ExpressJet Commuters
 

Anyone at ExpressJet have any experience commuting to EWR from CLE? Seems like there are quite a few flights between the two each day (not too many in the early morning or late night though:( ). Also, any idea on how long it would take to hold CLE?

It shouldn't be that bad of a commute. CLE has the least amount of lines, you'll be on reserve awhile there. Good news, from what I hear is a CLE reserve only flys 10 days a month of so. That was from a buddy of mine based in CLE a year ago. He could hold a line there, but would bid reserve and never fly and sell homes on the side. Something to think about. But if alot of flight time and faster upgrade, stick with the commute to EWR. CLE is real senior guys and the smallest base, and it always seems like the lines are getting reduced even more. For example, I flew with 5 yr. flight atted. that CLE is her home. She commutes to IAH to hold a line. I know thats flight atted. but get the picture .

Hmmm...Not what I wanted to hear. I plan to fly as much as I can my first year just in case I find myself furloughed in January. How long did it take your buddy to hold CLE?
Another question: I start training 3/27 and it wasn't really clear when I finished with the paperwork but...what do I need to bring with me to Houston for the 2 months of training? Will they be sending me any information before class starts? About the only info I got was to wear khakis and a polo when at the training center.

My buddy held CLE out of training, you should also. I didn't mean to discourge you. My advise, if you live in CLE, make CLE your base, on reserve. You can always call scheduling and get on the will fly list, so you will fly. For upgrade you will want to start thinking about EWR. Also, is you want to hold a line faster, think EWR. But again, as a new hire that lives in Cle. just base yourself there for awhile. For training you should get a big white binder, that has most all your stuff in it. Call the training center and find out whats going on and just ask questions that concern you. As far as getting furloughed in Jan. , anything can happen in this career, but the word is, everything will be fine. I'm not a cool-aid guy, but we will fly those planes for someone else before they went to CAL, or CAL or our management just be using this for paycuts. I would not worry about that, most guys of this regional sec. don't know the details. Just worry about getting through training, not that it is hard, it seems like you have the passion to pay attention

Sounds good. I don't live in CLE, just think I would like it better than EWR and I know IAH is very senior. I got the big white binder and the cockpit poster and am spending hours a day worshipping it (my girlfriend thinks im nuts). I guess I meant like should I be shopping for a flight case now or wait until I get to training? What kind of goodies helped you through training or did you wish you had while you were in training? Also, is it worth having a car down there in Houston during training?

I'm with you on the January thing. If it happens, it happens. But if it does happen, I want to get as much experience as I can with the company before they boot me out on the street.

Your doing the right thing worshipping that book. My advise would just show up for training with your limitations and memory items down cold. Study flows also. This will get you ahead of the game, win comes down to learing other stuff. You'll already have the limitations and memory items out of the way. Just make flashcards and play some kinky game with your girlfriend, she will enjoy that and start to like that white book. Your oral will always start with limitations and memory items, so thats always a must. Like I said just study those and look over your flows as mush as you can, but don't stress your self out, just make those flashcards

You are right, if it happens it happens. As much as it will stink, it won't kill your career per se. You got hired and made it through a 121 program, you are hireable again elsewhere. As much as it stinks to go to the bottom again. Like the other guy says, study the limitations, memory items, and flows and you will be fine. The hotel has laundry, so don't take more crap than you need. Also, typical things, a notebook, highlighters, pens, pencils, ect.

I ended up just mailing a box of stuff so it was waiting at the hotel when I arrived. Including some food, tuna, peanut butter, detergent, soap, ect.

Are they going to send hotel information? They didn't even really give us any info on that. I stayed overnight before the interview, do they use the same Holiday Inn while you're in training?

Just wondering how long it takes to hold IAH. Also wondering how long it would take to hold a line in CLE. What are the trips like out of each base?

Like i tried to tell you earlier, CLE has the least amount of lines, CLE sucks, except if you live there. For holding IAH, I don't know if you mean a line or just being based there. Holding a line a have no idea, but being based there could happen right out of training or take 4 months or so. Holing a line the quickest, goes in this order: EWR, IAH, CLE. I've been based in both IAH and EWR. What are trips like. More Mexico in IAH. Get more overtime in EWR, because of traffic and delays. I enjoy flying out of EWR for the NE flying, but I commute from DAL, so IAH is more ideal. Hope thats helps. If I were you I would base myself in EWR first. From what I remember you live up north, and by your freezingflyboy name, you'll like EWR better than IAH, plus an easier commute. Just don't go to CLE, you'll thank me later

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

AHHHHH of course. How obvious now that I think about it.

Freezingflyboy,

Thanks, that's good info. If I get an interview lined up I'll let y'all know. I'll probably solicit some interview advice, too.

I kind of sent my resume in on a whim, thinking if I got a shot, at least it would be good experience to have done the interview. Since the email, I've been doing some more research, and I'm beginning to think if I'm lucky enough to get an offer, XJT might be a good company to work for for a while.

I started training in Houston on Jan 3rd this year, and was sitting on reserve in EWR on March 5th. I brought waaaaaayyyyyy too much stuff with me to training. Clothes mostly, but you get positive space seats during traiing, so I brought a bunch of it home throughout training. I think they caught on to the "Im hungry" attitude in the interview room, and when I was there the front desk lady came in and asked if anyone wanted to eat in the cafe; every weekday they have a caterer come to the training center, but they only bring as much food as the front desk lady tells them too. If you guys end up here and need a crashpad, mine has a couple openings. 160/month with your own bed, sat TV, Xbox, full kitchen, 10 minutes to the C terminal. The guy running it is an XJT FO and he runs it to break even, nobody is making money at this pad, and that means you get a great place for cheap. Send me a private message for a phone number.

mr2die4,

I'm being optimistic, but that crashpad sounds like a good deal. Somehow I can't PM you from this board, but send me an email at [email protected].

I assume you are in EWR? How long do you think you'll spend on reserve? Any advice on interview day that's not on the usual gouges?

Thx.

my buddy just finished training and was givin IAH right out of training. So if you want IAH its there. luck of the draw

Mr, TWO DIE FOR,

Sounds as if I need to come up and visit at the good ole crash pad for a day or two HUH><<<>???

You can have the bottom bunk!

I expect to be on reserve for 3-4 months. The sooner you get here, the shorter you will be on reserve.

It wont let me PM either. Ill send you a description of the place through your email.