Regional questions
 

Can someone help me understand the upgrade? I have heard that some airlines now allow you to go from F/O on a regional to F/O on a mainline w/o being a CAP at that same regional. Is this true?

Also, if you decide to go to an airline with a flow program such as PSA, do they make you sign on a contract saying you will stay on with them until you flow through? I guess I'm wondering why wouldn't someone just go for an airline with a flow program, and continue to apply with other legacy carriers at the same time to increase their chances of getting hired?

Sorry if these questions have already been asked...

I'm sure there are regional FOs that are hired straight into a legacy but I'd say those are rare cases. Probably happens more with the LCCs

That's what people at AAG wholly owneds do. There's nothing stopping you from being hired outside the flow. Other regionals pay more but with PSAs pay raise there is no reason not to go there if you don't care where you're based.

Yes, but not in a way that it is going to happen to you. Those FOs that go straight to a legacy usually have previous military flying experience with lots of milPIC time.



Plenty of people do not go to a Regional with flow once they do a little research. The Regionals with flow usually have the worst pay and work rules. No reason to be miserable for 7 - 10 years (the true time it will take to flow for a new hire today) when the hiring market is expected to improve over the next few years unless there is something that stops it like a huge downturn or another 9/11 (another reason to go to a Regional with good pay and QOL).

Well, now PSA has the flow, good pay, and great work rules (unlimited SAP!).
It's a great deal right now.

Good first year pay anyway, which didn't I hear came from a retention bonus or something? After that, it levels back off to below everyone else.

Oh, and don't forget the forced upgrades to outstation bases.

Their CA rates are competitive now.

Yeah, does anyone know of an FO who was hired by a legacy with no TPIC? I just don’t see that happening. Maybe by an LCC, but not a legacy or FDX, UPS or WN.

I know of a dozen at my airline.

I second this, there are several dozen at my airline.