It's all about expectations that were set when someone started.

If one was given the expectation that they'd commute to New York for reserve for three months before holding a line there, and then they ended up commuting to New York for reserve for eight months, then they probably would be unhappy.

If one was given the expectation that they'd sit reserve in base at home, and then they ended up sitting reserve in base at home, then they probably would be happier.

Got it. I'm mentally prepared for either scenario. Maybe I'm missing something, but I think that gotten given the current choices, a few months of reserve, commuting or not, to be at a company like endeavor is well with everyone the short term pain. What's a few months out of decades of flying?

So trying to compare some scenarios:

So in terms of start and finish times as a line holder... There's not really a big difference between: 1) having to commute to a line from DTW to a line in NYC with endeavor..

Vs..

2) Living at an outstation base like CMH which has almost always a 5 am start, and a late finish the last day.

My time away from home would be similar, would it not? Assuming that the DTW to NYC and back commutes start and end of the trip is easy, and I hear that's one of the easier ones.

It depends. If your New York trips are commutable, then time away from home sound similar. If you have a 6am show in New York, though, or if your New York trip ends at 10:30pm, then you can't commute on the same day. You can set your bid preferences around making your schedule commutable, but it's not a guarantee that you won't have a non-commutable trip here or there.

Endeavor has a major loss of commutable 5 day trips going from August to September. Our 4 day trips are generally not commutable unless you are senior enough for the really good ones or live somewhere with very very good commuting options like DC, Boston, or anywhere we fly a high speed to that AA also flies to.

I ended up going with Endeavor. It was a tough choice, but I feel good about it.

My top two choices too...
 

These are my top two choices as well, as of right now I only have a CJO from RAH. I’ve applied at EDV but have not been called yet. I live about an hour east of STL, which puts me just under 3.5 drive from IND, 4.5 drive from ORD and MCI. From what I saw all the flights to IND would go through MCI or ORD, so that would probably be easier to drive. As far as commuting goes it seems like RAH would be easier.

I’m not sure what you’re looking at but IND-MCI/MCI-IND flights are not common by any means. To my knowledge they would only be for repositioning (due to weather or some other random unknown) or MX. RAH seems like a good option but I’ll be honest... A 3.5 hr drive (to/from IND) multiple times a month will likely begin to wear on you pretty quickly. I think you either need to consider GoJet in STL or go to YX with the understanding you may need to move to base eventually.

Good for you, I'm sure your choice was difficult as both airlines have many pros. What airline did you come from? What made your final decision?

First 121 gig here.

I ended up going with 9e. If I get the 200, training time is longer as there are delays sure to fewer line check Captains on that fleet, so I can enjoy the free time off with great travel benefits. My SSN is also extremely low. Either way, I can bid for airframe change after 18 months.

My base of choice; even long term, is DTW. I'm ok sitting reserve longer if my wife can be closer to family that way so she has support while raising our kid while I'm gone. Upgrade time there looks like about 2.5 years. I'm good with that.

Also, if I went rpa, I would have gone Columbus. But as an outstation, I would have had early starts and late finishes on either ends of the trips. Hub flying typically has better schedules, and easier use of travel benefits, which are already better at edv anyway. Score one more point for DTW.

Endeavor has been the industry leader on many things lately. That speaks volumes for the company. I haven't talked to a single person there who regrets going, and I've talked to five personally over the phone that were my Alumni.

Finally, the earnings potential at Endeavor is higher. Higher pay rates, and lucrative soft pay rules in their contact that always favor the pilot.

Even guys sitting in reserve typically credit 90-100 hours.

One of my buddies is a 2.5 year Captain on reserve, and is making about $9500 gross a month right now. That's over 100k a year.

Before that, he was an fo averaging 14-17 days off a month and making 75k.

Can't complain about that.

Finally, if I go to DTW, I won't have to move my family again like I would if I went to RPA. DTW is a 9e base, a Delta base, a spirit base, etc. And it's really easy to use Delta travel Bennies out of DTW and fly direct nearly anywhere.

That's my reasoning anyhow.

I’m not trying to chase upgrade times ASAP, nor a major asap. I’m enjoying the journey, and my whole family would be happy if we can start growing some roots near dtw.