Listen, its your decision but since you are asking for advice, I must warn you off of Republic again. I am a level headed, relatively intellectual person and what I can tell you is that right now at Republic moral is at an all time low and for good reason. The bottom 500 FO's have gotten the shaft over and over again. The top FO pay is exactly 36.62 per hour with no hope of ever getting a raise. Those out there that claim that we are close to a new and better contract are dellusional at best. We have just recently started negotiations again and the company is not giving an inch. We are easily 2+ years from anything remotely resembling a new contract. I follow our stock and all accounts say that we are barely able to pay our debts. That means that with oil increasing, it looks like we are closer and closer to losing the battle to SWA and Jetblue every day. So if you can look past the 20,000 dollar 1st year pay with a top 4 year pay of 36,000 ( thats what i made on 4th year pay) then consider how awful the company treats us. No cancellation/maintenance pay, and scheduling and the entire management company uses and abuses us at every chance they get. Also, now with the seniority integration you now have a bunch of furloughees that will be senior to you if they take a recall.

For those of you that take this post as being "debbie downer" please realize that I am just being ultra realistic.

Again its your choice, and good luck. Go to Eagle, or apply at Skywest but do yourself a favor and stay away from Republic.

 

That's mergers and negotiations in general. Best advice, worry about flying the planes and check in every six months or so on the finances. Living day-to-day with the airlines will shorten your life span.

FTR, I'm not on any Kool Aid, I'm just a realist who see's it for what it is. Past 3 years have sucked, but also seeing how packed every flight I'm on is generally means to me we are trying to pay off as much 1 one time acquisition costs to lower taxes and lower pilot expectations.

 

Eagle, no doubt, Republic sucks from the top down

FLICA still not fully automated, cant get days off you need/want, F/O rates are terrible with no upgrade in sight (Junior Capt. is Jan '07)

F9 busting balls left and right, Midwest dudes coming on the seniority list, etc.

 

Very good points. I have been with Republic for 3 years and half of it on furlough. It sucked.. ask anyone that had to do that he/she will tell you how bad it is..

What other poster said is true.. Trading trips are hard, but it is not impossible.
upgrade is not at the level of 2006 - 2007 but there isn't any other regional that has faster upgrades.

This is a stupid discussion of which regional is better mentality.. guess what? regional is a regional is a regional..

So, you will have to make your decision based on what your needs are.. Good luck with whichever company you decide to go with..

 

just from my observations, during contract negotiations, it seems like "showing a loss" in profits go hand in hand. Maybe a plan for the company to squeeze more money out of its employees?

 

There's a possibility that you could show up for class at Republic, and then suddenly find out that a couple hundred furloughed (locked out) pilots will be senior to you, and bidding vacancies in front of you. Depending on how many of us choose to go back, you could stay last on the list, on reserve, furlough bait forever. Not good.

On the other hand, if AMR sells Eagle, there'll likely be turd sandwiches all around. If sold, Eagle will get lean (taking from your paycheck) and be thrown into the regional world of revolving door contracts like everyone else. Speaking of Eagle, do they actually own those jungle jets. I would actually hope not, because they're financial submarines unless gas is very cheap.

No way to know. As someone else said, go back to school if you can, and the key to happiness is low expectations.

 

AMR (not Eagle) owns, and will likely keep, the jets and simply subcontract the flying of them to the lowest bidder after a short honeymoon period.

 

Eagle is being split from American. If they are still around after a couple years, they will probably end up being bought by either Republic or SkyWest.

Any pilot going to Eagle risks being furloughed after a year or two. Better to go to Republic and still have a job in 5 years.

 

Ride both horses as long as you can. Tell Republic you'll be there and go to Eagle on the 28th. If Eagle feels good tell Republic thanks but no thanks. Keep your options open as long as possible.

Side note: Upgrade time at Eagle is coming down. Last bid was 5 year upgrade if I remember correctly and it's expected to keep coming down.

 

Eagle owns the EMBs, that was the premise of the grievance the union just filed against the company because they where in Brazil trying to change it to AMR. However, AMR is the cosignee on the loans with the national development bank of brazil. If they do get the loans in AMRs name it's to give them to the lowest bidder.