Regional Airline #2 Eagle or ExpressJet (ASA)
01-19-2013 | 10:59 AM
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Qualified to carry liquids through security.
I do the Dfw to ORD commute. Never had a problem. Sometimes it gets close and you have to get creative, mostly in the summer. But you have 3 airlines to choose from.
01-19-2013 | 03:54 PM
#32
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Joined: Mar 2011
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Home is OKC. So being based in ORD (AE or OO), DFW (AE or XE), or IAH (OO) is an equally easy commute. If I had to pick one it would be DFW because it is drivable if I have to (3 hours). That said, they are all so close in how easy they are to commute it wasn't worth mentioning because it is a wash. And it is all better than what I do now, OKC-DTW.
01-19-2013 | 05:55 PM
#33
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Joined: Jul 2011
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Training at Eagle isn't hard. It's thorough, but not hard. The old Saab and even ATR programs were way more difficult than the jets. When I transitioned to the jets it was cake. The jet programs are easy. They don't try and have you memorize how to build the aircraft from the ground up anymore with the Jets, and there is only a few memory items. Do what you are supposed to do, take it seriously and you will have no issues. Nobody in any of my classes has ever "not" made it through training.
As for commuter clauses.. Not sure about the other place but at Eagle you just need 2 flights to get you to work on time. Show them you tried to get there, non issue. Supposed to be 2 a year limit, but I have missed way more than that and never had a problem. Call the office and tell them if scheduling is not cooperating. To be honest, most times, you can tell scheduling you aren't gonna make it in on time and ask for something later, they usually will do it since on those bad weather days, everyone's schedule is already screwed up anyway. Obviously try and be more careful on the probie year, but after that.. it's a total non issue.
Eagle will probably have a lot of movement again here soon.. unless something catastrophic happens again. Which is certainly possible.
As for commuter clauses.. Not sure about the other place but at Eagle you just need 2 flights to get you to work on time. Show them you tried to get there, non issue. Supposed to be 2 a year limit, but I have missed way more than that and never had a problem. Call the office and tell them if scheduling is not cooperating. To be honest, most times, you can tell scheduling you aren't gonna make it in on time and ask for something later, they usually will do it since on those bad weather days, everyone's schedule is already screwed up anyway. Obviously try and be more careful on the probie year, but after that.. it's a total non issue.
Eagle will probably have a lot of movement again here soon.. unless something catastrophic happens again. Which is certainly possible.
01-19-2013 | 06:26 PM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 661
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From: A320
Training at Eagle isn't hard. It's thorough, but not hard. The old Saab and even ATR programs were way more difficult than the jets. When I transitioned to the jets it was cake. The jet programs are easy. They don't try and have you memorize how to build the aircraft from the ground up anymore with the Jets, and there is only a few memory items. Do what you are supposed to do, take it seriously and you will have no issues. Nobody in any of my classes has ever "not" made it through training.
As for commuter clauses.. Not sure about the other place but at Eagle you just need 2 flights to get you to work on time. Show them you tried to get there, non issue. Supposed to be 2 a year limit, but I have missed way more than that and never had a problem. Call the office and tell them if scheduling is not cooperating. To be honest, most times, you can tell scheduling you aren't gonna make it in on time and ask for something later, they usually will do it since on those bad weather days, everyone's schedule is already screwed up anyway. Obviously try and be more careful on the probie year, but after that.. it's a total non issue.
Eagle will probably have a lot of movement again here soon.. unless something catastrophic happens again. Which is certainly possible.
As for commuter clauses.. Not sure about the other place but at Eagle you just need 2 flights to get you to work on time. Show them you tried to get there, non issue. Supposed to be 2 a year limit, but I have missed way more than that and never had a problem. Call the office and tell them if scheduling is not cooperating. To be honest, most times, you can tell scheduling you aren't gonna make it in on time and ask for something later, they usually will do it since on those bad weather days, everyone's schedule is already screwed up anyway. Obviously try and be more careful on the probie year, but after that.. it's a total non issue.
Eagle will probably have a lot of movement again here soon.. unless something catastrophic happens again. Which is certainly possible.
01-19-2013 | 07:17 PM
#35
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 894
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we just need to make our sign in time though. any 2 that have a scheduled arrival 45min prior to departure count. For us, seats open don't matter. We just need proof we tried to get on 2 of anything, like a stub or whatever. I've had offline gate agents write it on a napkin with their employee number in a pinch if they woudln't even check me in because it was oversold with multiple jumpseaters already. lol. Even if the flights are overbooked to hell with 350 standby's. It still counts.
Commuting sucks.
