. Otherwise, I can't really comment on the state of affairs over there at the present.

Envoy is a dumpster fire...the pay sucks, the trips suck, the work rules suck, and reserve is the pit of despair there. Most of their NY trips are designed mostly for commuters, so there isn't a huge advantage to living in base for them other than not having to commute at all - unless you're at the top of the seniority list. And like you mentioned, their pilot group is a bit restless right now. Their NY flying fluctuates wildly up and down from month-to-month, and recently, they've been heavily hiring into the 175 ORD and even DFW. You'll be seat locked for 2 years into that, so if you don't want to commute, that might not be a good option. The flow is hovering around 7 years, so odds of you punching the time clock at another regional and not making an upward move before then are pretty low vs waiting out the 7 years. But it's a guaranteed seat nonetheless.

And like you said, 9E has YX problems with backups in training. Once you get through, long reserve, much of it hot reserve at first, make things a little more precarious as well. Sitting at home on reserve is a whole lot better than sitting in the crew room for 8 hours a day if you decide to wait out a class date at either 9E or YX...

There isn't a perfect regional. They all have their ups and downs, and some are clearly better than others. You just have to decide what's most important to you. If getting flight time the quickest is best for you, then Skywest is probably the best option. If living in base QOL is most important to you, then I'd wait out for YX. If getting to mainline (United) the quickest, I'd take a hard look at XJT right now. If you're just a glutton for punishment and possibly want to look at commuting from a base to another base for years, ENY is right for you.