MIA Base
 

Good Evening everyone, I am The Lycoming, a CFII with about 900 hs. I live in Florida, and I am trying to determine what would be the best regional to fly for currently. I am interested in Envoy mainly for their MIA base. I know it is senior, and it will take some time and seniority to get to it, but I just wanted to know how long would it take, and what other options would you guys/gals recommend for someone living in south FL.

I have also considered Republic, as well as other companies that have easy commutes.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated, as a newbie in the industry.

New hires got it in the last bid. It's now very junior on the FO side.

If you get lucky enough not to get an all 175 class. Then you'd have to wait till you upgrade

Well yeah, MIA is 145 only. That's the Envoy Russian Roulette, everyone gets to play.

Thank you for your answers. How long would I be sitting reserve if, I get MIA? What other options would be recommended living in South FL, if I were to commute? Does PSA have a better commuting policy than Envoy?

Republic for one. Silver Airways. Everything is subject to change as well. Projects may be in the works that we have no idea about until they're unveiled.

So far envoy has been good option for me but i was hired i believe “the right time.” (30 months ago)

I believe PSA may be a better choice at the moment since they just got a new payscale, they will probably start filling classes at least at the envoy rate if not more. So that means to you, quick seniority boost, better pay and the commute to CLT shouldnt be too bad and have many options (FLL, MIA, PBI)

Go to PSA and ride the wave before other people do.

Best of luck bro.

Hey Everyone,
Thank you for your answers. I have interviews set up with Envoy, Republic and PSA. I am still debating with the three companies. I have been reading the threads with Envoy and the issues the company is going through with regards to the pay package.
My question is, 1) should I wait for a November December class with Republic in order to eventually get MIA, or to apply to Envoy bite the bullet and build seniority sooner as well as getting MIA sooner?
I've read that new hire classes at Envoy are getting mainly the 175 out of training, and not the 145 as much (which would not allow me to get MIA)
2) Go to PSA and commute from MIA/FLL? I checked passrider and commuting to DAY from FL is going to be tricky (2 leg commute).
I appreciate any type of advice. I am new in this field and trying to understand the informaiton is not an easy task.

Don't pass up an opportunity to interview. 1. It's good practice. 2. You don't have any guarantee that you have that dream job until you start indoc.

That being said. Go for Republic. We seem to be shrinking Miami and growing New York. You'll get more hours and pay with Republic and satisfy the E75 SJS bug that Envoy likes to push.

Two leg commuting is a special form of torture, just not worth it. If you go with PSA, just move to the base for a year of two.

Republic, better pay, better schedule better quality of life and no commute because they have bases all over.

It is a crap shoot as to what is available in class. Close to 60% of the Envoy fleet is still 145s, although what number is slowly changing. MIA is a small base. NY is growing again, at least for the winter. But it’s the Envoy way that the more you want something (145) the higher is the likelihood you won’t get it. Both PSA and Republic are single fleet, so that takes that out of the equation.

Why would you 2-leg commute to DAY from south Florida when there are direct flights to CLT, DCA, and PHL from MIA and FLL?

I’m not saying go to PSA, because if I were in your shoes I’d pick a regional with a MIA base. But just know if you picked PSA that it would only be a single-leg commute.

The reasoning behind DAY is that it's the most junior base where getting a line would be the quickest. Plus, the commuter policy on PSA is more friendly to pilots from what I've been told.

Update:
Hey everyone,
I interviewed with Envoy,PSA, and Republic, and got a CJO from the 3. I am currently in the process of deciding where to go.
My main concerns are the following:
1) If I bid for LGA 145, how long will I be in reserve before I could transfer to MIA FO Reserve. Would it be less than 3 months since DOH? Would I be under the unlimited commuter hotels/A12 passes for the 3 months?
2)If I were to choose Republic, with regards to career progression, would I still have a chance to enter AA outside the flow?
3) Is New York at ENY both LGA/JFK or just LGA? If so, how would commuting from FL be in that case.

I really appreciate any answers. It is not an easy decision to make. My main goal is QOL/Career Progression/Benefits. I do not mind the type of acft I will be flying.

1: technical support will get back to you in the form of another poster.
2: Yes.
3: Both.

1. Things are very dynamic and always changing. But for at least somewhat of a reference, the most JR MIA FO is a 3/19 hire.

2. It's possible but unless you were military trained, getting hired outside of the flow is extremely tough. Military and flow makes up over 90% of the hiring at AA.

3. LGA and JFK. No way around it, commuting sucks. Especially to RSV at Envoy. But there are lots of options between NY and MIA.

Is there any benefit when it comes to transportation between LGA and JFK while awaiting to get the MIA FO reserve bid?

The other question that arised is, between PSA and Envoy what things should I consider?
Envoy has a Miami base, whereas on PSA I would have to commute for my entire career, but according to the threads, pilots are treated better?

Nothing beats driving to work.

Nothing.

Nothing beats living where I want too.

Nothing*.

*note: opinion is from commuter that will most likely be a commuter for the rest of his life because I like having the freedom to live wherever I want to, and I accept the fact that sometimes I won’t make it to work. More importantly, sometimes I won’t make it home. But that isn’t most of the time.

**Commuting has been known to cause the following: occasional missed commutes home, need to buy a hotel at the last second, and possibly flying to an airport that you usually commute out of but not THIS time, meaning your vehicle is in another city. Stop commuting immediately if you experience any of the following: worrying about your commute home on day 1 of a 4 day, inability to accept anything but direct flights to your home city, or refusing to ride on Spirit. Some commuters have reported fatigue. If you feel fatigued when being notified that you have been extended or junior assigned, notify crew services immediately.

That's just silly. Riding on Spirit is great from my experience, was treated very well by the crew.

I 100% agree. Spirit's crewmembers treat commuters extremely well and have been nothing but welcoming and friendly every time that I have used them. Are the planes the most comfortable? No. But the staff is nice and they always have room for your bags.

riding Spirit or Allegiant is a nice change from being in AA cabins all the time and enduring the barely-concealed contempt from the FAs, imo. Then again I spend a lot of time in usair stations which are known for that

AA is perhaps the worst experience of them all. Spirit, Allegiant, United all seem genuinely happy to help me out and at least try to be happy. AA, ha, they without fail make me feel more like a burden to them than anything, except of course when they are commuting on us lol.

This is the FA’s by the way, pilots at AA always seem pretty OK.

I have had worse experience on UA than AA. They are both full of people trying to turn FA into a career with the absolute minimum effort possible.

Your trip sequences will start and end at one of the two. If you need to get between the 2 airports during the sequence, the company is responsible for transportation.