We have pilots leaving for Envoy’s street captain program - another one that I know this month. They don’t seem to mind the LGA base for the flow.

Someone mentioned Compass earlier...new hires are getting PHX right out of training. Training is split between MSP and either STL/DFW for sims. Phoenix is currently DL only but there is the possibility of seeing some AA flying at some point.

You do give timely info, and for the most part it is good info. However, this is not! We DO junior assign. And yes, while the language in the contract says junior "available" you will be marked unavailable for junior assignment (UJR?) on your attendance record if you turn it down. And yes, while they say that it is just a record keeping code, it does not look good on your record. They will hold that against you anytime they can (i.e. if you end up having to do a carpet dance). And how are you going to explain those weird codes in your attendance record to a prospective employer?

The only way to get out of a junior assignment without tainting your attendance record is by not answering your phone on your days off. If they get a hold of you while you are on duty, and they want to extend you on the back end of your trip, you are pretty much stuck with it. If you are an otherwise good employee, you might get away with one turn down, but do it repeatedly and you will find your self in the blacklist of a lot of people very quickly.

As far as the topic at hand... CAsFiled, if you will have to commute anyways, you might as well go to a more reputable company. Commuting to reserve is terrible, I have done it. But know that it could take very little for the reserve time to increase here. It only takes a few CRJ-700s to come off contract, or a handful of E-175s transferred to Republic for things to slow down big time overnight. Where do you rather get stuck at? Mesa, SkyWest, or Envoy?

I let Crew Tracking go to Voice Mail and then decide whether I return the call. Never had a UJR.

He is hoping to eventually be home based in PHX and the reason for his question. Given your question, I would personally answer it (assuming commuting) as Envoy, Mesa and SkyWest. SkyWest’s reserve rules are the worst in the industry.

That's the way to do it. But on the original post you made it sound like you can turn down a junior assignment and expect the company to say: "oh sure, no problem, it's in your contract, we will just cancel the flight, have a nice day now." What you are describing is ignoring an attempt to junior assign you. Once they get a hold of you (if you let them do so) and you don't intend to accept the junior assignment it gets ugly very quickly.

To be honest with you, I have no clue what are the reserve rules of SkyWest. However, I do know enough about SkyWest to say that it is a straight up better company than Mesa. Like I have always said, there are very few valid reasons to come to Mesa, such as the IAH base if you live in Houston and absolutely will not commute. Or if you did try to get on with a better company, failed, but are determined to become an airline pilot.

I don't know what reserve rules you are referring to at SkyWest, but can't be much worse than reserve here. Reserve is terrible at any regional anyway you look at it.

That’s not really accurate. It’s four easy words: “Sorry, I’m not available.” You can even dress it up as “I’d love to but my wife would kill me,” etc. Or don’t answer your phone (easiest option). ACARS is also not an official means of notification, but it doesn’t hurt to tell them the same thing over it.

Even when you pick up and talk to them, that code is rarely applied. When it is, it’s 100% meaningless. And if it really bothers you, go talk to your CP to have it removed.

Any further problems, talk with the union.

SkyWest 2-hour callout rules require that you check-in the day before and you might be assigned to an early morning flight.

An example: you are assigned for a noon-midnight 2-hour call out starting on the 10th. You must check in on the 9th and they can assign you a 7 am departure on the 10th after a rest period. In other words, they take a “day off” away from commuters since they have to come in the day before and not the morning of their shift.

There is absolutely no way I would work for SkyWest unless I lived in base.

As far as the differences. SkyWest pays about the same. Except for more bases and a better training program and never having furloughed an employee (including pilots), I don’t see much of a difference. QOL isn’t better there.