Is regional QOL still bad?
10-17-2016, 07:26 PM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 523
Originally Posted by prex8390
Just so you know. I spent roughly 220 days in a hotel last year. Seems you are really on the fence about being away a lot. and that number is just for work. With commuting. I could add on another 25-30 days to that. So you're looking about 250 days away from home. As a rough estimate. But I would say that's pretty accurate. Also if you live in Denver. Try and get on with Skywest. You might only need to commute for a few monthes maybe before you can get Denver. Then just drive to work.
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10-17-2016, 07:34 PM
#22
Layover Master
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Position: Seated
Posts: 4,311
Originally Posted by prex8390
Just so you know. I spent roughly 220 days in a hotel last year. Seems you are really on the fence about being away a lot. and that number is just for work. With commuting. I could add on another 25-30 days to that. So you're looking about 250 days away from home. As a rough estimate. But I would say that's pretty accurate. Also if you live in Denver. Try and get on with Skywest. You might only need to commute for a few monthes maybe before you can get Denver. Then just drive to work.
Did you never have vacation and only get min days off?
12 days off x 12 months = 144 days at home.
365-220=145
Sorry, but unless I am missing something, that math is suspect.
Did you work over your vacation?
You stated you weren't even including your commuting days, so that's out.
How did you manage this?
10-18-2016, 05:50 AM
#24
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2014
Posts: 79
I commute and have a typical 4-on 3-off schedule. As long as the trips are commmutable (they usually are for me), that equates to 4 night in my own bed every week, and 3 in a hotel. I've commuted for 10 years now...I can't imagine how amazing living in base would be, but I feel like I don't have it that bad.
10-18-2016, 06:42 AM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Originally Posted by PotatoChip
That's an exceptionally large amount of time in hotels.
Did you never have vacation and only get min days off?
12 days off x 12 months = 144 days at home.
365-220=145
Sorry, but unless I am missing something, that math is suspect.
Did you work over your vacation?
You stated you weren't even including your commuting days, so that's out.
How did you manage this?
Did you never have vacation and only get min days off?
12 days off x 12 months = 144 days at home.
365-220=145
Sorry, but unless I am missing something, that math is suspect.
Did you work over your vacation?
You stated you weren't even including your commuting days, so that's out.
How did you manage this?
10-18-2016, 06:55 AM
#26
Layover Master
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Position: Seated
Posts: 4,311
Originally Posted by prex8390
I didn't count my days. I just figured working 18 days a month for a year. Forgot to factor in vacation and stuff. Guess it felt like it was that much
That said, I do believe that it might have felt like that much time away.
Life at regionals is not great, but it has gotten better, and if you live in domicile, it's usually a pretty good job. However, we should all be mainline employees with one level of safety, training and seniority...
10-18-2016, 07:15 AM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: 747 FO
Posts: 175
I think there are too many variables to answer this question. But here goes...
If you live in Denver and are a "Denver person" in that you enjoy the mountains all year, enjoy good Colorado craft beer or just don't see yourself moving to a different city then Skywest or Boutique is the best option.
I made the mistake of going to Republic, which at the time had a Denver base. The base has since closed 3 times which left me commuting for 7 years so far. During that commute, because of our base distribution/geography I've only been above 1/2 up a base for a few months in 9 years (~4 months). That said, I never chased the junior base because they were always a 3.5-4 hour flight from DEN.
I upgraded as a FO on reserve at 6.5 years to a CA commuting to reserve. So I upgraded in 2013 after my last two years of reserve and I've been on reserve since (with some lines during months where I got lucky). During bad months I would spend 24 days a month in the airport. Most months I would spend around 20 days in the airport. This is mainly due to non-commutable reserve start times and non-commutable trip finishes.
So as you'll see elsewhere I would chose living in base over pay. I'd also look at upgrade time to the base you live in. I don't know about other companies but movement on our CA list is WAY WAY slower. I've been the same relative seniority in my base for 6 years between my last two locations.