01-19-2013 | 07:50 PM
#36
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: DFW A320 FO
Eagle training is not "hard", you're simply held accountable for your performance, IOW no freebies. If you prepare and have a good attitude and show progress you will be given every opportunity to succeed. If you come in thinking you'll figure it out as you go along each day in the sim then it will be difficult. Approach it as a professional and you should have no worries.
01-20-2013 | 05:23 AM
#38
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Captain Jack
I have made the decision that it is time for me to restart at a new regional. That said I have done a lot of research on the companies and am currently torn between Eagle and ExpressJet (ASA). Below is a list that I have compiled so far. I am curious to see if anyone else has see's anything that should be added, removed. Or even just any constructive opinions about either place. I have yet to find something that tips the scales in either direction.
American Eagle
Positive
• Coming out of bankruptcy
• Historically a solid company
• Decent flight benefits
• Hiring now
• Wanting 600 pilots this year (quickly get the base I want and off reserve)
• $5000 signing bonus (nearly offset the cut of going back to first year pay)
• Best reserve rules in the regional industry
• Flow through for most of their pilots (fast movement up the seniority list)
Negative
• Uncertain future (regarding AMR and being divested or not)
• Losing American flying to other airlines
• Potential AA/USAir merger (not knowing how that will effect Eagle's flying and the flow throughs)
• Last time they wanted 600 pilots in a year they hired a few hundred then furloughed
• Overly hard training department
ExpressJet (ASA)
Positive
• Great Commuter Clause
• Long stay / short stay hotel rules
• Best flight benefits for a regional airline (on Delta, United, and maybe American)
• Owned by Skywest Inc.
• Historically a solid company with good management
• Flying the CRJ
• Duty rigs (min day, ect)
Negative
• Only hiring into a pool (Classes may start in April to this summer)
• Delta may be pushing them to do flying for cheaper
• May be taking concessions
• Has a lot of 50 seat planes for United and Delta
• Sloppy merger between ExpressJet and ASA
• Bad reserve rules
• Limited movement (right now)
American Eagle
Positive
• Coming out of bankruptcy
• Historically a solid company
• Decent flight benefits
• Hiring now
• Wanting 600 pilots this year (quickly get the base I want and off reserve)
• $5000 signing bonus (nearly offset the cut of going back to first year pay)
• Best reserve rules in the regional industry
• Flow through for most of their pilots (fast movement up the seniority list)
Negative
• Uncertain future (regarding AMR and being divested or not)
• Losing American flying to other airlines
• Potential AA/USAir merger (not knowing how that will effect Eagle's flying and the flow throughs)
• Last time they wanted 600 pilots in a year they hired a few hundred then furloughed
• Overly hard training department
ExpressJet (ASA)
Positive
• Great Commuter Clause
• Long stay / short stay hotel rules
• Best flight benefits for a regional airline (on Delta, United, and maybe American)
• Owned by Skywest Inc.
• Historically a solid company with good management
• Flying the CRJ
• Duty rigs (min day, ect)
Negative
• Only hiring into a pool (Classes may start in April to this summer)
• Delta may be pushing them to do flying for cheaper
• May be taking concessions
• Has a lot of 50 seat planes for United and Delta
• Sloppy merger between ExpressJet and ASA
• Bad reserve rules
• Limited movement (right now)
well thought out ,i'm disappointing you would even care about rumors of "overly hard training"
one thing to add, with a AA/Usair merger, Eagle will now be whipsawed with all the Usair commuters.
01-20-2013 | 07:03 AM
#39
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Joined: Nov 2008
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Every regional is gray right now. Best we can say with any company is 'maybe' or 'probably'. Trying to find the most stable regional is like trying to win in Vegas. It's a gamble and likely you'll lose a few times. I too am stricken with the choice AE or XJT. I took a gamble on 9E and now Im about to 'lose my shirt' here.
01-20-2013 | 07:16 AM
#40
Does NOT get weekends off
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,631
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From: ERJ - 145
Every regional is gray right now. Best we can say with any company is 'maybe' or 'probably'. Trying to find the most stable regional is like trying to win in Vegas. It's a gamble and likely you'll lose a few times. I too am stricken with the choice AE or XJT. I took a gamble on 9E and now Im about to 'lose my shirt' here.
Tragic example and I hate to use them in this situation, but look at the Comair Thread. It was started in 2007 talking about the massive hiring, movement and quick upgrades. Just a few years later look what happened. I am just saying, what could be great now could be terrible in a year (or two days even). I would say make your choice on other factors than just how they look now. For me it was domicile location. So far that has been the best thing ever since I live in base and generally am home every night (spend an average 3-5 nights/month hotel. Best was 0, worst was 10).
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