Best Regional to work for?
 

I know this is a loaded question but would like some basic infomation. First who's the best regional to work for, ie pay and quality of life. Are there any that hire into the left seat. And which ones have the flow through to the mainline and if so how long is the wait. I'm experienced and it's been years since I've had to weigh the pros and cons about this. I'm also furloughed from another airline. I know I opened the flood gates on this one but really need the hard facts.

The first one to hire you. The "better" one changes yearly, so don't worry about it.

One with jets.

Air Wisconsin....no, they used to be #1 but others would work cheaper.

Comair....no, they stood up for a good contract and now they don't exist.

Just don't work for one with a descent contract. The majors always look to outsource to the lowest bidder, so being the "best" means you won't be around for long.

I'd pick the one with the shortest upgrade time. Age 65 retirements will cause a HUGE amount of hiring soon and recent PIC turbine experience looks good on a resume.

Flow through? Forget about it. The best one is the one you don't have to commute to.

It depends on your priority...

The safe thing is select a "better" regional with bases where you want to live. That way if you get stuck it won't be pure hell.

If you're about career progression at all costs look at where you can get fast TPIC in something larger than a B1900 and possibly jet time.

Small regionals are suspect right now because of the industry changes...if they lose their contract. there may not be new business to replace it.

RAH, PCL, AE all have money and stability issues right now, so that probably leaves SKW as the only big regional with enough money to buy itself some stability as the regional business model evolves. No fast upgrade unless the majors start hiring though.

exactly. Some people's ego's can't understand this though.

or, the one with no commute or the easiest one. But that could change too.... Change is the #1 word in this business.

Considering that you're a furloughed 747 FO, I'd pick the shortest commute and work your network connections in the meantime. Hopefully you have your stuff in by now at Delta, United, US Airways, Spirit, Atlas, Omni, etc, or foreign carriers, if that interests you. (And watch for the hiring windows at Hawaiian, Alaska, Southwest, Virgin America, JetBlue, Allegiant to open again). Best of luck!

Totally agree with the post here. Skip the regionals they are all a deadend in the current enviornment. I have 11 yrs in at a regional and trying like hell to get out!

Good points, until the regional shuffle game rears it's ugly head in that domicile and it closes. Only to make you a commuter.

Again, a good point. Till the regional gets bought off/sold, downsized, under bid by an even crappier carrier regional, etc etc etc.

Which just illustrates the point. With the way the regional side of the career is going, one can't really have BOTH the things that were easy to come by pre 9/11. IE, a base at home or close to home combined with a (relatively) quick upgrade, etc. Even if you have one, it may not last for long.

Point I'm getting at is, one simply never knows.

It's not really about the "best" regional to work for, it's what the "least crappiest" regional to work for.