FWIW, COEX reserve FOs (IAH, EWR, CLE) have been flying quite a bit. I'm up to 50 hours of line value and still have just about half the month to go. That's not unheard of this month, though we'll see about next month with the reduction of relief lines. Last month I broke guarantee (83 hour line value) and took home $1963 after taxes/deductions. The month prior I simply met guarantee and took home $1725 including per diem.

Reserve still blows though! I'm expecting 1+ years on reserve right now.

First year made around $33,000 flying an average of 90 hours actual and over 100 hrs credit a month, with some vacation and training thrown in the mix. Line holder for most of that time, but as someone said, now is a bit different. Depending on your base reserve is anywhere b/n 6 months to a year, and with little movement going on right now, it will stay that way for while.

Second year made around $43,000 without even trying or working as hard as I did my first year.

Third year...we'll see, but I should get close to about $46K, if they raise the red flag for f/o's this summer I should expect to hit over $50k....again we'll see.

Good luck, I think we'll start picking up the hiring based on attrition by fall. Keep the faith.

Thanks to all for the great replies. Given that XJT has a much quicker upgrade time than American Eagle, it may be worthwhile to wait until this fall for an interview witih XJT, rather than interview with Eagle now.

I think you should be careful here. XJT had a much quicker upgrade than Eagle but remember, we aren't growing anymore. The only hiring is for attrition (which thankfully has been moving along as of late but for how long, who knows). Add to that the uncertainty of the branded flying with $100+/barrel oil and the current pullback of 50-seat flying by some of the majors and you have a very tenuous situation. As it stands now, guys on reserve are looking at a much longer stay than planned, they are asking 150 FOs to take a voluntary leave of absence for up to 3 months and no new hire classes are planned until September. Now, don't get me wrong I'm not trying to put down my company. In fact, I think this is a great place to be. But I'm also a realist and would rather hear the truth than have smoke blown up my arse. If stability in the near term and quick upward mobility are your goals...I would reconsider coming here.

I have to agree with Freeze on this one. For those of us hired a couple of years ago it certainly is worth sticking around as we're so close to upgrade, heck, even for the guys hired over a year ago, it's not a bad place to be. So, if you're looking for a quick upgrade, maybe RAH or one of the prop operators might be the way to go.

Otherwise, if you're in your early to mid 20's and you don't mind waiting a bit longer for upgrade, this is a really good company with excellent work rules and compensation. Best of luck to you.

Its really not a bad place to be at all. first year i made 33 ish and was able to hold weekends off for most of that year. My second year i have been working quite a bit more then i did first year and have been crediting 110-120 hrs a month with one month in the 140's already. If i can keep this up for the rest of the year i will make 45-50 if it all works out. I am based in ewr and supposedly our lines are going to stay around the 180's and if they do i will be set and can hold a decent line with the ability to trade. The upgrade isn't going to be 2 yrs like in the past but its your call if you want the quick pic time which is by no means a guarantee for a job or a great qol in the meantime. The Majors wont be beating down peoples doors with 1000 tpic anytime soon so choosing a place on a quick upgrade is not the best idea.

If you got hired here there is a chance you could be furloughed which is true anywhere but there is the qol, a good management which is looking for opportunities, the growth potential if our CAL cpa is reworded which is supposedly going to happen this year but who knows, and i wouldn't worry about the COLA. The company offered leaves of absences are going VERY senior on the fo list. It is allowing people to travel, with health and travel benefits but no pay. It should allow the company to save some cash and has been used at airlines in the past. This is not really a negative thing but if branded is cut then i would expect to see a pilot furlough to bring our pilot #'s to 2500 from 2900 currently. That 2900 # is shrinking by 30-40 people a month right now. even if branded is cut we still would have 205 CAL + 21 Delta + 15-20 Charter = 241-246. good luck with your decision

Some of my bottom line numbers:

Take home pay, 1st of month (half of guarantee): $575
Take home pay, 16th of month (other half, overs from prev. month, per diem from prev month): $1100-1200.

I pay NC state tax, claim 1 on my W4, health/dental/vision for my wife and I, and contribute 5% to my 401K. I am a relief lineholder and average about 80 hours/mo by flying four 4-day trips a month. I commute, so I don't pick up anything extra. Hope this info helps.

FWIW, I took military leave at the beginning of this month and will be gone until at least June. I may try to move my deployment up to an earlier date so as to not return to the company until late summer 2009. Maybe I'll be able to hold a line by then. :D

I'm playing with the same Idea.