Lifer at a regional... really that bad?
11-15-2017, 05:48 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Position: Gear slinger
Posts: 2,895
Originally Posted by sealandair
Thanks guys. Not to sell myself short, but I came from the days of post 9/11 and the Great Recession. So it's in my nature to be skeptical and cautious... not pessimistic mind you... just cautious. Some of my friends threw in the towel.. so did I for 10 years but I'm back in the game and flying never left my blood. I'm just going to see how far this takes me.
Could anyone tell me if any of the following airlines would NOT be good choices (assuming I live in base): Horizon, Skywest, Endeavor, Envoy, Republic, Air Wisconsin, PSA. None of these would be considered "toxic" right?
Could anyone tell me if any of the following airlines would NOT be good choices (assuming I live in base): Horizon, Skywest, Endeavor, Envoy, Republic, Air Wisconsin, PSA. None of these would be considered "toxic" right?
Worried about being a regional lifer? Go to on the AA Wholly Owned regionals with the flow. Piedmont will get you to AA the fastest of the group, followed by Envoy then PSA. If you want the better QOL of the 3 and are cool with a 9 year flow then PSA is the place to go. If you want DFW ORD or MIA then go to Envoy.
11-16-2017, 06:04 PM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Posts: 707
Let me through this at you. You become a lifer at xyz regional. At some of them you top out the pay scale in 20 years as a capatain at maybe 120 an hour? Vs you do 4 years maybe at a regional and get picked up at a major and be a lifer first officer. After 3 years your making 190 an hour on a wide body, sure you would be on reserve on it but if you live in base it's easy money. Or you could be a senior first officer on a narrow body. Many many more options at a major, better pay, if you get in the next 5 years or so your seniority will go up. To me it's a no brainer. I knew a few lifers at my regional and they all said they don't want to give up QOL. I get it, I do, but if they can suck it up for a year, maybe 2, the QOL at a major is significantly better.
11-16-2017, 07:10 PM
#15
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Position: air attack pilot
Posts: 50
I would say that QOL wise if you can get into the top 10-20% of the seniority list at a regional then things are ok. But how long does that take at most places? The top 20% at regionals are pretty much there permanently and there is very little turnover. So, to get into that 20% you would have to get in at a new airline. Not many new regionals starting up nowadays.
So the short answer is to look outside the regionals for quality of life. My opinion would change if they offered new hires 17 days off per month, 4 weeks vacation per year, etc right from day one. Which, btw, if they really wanted to attract pilots this would do more than 10K bonuses and stuff like that.
So the short answer is to look outside the regionals for quality of life. My opinion would change if they offered new hires 17 days off per month, 4 weeks vacation per year, etc right from day one. Which, btw, if they really wanted to attract pilots this would do more than 10K bonuses and stuff like that.
11-16-2017, 07:13 PM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,401
I can't understand the regional lifer mentality. Take a paycut for a year, then year 2 making more money than a 20 year regional CA at most places. Yeah lose some QOL, but pay will make up for it later on. Plus more job security if you are printing your own tickets. Most regional lifers I've come across are just bitter. Don't be that guy.
11-17-2017, 04:09 AM
#17
Banned
Joined APC: Jan 2015
Posts: 571
Originally Posted by VIRotate
I can't understand the regional lifer mentality. Take a paycut for a year, then year 2 making more money than a 20 year regional CA at most places. Yeah lose some QOL, but pay will make up for it later on. Plus more job security if you are printing your own tickets. Most regional lifers I've come across are just bitter. Don't be that guy.
11-17-2017, 04:41 AM
#18
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Joined APC: Jan 2007
Posts: 692
Originally Posted by Rahlifer
Not all regional lifers are there just because they don't want to temporarily give up QOL. Many are simply unhireable at a major for various reasons. (DUI's, no degree, busted checkrides, etc) Most regionals will fail within the next decade and the whole lifer debate will be moot. No need to hate on lifers.
11-17-2017, 08:13 AM
#19
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Joined APC: Oct 2015
Posts: 707
Originally Posted by sflpilot
Yes Delta already has payscales for RJ's. They'll simply bring them on property when the time comes.
11-17-2017, 11:48 AM
#20
Banned
Joined APC: Jan 2015
Posts: 571
Originally Posted by sflpilot
Yes Delta already has payscales for RJ's. They'll simply bring them on property when the time comes.
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