How hard is it (as a new hire) to get IAH as a base. I would like to apply to Republic, but I am 46 with a family in Houston, base assignment would be important to me.

1) I will not relocate my family
2) I do not want to spend all of my days off commuting.

Also can someone explain the travel benefits at Republic. Do the benefits extended up to the Majors (Continental here in Houston)?

Up until now I had only considered Express Jet for all of the above listed reasons. However if I could hold IAH with Republic I would submit my resume.

Thanks in advance for all replies.

 

Republic typically puts you where they need you. If you are interested in a base, tell them. Didn't work for me. I was wanting STL and they put me at S5. IAH may be going away with the CRJs in the next couple years.

As far as travel bennies, yes they apply to the major you are flying for but they vary by base and codeshare.

If you're really, really wanting that base you should probably go with Expressjet. Then again, if you are unwilling to relocate your family this may not be an industry you wish to be in. Bases now mean nothing two years from now.

 

I doubt XJT will be hiring in the near future.... but one never knows.....

 

XJT is a much more guaranteed way to get IAH.

Out of the most recent class of CRJ new hires, 4 out of the 10 are going to IAH, 1 to CRP (voluntarily) and the rest to SDF. Travel benefits are a function of your base. Since the CRJ program is not growing, they are only hiring for attrition/upgrades and I believe they have another class coming up soon. God only knows when the next one would be, but CHQ CRJ is the only way you're getting to IAH with RAH.

Being based in IAH gives you benefits on CAL only (since that's the only flying you do outta IAH) for you and immediate family (parents, spouse, kids under 21 or 23 or something like that). You can always jumpseat on pretty much anyone if you're traveling alone.

It's no big secret that the CRJ is going away and will be gone by 2010. What, if anything, replaces it remains to be seen. I've heard everything from a 145 base in Houston to all the flying moving to CLE to anything in between. No one on my pay scale knows at this point.

 

I doubt going into a base with a single type that WILL go away within 2 years would be good for anyone not fully expecting to move... As airways flying goes to the 170, they were painting 145's in contental colors.