Hey guys,

I’m a Cadet (sold my soul) and will probably finish my hours by March. Wondering how the QOL is in MIA and what’s a reasonable timeframe for getting transferred/line there? Would I be better off bidding on the 175 if it pops up and commuting to ORD from MIA?

 

You’ll hold MIA within a couple bid cycles. If you live there then bid the 145. Our reserve system is terrible, but if you live in base it is much better. Go for quality of life not quality of jet. The 145 is a good airplane, take it and enjoy being in base. The 175 has tremendous movement and you’ll hold a line quickly in ORD, but you have to weigh all the options.

 

When it mattered I'd pour over the flow plan and sift through all the data to help predict company events. It is extremely difficult to predict and forecast reserve and line times due to a company that doesn't always plan staffing levels accurately. When I fly with guys in the 1600-1900 range they are only months apart in seniority but some are about to upgrade and some only have 250ish hours due to a company hiring binge.

With that said many people here will tell you pick the 145 and drive to work. It's what I wish I could tell you to do. If I were you I would look at the time it would take to hold a line in ORD 175 vs 145 reserve MIA/ 145 line MIA. You could likely be in ORD145 for 6-8 months followed by another 6-8 months of MIA145 reserve before you hold a line. ORD 175 would get you more time faster based on current hiring trends. Good luck if you have any specific questions or anything you are unsure feel free to ask. It's a crazy and weird time at Envoy.

 

Both NY and MIA are roughly 20-25% of the size of ORD and DFW. That’s good when a base is junior, bad when it is senior. MIA is relatively senior. But either way, the ability to drive to work, especially if you are within one hour, and being on reserve, priceless.

Either way you choose, you will be commuting to ORD or DFW for a while, but the 145 is the most likely way to get the drive to work.

 

Drive to work. It’s really that simple.

 

I'm of the opinion that you pick the drive to work which means picking whatever 145 options that are available and bid back to MIA asap. If you find that your seniority doesn't get as much flying as you want to do, at least you have the option to vacancy bid to more junior bases if you don't mind the commute.

If you pick the 175, you'll be commuting no matter what, no choices.

 

Picking the 175 will get him to a 1000 hours 6-8 months sooner than the 145 if he transfers to Miami and stays.

We had 15-20 DFW guys move to NY for more time and to hold a line and most actually live here.

QOL choice is 145 without question.
175 is the better choice for career progression.

 

I mean money aside, a new hire isn’t going to flow that quick anyway so career progression in my opinion is less of a factor. If you think you can get hired outside of the flow in a quicker time frame then yes, you will save 6 months. However, I wouldn’t want to commute again, regardless of the extra time as in the long run those six months won’t matter that much if things stay the same, but if things change for the worse flying a jet that is based where you live would be huge.

Thankfully we are on good times right now and you have options. Just understand that most will tell you not to commute but there are tons and tons that still do it. Good luck.

 

You’d be crazy not to pick the 145 from my perspective, if its offered. Everything they’re saying about the advantages of the 175 is true, and you’ll hold a line right out of IOE with ok commutabity in ORD on it, but nothing could possibly beat living in base. MIA has much of the best flying in the company, by far the best on the 145. It is very senior though, and you likely won’t be able to hold it until you’ve been here 9 mos, probably 4-6 of which will be spent commuting to reserve in ORD anyway.

 

Yeah I agree and while this may be just a hunch, I feel those saying commute are either single or have never done it. Commuting is pretty hell and it robs you of time from your family and friends. This is time you won’t ever be able to get back. If I was single with nothing to go home too, sure commuting could be great, however I value the time with my wife and kids more than 6 months of quicker hours.

Not to mention island flying out MIA. Sure beats the hell out of 175 ORD to DSM.