Locality Pay
 

Hi,

I'm about to start looking for Regionals to work for. I currently live in California and I'd like to stay here or possibly Miami. And I'm definitely not looking to commute for all my regional years. So, my question is do airlines offer locality pay based on your base? If not, would it be a smart idea to move in a city like Miami since rent and taxes are cheaper?

Also, I'm not a fan of moving cities every few years so if I was to live in LA or Miami I could still work for major airlines living there in the future.

As they say, the biggest perk of being a pilot is "you can live anywhere you'd like" as long as you're willing to commute.

No locality pay.. As far as regionals in CA, Come to compass for the best LA opportunity (quick upgrade, upgrade in base) wth the highest risk (loss of contract/meltdown).. Go to OO for the most stability but with longer upgrades and expect to upgrade in the midwest. Excargodog has some good posts here and there with lots of elaboration on my points above.

Yes, Regional airlines give you $1000 extra per month just for living in the state of California because everybody who lives there is special.

What about promoting to a major? Does compass offer any advantages? Or is it better to go somewhere with a flow to AA?

Some jobs do, so I was wondering

It was a valid question for someone new to the airlines.. As far as flow, I'll let the envoy guys answer that. Keep in mind there are no true flow opportunities on the west coast. The best "flow" program is to find a quick upgrade and flow yourself to a major lol

Edit: compass has frontier but... It's not really a great opportunity the way it's set up. And there's horizon - alaska.. But I'm talking mainly about CA.. Your choices are CP or OO

Thanks! Compass doesn't seem like a bad choice really. We're just very close to the end of the contract and who knows what's going to happen. I still have some time left, so hopefully more info comes out on this.

Yeah man, i'de say still apply when you are ready regardless. You'll get a type and some flight time out of it either way.. It's not like there won't be other opportunities for you if Delta drops us, that flying will go somewhere. Wish you all the best either way homie!

Keep in mind too that where you live (not where you are domiciled) determines your state tax rate, as long as you do less than 51% of your flying in one state. And you might be at a major for a LONG time before you are senior enough to bid and hold your desired domicile.

A top tier Delta or United pilot living in California will annually pay $35-38K in state income taxes. Living in one of the seven states with no income tax or the two states that don’t tax wages, can make that much of a difference annually at the end of your career.

https://smartasset.com/taxes/states-with-no-income-tax

Commuting from a state with a lower (or no) tax rate might be a reasonable option. Especially if it’s a reliably easy single leg commute.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/micr...t-income-taxes

PERSONAL OPINION, YMMV:

The baby boomer retirement wave at the majors has already started. It will peak in four to five years. Anyone wanting to work in this industry should be trying to get hired at a major before that peak occurs.

I had job offers from Compass, Skywest, and Horizon. I had ALWAYS wanted to work for Horizon, but had I taken a job with them (as a friend of mine did) I would likely have the same 450 TSIC hours he has right now rather than just short of 900 and getting ready to upgrade. Another friend took the Skywest route and sat reserve in LaGuardia for five or six months. Both of these guys are good guys with prior 135 time but both are over a year away from STARTING to get the 1000 hours of 121 TPIC that opens doors for interviews at a major.

I don’t know your numbers or your background but I would suggest you look for employment somewhere that will do what it takes to get you 1000 121 TPIC in - at most - four years. Whether that is Compass at LAX or PHX, an OO CRJ at FAT or even working for Mesa :eek: with crap pay and working rules, screwing around with someone who will minimally fly you is not a great option. The lower your numbers, the worse the option it is.

Dang dawg, you're already at 900? That was fast lol

Well, but if you're domiciled in California, then in theory you live in California and have to pay taxes there. Even if you're based in Dallas for instance? Right?

It's a little tight to get to a major before 4-5 years. Probably more like 6-7 is more realistic. But you're reasoning is smart and makes a lot of sense. Thanks.

That being said you will move up to higher spots in your regional and will be easier to upgrade. Or at least I'd think so.

IF you LIVE in California you have to pay California State tax. If you are BASED in California but LIVE outside the state, you do not need to pay California taxes unless 50% or more of your flying is IN California, which even if you are based at LAX won’t be the case. Which is why a lot of pilots commute from LAS.

I don't know you or your situation, but why the focus on these high cost of living areas? If you do the regionals right, you'll be flying so much that you really won't be able to fully enjoy where you live anyway. You can string out your regional career for a decade plus or make short work of it in 2-3 years, that is entirely up to you and how much work you put in. For example, aiming for a gig with domiciles in Texas will give you cheaper rent and no state income taxes, and in most cases usually better seniority for things like holding a line and upgrading.

Save the high end coastal living for after you get to a major. Trust me, you don't want to live in Miami on less than 100k/year anyway.

Unrelated to the California discussion, but it'd be relevant if someone searched for a thread like this in the future...

9E provides $50/month for commuters in NYC. It can be added to your paycheck (and taxed), or it can be paid in a commuter card (and not taxed). The commuter card can be used to pay for shared Uber/Lyfts and pretty much any transportation ticket/pass you can buy.

Cue the "but the vaaaaaan" folks in 3... 2...