"homeless"/obligation free. Which regional?
 

Howdy fellas, it's been asked a million times but my situation is kinda different.

Approaching ATP mins, sloooowly, and trying to figure out what my best option is.

Single, no mortgage/lease, no kids, just me and my boxes.

Couldn't care less about my new base. Either Seattle or Key West would work for me, but since I'm that flexible, it'd be great if I could choose the best regional out there, or one of them. Pay matters obviously, the less reserve the better, the more I fly also the better. I know it's not a menu, but most you guys are well informed and your opinion would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Is your goal max QOL, or max career progression?

Money is not really an issue at the regionals, unless you have background issues which might cause you to stay for a while. What I mean is the pay difference between regionals is chump change compared to QOL, or the money you'll make if you move on to the majors faster.

Max career progression for sure. Getting a nice QOL right now doesn't mean that much honestly. I'd rather sacrifice a few more years to get a better resume/future application.

Background clean 👌

I might piggy back on this thread. I’m in a similar place. Don’t care about pay, would like max career progression. Decent QoL while flying a ton would be nice. I imagine maximizing career progress would rule out any E-170/175 operator, since you’ll be sitting waiting for months for a sim slot.
For me, I prioritize the benefits (Health Insurance, Travel benefits for family etc) and also give preference to airlines that book you in decent hotels and workable schedules. I’d rather make $38/hr and get good sleep than make $45 or $50/hr and get eaten alive by bed bugs.
Thoughts?

Skywest or Air Wisconsin in the CRJ. The CRJ 200 is somewhat out of vogue but there is no shortage of sims or instructors available for it, unlike the E-175. So you won't have much competition for the jet, training will go fast, and you should spend a relatively short time on reserve before you hit the line where there will be lots of flying available and a relatively quick time to upgrade.

Be advised, you are trading some QOL for quick career progression.

Career progression at XJT should speed up considerably, and they still have one of the best regional pilot contracts around.

AA wholly owned are the only regionals with a true flow to a legacy. Republic has great quality of life, but career progression is lacking. Plan on about 10 years to make it to a legacy from republic, and that’s if your well qualified. Endeavor has career progression to Delta, and good QOL as well, but no true flow.

Wait for awhile until you see how the DGI goes before you say endeavor has career progression.

For those saying that pay doesn't matter, your tune will change pretty quick during your first year at a Regional. Nobody likes working a job where their peers at another Regional is making more then $10 an hour more then them for doing the exact same job. You'll also find that the Regionals that pay more tend to be more stable and have better QOL rules. Also, going to a regional with better pay will force the ones still holding back to eventually increase pay to attract pilots. Another thing, if you think your stay at a Regional is just going to be a couple years before you are flying triple sevens across the Atlantic for United, asks those who came in the industry in 2000 and 2007.



So yes, pay should be a huge factor in choosing a Regional. Especially when it is an employee market out there.

False info about Republic. Plenty of pilots moving on well before 10 years. As a matter of fact I would venture to say that there is no difference in prospective career progression to a pilot starting at either Republic or Endeavor. And guess what? Republic now has that useless CPP with Delta now too.



What skew's Republic's numbers negatively as far as career progression is their acquisitions from the past. For example, there are many older Midwest Express pilots close to retirement age that wouldn't move on even if the opportunity presents itself. But if you take those pilots away, progression at Republic is no different then other Regionals.