Originally Posted by
gearmaid
That is pretty much all true. A couple guys above me on the list even had FULL TIME jobs at Six Flags this summer in SDF. But in my situation reserve on the CRJ is actually pretty great. I did a lateral transition from Mesa where I was on reserve with 8 days off to CHQ where I moved to base and fly at MOST 10 days a month on reserve. It sucks for guys who commute and/or don't have enough hours to upgrade. But for me its the best QOL I've ever had. Not to mention the signing bonus I got for going to the CRJ.
Yes, living in Domicile changes everything, but he's commuting from PHX and has a kid with one on the way. He dreams of DEN but understands his only chance for a change is upgrade and even then the change is only more pay.
He's looking forward to his little boy being born so he can take FULL FMLA and spend 12 weeks at home while working a part time job. If you subtract his cost of sitting reserve in IAH (crashpad, food, etc) from what he's currently making and compare it to his income from the part time job; he'll make more on FMLA than he is on reserve.