There's a lot more that should factor into your opinion than commuting, but certainly living in base should be your top priority. Here's how I would look at things (in order):

1. Can you drive to work or take transit to work?
2. Does this airline have a future?
3. Does this airline meet my long term career goals (if PIC is important in that equation then look at upgrade times strongly)
4. What is the reputation of the airline in the industry (avoid the GoJets and Mesas of the world)
5. What's the total pay expected in the first 5 years
6. Are current line pilots happy? Work rules, management, etc. will factor into this.

I think beyond these questions it's kind of a gamble and there's something to be said for a place you just feel good about.

Given that this is in the Air Wisconsin thread, for me all these boxes were checked.

1. I live in Chicago.
2. 5 year CPA just signed and starting this fall with ORD and IAD
3. I need to get a year or two of current 121 flying under my belt so I can start getting attention at the majors. The UAL CPP doesn't hurt.
4. Stellar
5. Highest package I could find $ wise
6. Talked to a number of current/former pilots. Nothing but great things (with the usual regional gripes)

Hope that helps but in the end you have to choose for your unique situation.

 

It seems everyone starts off by saying not to go to Gojet. Why is that?

It looks like the compensation for Air Wisconsin for the first 3 years gives them 68,000 more in pay than Skywest. Envoy, Endevour and PSA have much higher compensation than SW too. Why is Skywest falling so far behind?

 

Listen to this and take it to heart. I knew exactly what I was getting into with one exception; I grossly underestimated the difficulty of commuting. One leg is tollerable if it's a short flight and there are lots of options. Two legs, forget it. The most stressful part of my job was commuting to and from work.

 

I've been 2 legging it for years. Aint no thang. We have w commuter clause so I don't sweat coming to work. Very rarely do I not make it home. Once a year on average at most.

 

Skywest month after month still has 50-70 people in class. They don't need to throw money at people. Yet

 

Going back to being home-based, look at SkyWest's bases and I think you can see why a lot of people want to work there. For west coast there's nothing remotely like SkyWest.

 

Yep. Most of their bases they're the only good airline in town, if I wasn't so horrifically in debt right now it would make the AW vs SKW decision a lot tougher.

 

I don't know if it's my luck, but a majority of Skywest pilots I've interacted with while non-reving and commuting have been either really rude about or absolute tools.

 

Sounds like bad luck, I dont think Ive ever had a negative experience with their crews.

 

Always very accommodating. Been in the jumpseat more than I care to admit. Always nice crews. Good looking flight attendants as well.