Arliss

Disclosure: I created a new account for this post to enhance anonymity.

I'm feeling torn while considering a lateral move.

I just started at L-Xjt. Only 2 months on the line. I came here because I'm local to EWR and I had always heard great things about the contract and such. So far it has been a pleasant place to work and I do like the work rules, including things like the downtown hotels on long overnights. The training was excellent and I like that I have that on my resume. I was also lured in with the promise that things would improve drastically with the new pilot pay and CPP pulling away captains to allow upgrades (the instructors were telling us we'd be captains in 2 to 4 years).

I'm now seeing a bleaker picture from the inside. There hasn't been a vacancy bid of any kind in 5 months. We keep losing planes. Relatively few captains are getting hired through the CPP (I heard only 40% success rate). Several I've flown with have no plans to leave at all short of a shutdown.

I'm considering a lateral move and am looking at Envoy, RAH, or Endeavor. But is it a jerk move for me to bail from a company so soon after starting? Does it look bad on a resume? I'd also feel let-down since this was traditionally the place I wanted to go.

And anyone care to share their personal perspectives on these companies?

Envoy: New pay package is really great, as is the flow to American. But can reserves who want to fly expect to actually fly and break guarantee? The $20000 up front will be a great help for me, but to do what I want to do financially I'd need to be doing better than min guarantee and no per diem. My friend who works there has been a good salesman and is a believer in 2 to 3 year upgrade and 6 to 7 year flow. He tells me just to maintain the fleet with the planned flow they'd need to upgrade 300+ a year. The LGA base is good news but LGA/JFK can be a brutal drove from NJ. I've heard reserve has been running long but would drop with movement.

Endeavor: Heard it's a much better place than it used to be, great financial incentives like Envoy, NY base, possibly very short upgrade (one new captain I know there believes street captains are a possibility sometime next year). I've heard minimal reserve time.

RAH: Also heard it's vastly better than it used to be, exiting BK in a stable position, ability to be EWR based, dropping upgrade times, though they don't offer nearly the bonus money that the above are, and no flow or interview programs. I've likewise heard minimal reserve time in the junior bases.

I'm so torn. Any thoughts?

CLT Guy

Do what is best for you and your family. Period.

You can always explain why you left a regional after a few months, especially one that will probably not be in existence down the road.

JohnnyDingus

I think it's a wise move and easy to explain. You are being proactive by getting out now and not delaying your career. Others are invested and just won't leave as easily as you could.


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prex8390

If you're unhappy, and you think this will help you and your family. Just leave. I'm currently in the process of it myself. I've been seeing a lot of lateral movement lately. You're not the only one doing it.

Santos Dumont

If I was a Newark local and I was at ExpressJet I think I would stay there and try to make the best of it. Just be patient.

The way I see it is that EWR is a junior, but solid base for United and ExpressJet so chances of it going away, or you getting displaced out of it anytime soon are small. Also they have a good contract. Sure, you wil not get any PIC time at ExpressJet, and you should have known that, but I just don't see that as a good enough reason to make a lateral move so soon in the industry, especially if you work for a good regional with a lot of history in your home town. Also, whie ExpressJet fleet will continue to shrink, I doubt they will dissapear anytime soon.

Focus on the other perks that ExpressJet has, like being one of the favorite regionals for United to pull pilots from. I wouldn't start chasing the PIC time because if things don't work out as expected I would personally regret it greatly.

Enjoy the nice contract, the drive to work, and have a good time on the line.

TLDR

Looks like good points from both sides of the coin here. Whatever you choose to do, try not to chase the $$$ or the quick upgrade. As many posters have said before me, QOL should be the most important factor in choosing a regional.

RemoveB4Flight

I wouldn't call what he's doing "chasing the upgrade". He's not picking one specific place that has super short upgrade times and going for just that reason. He will likely never upgrade at express jet. If he's making a move to improve his career overall then I would say go for it.
Bottom line there is so much movement at other regionals there's no reason to not be apart of it. Express jet and awac are such great companies but how could anyone honestly recommend someone go there or stay there? If you're less than 2-3 years in get out for sure and if you're more you should still be strongly considering it.

Marlin

In today's pilot marketplace , lateral moves seem to be more prevalent. Bases are important for sure, but grooming yourself for the eventual move to a major is far more important than a short time at a base you don't want to be. Recruiters at the regionals(I was one at eagle years ago), are not going to question your loyalty, but applaud your decision to advance your career . Regional's know you are trying to get in and get out . If I were making a lateral move , everything else being close to equal , I would go where there is a flow. The upgrade time/flow numbers espoused by envoy may not be totally accurate , but there are a few hundred captains leaving every year, as long as hiring continues at AA. Although not likely to be hired off the street to AA , (from envoy),nothing precludes you from applying to everyone else. Having a flow number to AA, weather it is 6 years away or 10, is better (in my opinion), than having to apply and hope like the other 18,000 regional guys. While I won't comment on the good/ bad argument for envoy, most regionals are very similar in pay/working condition , or if they aren't , they probably will be soon.
Good luck with your decision .
Joe

JayBee

I think I would try to stay 6 months to a year just so you don't look flaky.

amcnd

I would stick out the Holidays.. see what the new year, "rings". If XJT still is loosing airplanes next year. Then. Make the move. But i wouldn't leave only to commute somewhere.. im not sure who else has a EWR base. I made a lateral move about 14 years ago. (After 5 years at a regional) worked out for me.. if your asking this question only 2 months in... then i think you already know the answer...