Like Express Pilot said, if you bid for CLE in training and get it, odds are that you will probably never hold a line there. The only way would be if you stuck it out long enough for everyone head of you to upgrade, or through a few perm bids when those ahead of you leave CLE for EWR or most likely IAH. Problem with CLE is that the top 25 to 30 FO's on the list are not likely to upgrade......ever. Also, CLE is going to be loosing lines all summer and fall untill december (says crew planning) and will end up only having around 80 lines. That said, I could always use a good reserve to drop my trips to. :-) good luck man


Biff

Well crap. There goes my nicely laid plans. CLE sounds like a bad move. I don't currently live in any of XJT's hubs, just figured CLE would be better QOL than EWR and easier to get than IAH. Guess I'll have to get the girlfriend excited about Houston and just suck it up and commute to EWR.

Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself here but I've got a couple of questions for you XJT guys/gals.

I got an email yesterday with a questionnaire and asking when I'd be available for interview dates. I'm hoping that means I'll be granted the interview, but we'll see.

If I'm fortunate enough to get an interview and earn a job offer, how long does training last? I hear a month is about normal for most places. Does XJT pay during training? If so how much? What about accommodations during training? Paid or on your own dime? What's commuting like?

Sorry for all the questions, but in the event that an interview comes along, I'd like to know this in advance, and their website doesn't give any info. The gouges say they'll give you a yea or nay on interview day, and expect you to accept on the spot.

You are paid during training. I can't remember how much. I think it was like 1500. You will most likely stay at the Holiday Inn on JFK Blvd. which is paid for. Sorry I can't remember how long training is, 1 month or a little longer. Commuting is commuting. I depends on a lot of factors, like how far, # of flights, ect. Just ask yourself why your commuting, and if you have a good reason commute. I commuted from DFW-IAH. Easy commute. Now I commute from DFW-EWR as a junior Capt. I get to sleep with my wife 11 nights a month. Thats sucks. ADVISE, don't tell them in your interview that you plan to commute. Just tell them that your going to move to one of the bases.

ExpressPilot,

Thanks for the input. I certainly don't plan on telling them about commuting at the interview. I live around BWI, so hopefully a commute to EWR wont' be too bad. I guess it just depends on the timing of the flights as to how many nights I'll get at home.

Any word on how long new hires are spending on reserve in EWR? Assuming that I commute, do you have any idea whether a crashpad in Newark is easy to come by?

I'd love to get on with a regional that has a base in IAD or DCA, but Colgan has slowed hiring, AWAC may or may not resume hiring next month and I think the only other choice is Mesa...

Thanks again for the info! Good to know there's another Parrot Head out there in the ranks.

Hey thats what I do. Listen to Buffet and drink beer on my days off, and try to keep the wife happy.

The best crashpad is EWR is the Blocked Inn, it is a 6000ft house run by a 777 Capt. at CAL. It costs 260 a month, seems alot, but the Swan costs 235 a month and is a **** hole, ***** house, ect. It has free porn, but it is the sickest thing I've seen, stuff like fat black chick anal.
So go with the Blocked Inn, its not perfect, but what crashpad is.

That should be a easy commute for you.
I couldn't tell you how long on reserve in EWR, but I know you'll hold a line fastest there and upgrade quickest there.

Hey thanks again! Now all I need is for them to reply to my questionnaire answers with an interview date (hopeful sigh). I replied on Tuesday and haven't heard anything yet. I know it's only 2 days, but I'm like a stupid teenager waiting by the phone for some girl to call! I'm driving my wife crazy already. I can't imagine how she'll feel if I actually get an interview date. I'll have to start sleeping on the couch for a while...

Fins,
I went through the exact same thing you are going through about a month ago. As I recall it took a couple days for a response to the questionnaire. What they told us before the interview was that training lasted approximately 45 days in IAH and then about 2 weeks of IOE. They give you a one-time payment at the beginning of training of $1482.00. Hotel is paid for (the Holiday Inn on JFK Blvd) and there is a shuttle that goes between the hotel and the training center. They do give you the good or bad news that day, literally moments after the final interview and then whisk you off to do paper work, finger printing and the whiz quiz. I think they organize the interviewees based on the order of your departing flight (ie if you have an early flight home from IAH, you go first. That being said, I had a really late flight home and was in the middle of the morning group of interviews so who knows.) Ive seen on some gouges people complaining about there being no food and being there for a long time but there is a lunchroom on the other end of the building with vending machines and a water cooler and all the waiting time gives you plenty of time to BS with other interviewees, study and get anxious:D. Hope this helps.

Excuse my ignorance but what is the Whiz Quiz you are reffering to?

whiz quiz = pee test