Like the others said, it is a crapshoot and each company has its own strengths and weaknesses. Some are great, depending on where you live.

If you are willing to move, right now Skywest looks like a winner. But that can change pretty quickly. Five years ago, Air Wisconsin was the best regional out there. It is still good, but morale is low and unless you live close to one of the domiciles it is not that great.

The fact is that none of the regional airlines is all that great. It is a job, not a dream. For a commuter though, it is a lifestyle. Driving from CHO to DCA would be a PITA in my world, where dealing with traffic is right up there will getting poked in the eye with a sharp stick. And traffic in Washington sucks.

Anyway, like the others said, what works for one is not necessarily what will work for you.

Based purely on the contract though ZW is not bad. We do have one of the best 401K programs out there and nobody ever mentions that.

 

Don't go anywhere just because they have a base where you want to be unless it's a very stable company not likely to close that base anytime soon - even that is up for grabs though (reference AWAC and their bases a couple years ago or CHQ and the Florida disaster). I myself refuse to live in base because if I do, I'm just going to have to move again sometime down the road. I suck it up and commute, and it does put a drain on you at some point. However, if you can make some friends in crew scheduling, you can bid reserve and maybe deadhead out of home to pick up a trip (it's worked for me before). Any place that is growing or stable is good - I would say that CHQ, XJT, AWAC, or SKW would be at the top of my list.

 

The answer to this question depends on the question itself...what do you mean by best? What are your priorities?

One or more bases at or close to home?
Quick Upgrade?
Good Benefits?
Good QOL?
A place to spend you career?


You will likely face trade-offs between these and other criteria, so you have to decide what is most important to you.


Regardless, don't do mesa (it will suck) or blowjets (you will suck).

 

If I may add an additional request for information to those of you who fly for AE, ASA, COMAIR & PSA.

a) How is seniority determined after completing training when hired? Age? SSN?

b) Based on that seniority (if you are within the top 5) do you get to pick your a/c & domiclie?

c) How long is the upgrade for each? Which domicile is best in terms of QOL given a two-income family?

I realize some of these questions may have been answered before. I wasn't able to find the threads or posts for these particular questions. Thanks for your help guys.


atp

 

Answers for PSA:

Seniority in class is based on age. Seniority starts day 1 of training.


Everybody starts in the CRJ-200, transition to the -701 in six months of so. Then you fly both a/c. Domiciles are a crap shoot. DAY is generally junior. You should be able to get any domicile within 3 months or less. You will hold a line in DAY in less than a year. In CLT 16-18 mo.

Upgrade is from 4 years to infinite. There has been only one PSA upgrade class in the last year and a half. There has been at least one CEL-APL class this year (APL-CEL are furloghed Midatlantic guys - a very sore spot right now, effectively PDT fo's are jumping the line to become PSA CA's).

On the other hand, over 100 fo's have left PSA in the last year - with only about 25 new hires to replace them.

QOL is a tricky question. If you live in domicile, they're about the same. If you commute, CLT is the only hub, so its the easiest by default. Schedules are lousy in all three domiciles, but there is more flying to be had in CLT.


One more caveat; I turned in my resignation letter at PSA today. I'll begin training at Eagle after Thanksgiving. Being married with a baby at home, living in domicile trumps almost all other considerations.

 

A place to spend a career
Benefits
QOL
Upgrade

Those are my priorities.

 

Asking which Regional is best to work for is like asking which hammer is best for hitting yourself in your head!

 

Amen to that !!

SkyHigh

 

who gives you the fastest upgrade?

 

probably commutair or colgan