Guaranteed your mileage will vary. This is just a snapshot of one person's experience with regional QoL. There are people at my company that have always enjoyed 14+ days off a month and never really sat reserve. So just understand what can happen.
If you live in Denver and are a "Denver person" in that you enjoy the mountains all year, enjoy good Colorado craft beer or just don't see yourself moving to a different city then Skywest or Boutique is the best option.
I made the mistake of going to Republic, which at the time had a Denver base. The base has since closed 3 times which left me commuting for 7 years so far. During that commute, because of our base distribution/geography I've only been above 1/2 up a base for a few months in 9 years (~4 months). That said, I never chased the junior base because they were always a 3.5-4 hour flight from DEN.
I upgraded as a FO on reserve at 6.5 years to a CA commuting to reserve. So I upgraded in 2013 after my last two years of reserve and I've been on reserve since (with some lines during months where I got lucky). During bad months I would spend 24 days a month in the airport. Most months I would spend around 20 days in the airport. This is mainly due to non-commutable reserve start times and non-commutable trip finishes.
So as you'll see elsewhere I would chose living in base over pay. I'd also look at upgrade time to the base you live in. I don't know about other companies but movement on our CA list is WAY WAY slower. I've been the same relative seniority in my base for 6 years between my last two locations.
Guaranteed your mileage will vary. This is just a snapshot of one person's experience with regional QoL. There are people at my company that have always enjoyed 14+ days off a month and never really sat reserve. So just understand what can happen.
10-18-2016, 01:16 PM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,198
If you are making good money and have everything that you want, why would you ruin it to become an airline pilot? Have a teary eyed emotion about it? Well, get your private pilots license first, and take it from there. If it's something you must do, then you gotta do it. Perhaps after you get you private pilots license, your perspective will change. Approach this with logic, not emotion.
10-20-2016, 12:30 PM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2015
Posts: 227
Really- this job is all about the crew you're flying with, the overnights (how long, how good), and your own attitude.
Good crew + 20 hours in Ottawa in the spring + my good attitude because of the first two things and the job kicks ass.
****ty crew + 30 hours in Augusta with nothing around but a Waffle House and a mini mart + my bad attitude because of the first 2 things and I want to slit my wrists.
My airline doesn't have long/short hotels, and most of our overnights suck. I call it "paying my dues", we can't start our careers by flying one leg to Tokyo for the 30 hour overnight.
Just realize, sometimes it's fun, and sometimes it sucks- kinda like life.
Good crew + 20 hours in Ottawa in the spring + my good attitude because of the first two things and the job kicks ass.
****ty crew + 30 hours in Augusta with nothing around but a Waffle House and a mini mart + my bad attitude because of the first 2 things and I want to slit my wrists.
My airline doesn't have long/short hotels, and most of our overnights suck. I call it "paying my dues", we can't start our careers by flying one leg to Tokyo for the 30 hour overnight.
Just realize, sometimes it's fun, and sometimes it sucks- kinda like life.
10-20-2016, 04:41 PM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,198
Originally Posted by lalo
Really- this job is all about the crew you're flying with, the overnights (how long, how good), and your own attitude.
Good crew + 20 hours in Ottawa in the spring + my good attitude because of the first two things and the job kicks ass.
****ty crew + 30 hours in Augusta with nothing around but a Waffle House and a mini mart + my bad attitude because of the first 2 things and I want to slit my wrists.
My airline doesn't have long/short hotels, and most of our overnights suck. I call it "paying my dues", we can't start our careers by flying one leg to Tokyo for the 30 hour overnight.
Just realize, sometimes it's fun, and sometimes it sucks- kinda like life.
Good crew + 20 hours in Ottawa in the spring + my good attitude because of the first two things and the job kicks ass.
****ty crew + 30 hours in Augusta with nothing around but a Waffle House and a mini mart + my bad attitude because of the first 2 things and I want to slit my wrists.
My airline doesn't have long/short hotels, and most of our overnights suck. I call it "paying my dues", we can't start our careers by flying one leg to Tokyo for the 30 hour overnight.
Just realize, sometimes it's fun, and sometimes it sucks- kinda like life.
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