QOL differences Major Vs. Regional
 

Would like to hear from you guys/gals who have done there time at a regional, what the biggest QOL change has been for you. I am not referring to hourly pay as that is pretty obvious to anyone who can read a payscale. Thanks in advance for the Info!

1. Crew Meals

I have to agree with GP. The crew meals are much better. GP have you gained your freshman 15?

The trips are much easier, coming from turbopropland. A hard day is four legs instead of 8.

Layovers are better. I was thinking this as I was laying on the beach in Puerto Vallarta the other day.

Insurance

401K match

Profit sharing

Stock :eek:

Investment options

Loss of license insurance

Pilot mutual aid

Credit union

Schedules, flexibility, days off

Bases

Equipment

All of the above are of a higher quality than what I had at the Regionals. The crews you fly with and the places you stay are all much better. Hiltons, Hyatts, Westins, Marriots, Sheratons and Crowne Plazas are all nice overnight hotels. We only fly domestic and I'm sure some of the guys who fly at UPS,FedEx,CO,UA,DL,NW,US and others can share what their overnight accommodations are like.

Overall, I can't think of any one area where a Regional has it better than a Major.

Schedules. My sked for February is horrible and it is still better than anything I had at the regionals. However, we did call 'em "commuters" then...

Well, I fly on the GS rather than a dot high like at did at the regional following the 75's etc.

Not looking for another job at another company is nice. (All pilots should have an ace card though)

Better hotels (overall) on layovers.

It was already answered in the regional section, but at the end of the day, the major will always win, mostly due in large part to overall compensation. I have no intention of staying at the regionals, I want out as quick as I can. So I'm not arguing with you. But depending on the regional, some of the items below can be a wash.

I have pretty good insurance where I'm at. If I went to a certain major, I'd have to wait 6 months for it to kick in. Besides, depending on if you have a spouse or not, their coverage may be better than what a major can offer. And can ANY major top NJ's insurance?

Again, depends. My current employer gives a pretty good match, as well as a contribution into a retirement fund. The ONLY thing that would make it better at a major would be because of the higher compensation. The sad part is, for me anyway, that would take three years to eclipse where I am at now. Assuming all I went after was QOL, not money.

If CAL had not elected to bring another carrier into the fold, I would still be receiving a profit sharing check. Granted, when a major ACTUALLY turns a profit and elects to give it to employees and not just he shareholders, it will be larger than a regional. But there is also more employees to spread that around.

That one is relative, depends on the major. Some of the regional stocks have performed better than the majors. What good does stock due you when the major is in CH.11? Also, who in their right mind invests in airline stock?

What exactly do you mean here? I have investment options too.

I have that now, my last regional had it as well.

I have that now, also had it at my previous carrier.

Don't really know how this is a QOL issue. But I have that option at my current regional, had it at the last one as well. And like was mentioned above, maybe the spouse has a way better banking set up, making it irrelevant.

Again, depends. Which major? Talk to a CAL guy about PBS. The flexibility I have is better then most of the CAL guys I talked to when commuting. I've also been commuting on UAL narrow body equipment. Not really sure how they have it better than some of the regionals right now.

Again, relative to where you go to work. Where do you want to live, or where do you want to commute to? NW, it's snowtown (X2), mowtown, or notown. At CAL, excuse me, better bases? Take a carrier like SkyWest, they have some of the best base choices around. But then again, so does UAL, and SW.

Hands down, the major is the winner. But if I was going to get hired at NW, I don't really know how much better the DC-9 would be compared to the last 2 types I've flown. Quite a backwards leap in technology, and the SAME IDENTICAL kind of flying. If you go to SW, what are your options for equipment diversification?

Funny, I stay at Hiltons, Westins, Marriots, and Crowne Plaza's too. I also stay at some La Quinta's and Holiday Inns. Which is weird, because I have seen some major crews staying there as well. I'm not really sure what you mean by the crews being better. Wondering if you might be able to clarify this. Granted, I don't ALWAYS enjoy the crews I fly with. But when I did a transcon commute, there were times on the 5 hour flight where other than the checklists and briefings, not a word was said between the FO and the CA. I'm sure that didn't change on the overnight either. I'm guessing there was probably some slam-clicking going on. And when the FA's came up to give them their meals, well, there were no pleasantries exchanged. Making for a LOOOOOOONG commute. More than one guy I know that has gone on to the major said he had more fun at the regional level.

Like I said, not arguing with you. Not saying a regional is better. But it's relative to exactly WHICH major you are going to compare to WHICH regional. On a strictly QOL comparison. Like I said, the major will always win in the end when comparing overall compensation.

The ONE thing that is for sure is that the "major" guys are the dog, the "regional" guys are the tail. With all but one major having diversified their feed, the regional guys are not now nor will be soon in a position of negotiating with power. So long as Ornstein is willing to ***** himself out for peanuts, none of the rest of us stand a chance of things getting any better than they are right now today.

While I'm capable and willing to if necessary, I'd prefer NOT to fly six legs a day for the rest of my career. But that's just me. Your mileage may vary.

My schedule improved the day I left Express (I was number 14) for CAL (number 4000+ish). PBS? The last line it gave me was a Milan, Rome, Barcelona and a LA two day. I've never worked a Christmas and worked one thanksgiving (in Rome). Sorry, my worst day at CAL still beats my best day at Express.

Dojet driver - great post and you have some great points as well. It really does depend on a specific regional/major when comparing stuff.

That said - it's really very simple overall. If you are a regional "lifer", a regional will always be a better deal for you than a major due to your seniority and the ability to make quite a decent living staying there.

If you are not a lifer and looking to move on, I'll second what has already been said before: your worst day at a major is WAY better than your best day at a regional, hands down. It is really that different. You will figure it out when (if) you make the leap.

As far as comparing a DC-9 to an RJ - no comparison. Flying a DC-9, while technologically challenged (and flying similar routes to an RJ), is not about the size, or the old-school stuff. It is about the legacy of the aircraft itself, and it s history - chest-hair-growing material, if you will. Those that have flown it understand. Consider yourself VERY fortunate if you ever get a chance to fly it.

73