thanks for all the replies, still does not make the decision any easier, some have mentioned the work rules, is there any place to get info on the work rules for both companies online?

Take some time and use the search function that's on this site. Spend a few hours browsing and reading others' posts and you will find a wealth of info. If you choose not to use the search function, just browse backwards and read links that feature the companies that you are interested in. I did it and it was worth it.

My quick opinion on your decision- The advantages of living in base are not small and should not be quickly dismissed. I believe Eagle's upgrade will fall since it really couldn't go higher; will it ever fall to less than 4 years for a 2007 hire? I doubt it, but my crystal ball has been recalled due defects.

I did a little research and came up with about 42 more aircraft by the end of the 1Q in 2009. All will be 175s. This includes the most recent annoucement with Delta and Untied. I would say 5 CA per plane is a good number, that would make for 210 new CA based on new growth. Forget about attrition. That is a whole other animal. Try at least 18 months of attrition at the rate of 20 per month. That is a healthy 360 pilots going bye-bye.

One other note, this includes the reduction of the 135 that is slated to start next Sept.

Where can RAH grow? Try Frontier and CAL.

Thanks for the info, looks like RAH will have a good amount of expansion in the next few years at least. Will the growth with Frontier continue after Lynx is up and running? It does seem like CAL is trying to outsource more flying to companies, so i expect to see a little more opportunity for that. RAH and AE are both relatively good regionals, and it is definitely a tough choice between the two.

I've had a good experience with Republic, and would recommend it. I do have a friend who is at Republic now after leaving Eagle, and she isn't significantly more or less happy (moved over for quicker upgrade).

However, as a former commuter, living in base improved my quality of life 200%. For that reason alone, Eagle would have a leg up in your situation. Here's a suggestion which may or may not work, but it is worth a shot if you'd rather come to Republic. Level with Linda, and tell her you have class date offer from Eagle, but really want to come to Republic. The problem is you want to live in base, and is there anyway you can hold out for a Shuttle class so that you can eventually bid ORD. She may or may not go for it, but you really don't have much to lose.

I worked at eagle and now im at rah on the chq side. personally i dont care about upgrade that stuff changes so much. Yeah eagle has had excessively high for a while (i trained with an atr upgrade who had been there 8 years) but rah could have an upgrade that long if the shlt hits the fan. Things change so i wouldnt look at that personally. Work rules are slightly in favor of RAH i think. THERE IS JUNIOR MANNING AT EAGLE. It might not happen much now but i gurantee it will start happening. I was junior manned twice while i was at eagle (6 months); both times I got out of it cause I was nowhere near work. RAH does not have junior manning. If you pick up the phone on your day off you say no and its no big deal. At eagle you have to pick it up and unless you have a legitamate reason your working. The only thing that is important would be the living in base. If you can still pick your base then your ok at eagle cause you will get ord. If you cant, i hope you like the tropics cause youll be in san juan before you know it. At RAH you could end up anywhere. If I were you I would try and get a shuttle class date with RAH and then go to ord as soon as you can. If they give you a RW or CHQ class go to eagle as long as you can pick your base. It doesnt hurt to at least interview and RAH is so short on pilots theyll almost kiss your a$$ to get you to go there.

You dont know Jack sh*t about Eagle.

Eagle will give you ORD base right from the get go. You can pick your base.
They are in need for ERJ FO's in ORD.

At RAH if you can get in the aircraft that serves that base then sooner or later you'll be able to get the base. I don't know anyone who wanted a specific base and wasn't able to hold it within 3 months. You might be on reserve much longer there but you'll be able to get it. Currently anyway. Biggest downfall at RAH is the basing issue. They can pull the plug and shift resources fast. Very few bases feel like they'll stay in the long run. STL, CMH, IND seem to be the big dogs. CMH is their MX hub so while it isn't the biggest if feels the most stable IMHO.

Provided we don't see a significant change in contracts on the 170 fleets, ATL and PHL will probably be stable for the forseable future.