SlickDawg

All - looking for some insight from you veterans. I've gotten some great input via PM from some very helpful folks here on APC, but I wanted to pose this particular scenario to get multiple viewpoints so that I can make the most informed decision.

The two scenarios I am comparing:
1) Fly with PSA out of CLT which is a 1.5 hour drive. I understand CLT might be a few months after training according to the PSA threads. Unfortunately, it appears I'd be on reserve for over a year out of CLT.
2) Fly with Endeavor. Sounds like I could get Detroit right after training and it would be a 1 leg 2 hour commute from me on Delta metal. 3-4 flights available per day out of an airport 10 minutes from me.

Pay is not an issue, but my ultimate goal is to get to the majors. QOL is huge for me (family guy with young kids) and max days at home is the target. I already have a military pension and about 1700TT/820TPIC (about 1900TT/1000TPIC with military conversion factor).

Pete389

Living in base is certainly one of, if not THE most significant way to make your time in the regional world enjoyable. Having said that, I think Endeavor has about the best overall package available right now. Tough one.

Binksy

Best advice ever: do not commute.

With that said, 1.5 hour drive will make reserve tough too in CLT. 2 hour call out means you have to drive your 1.5 and then: park, wait on the shuttle, get thru KCM, walk to the E concourse and to your gate all in 30 mins flat (hoping for no traffic or delays getting ready at home). Easier said than done, consistently anyway.

chrisreedrules

You are in a tough position no doubt. You'll make more at Endeavor, but being able to drive to base or potentially sit at home on your own couch while on short call reserve in Charlotte is huge for quality of life. At our current rate it will likely take you 2 years to become a round 1 line holder in CLT at PSA. As a new hire you'll probably get DAY or CVG right out of training, then be able to hold short call reserve in CLT after about 6 months. Then long call reserve, then a build up or "mixed" line, then finally round 1. 2 years is a conservative estimate and attrition will certainly be picking up heading into 2017 and beyond so current projections mean very little right now. I've been commuting now for over a year and a half. It wasn't too bad at first when 121 was all new to me. But now, it has started to become a real drag. And my commute really isn't even that bad. I have 6-8 flights a day with early and late options on mainline metal. It's the waking up at 5am the morning you start a trip, drive to the airport, catch a flight, get to base, grab my bag out of the crew room, and either sit for an hour or two before my show time or head to the gate. Then 4 or 5 legs and by the time I'm done with day 1, I'm already feeling tired. Day 4, hope there are no delays or hiccups, fly a couple legs then done, sprint across the airport to catch my ride home just in the nick of time, get back to my home airport, drive 20 mins home, get through the door in time for the wife to be asleep and maybe dinner in the fridge. Rinse, repeat over and over and over. I'm still not going to move to CLT, but I certainly don't want to commute forever. It sucks.

chrisreedrules

If he's a 1.5 hour drive from the airport, he could conceivably sit at home (I know I damn sure would). Time from parking in the employee lot to the gate is about 30 minutes so there is his 2 hours. And often on short call, you know a bit ahead of time (more than 2 hours) what your assignment will be. And he could conceivably be home at night if he doesn't get used.

CaptYoda

In my own personal experience an actual 2 hr call-up is the exception rather than the rule, although you must always be prepared for it. I am going back a while now but I was able to view all the open time throughout the day and so I had a good idea of what I might have been called for (not counting sudden sick calls). Additonally, sometimes you also knew your relative number(for callout) on RSV which gives you an even better picture. At one airline, we had 15 minutes to call them back and so many used that as a headstart! If you are ready to go when they call you (bags in the car, and uniform on in 5 mins) it can be done. However, there are always those days when things don't go as planned and a 2 hr callout with an 1.5hr drive can be problematic. I would go for PSA over Endeavor for this reason (no commute) and nothing else.

Skittles9E

I fly for Endeavor, and while I love it here and would recommend this place to anyone, I would say stick with PSA if it means not commuting. I live 10 minutes from base and its night and day getting in my car and driving home after a long 4 day vs trying to catch a flight home. No amount of money can make up for the time you'll miss at home. With all the movement coming up in h next couple of years it shouldn't matter where you go. But if you still want some info on Endeavor PM me and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.

Binksy

Agreed. That's why my first and best advice was: do not commute. I'm simply saying there will be some days where the phone will ring and that two hours will be tight. But, being at home should make it worth it. I've done it myself many times.

Nantonaku

Take the short term sacrifice and go to where you think you can get to a Major quicker. Otherwise you are sacrificing two years of good QOL now for seniority at a Major that is going to end up costing you multiple years of reduced QOL later.

chrisreedrules

How would one get to a major or legacy quicker at one over the other? He already has mil time and PIC. So I would say no matter where he goes he will likely have a leg up.