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I am currently flight instructing in the Dallas Area but am looking to make the move down to somewhere within the Texas Triangle (San Antonio, Dallas, Houston) once I start flying 121. I've been peering on the forums for about a year now and have narrowed down my list to two companies. Right now my wife is finishing up school in Austin and may have the opportunity to move us eastward as her career progresses. From everyone's experiences here, which do you see as the better company? As I understand it, there is flow, but not as forecast at MQ, and with YX there is little chance of making it to AA. From looking at the companies and hesitantly talking with recruiters I understand that YX is forecast to competitively increase pay each year while MQ is going to stick closer to what they're already paying. My original intent was to enter the cadet program with MQ and try to base out of DFW, but with the recent 100 jet order and the opening of IAH YX has come to my attention. End goal is AA or SW eventually. Like the topic implies, I appreciate any help and please pardon the rehashing of old.

3400

Envoy still gives you flow in your back pocket. Outside of that, AA could be a long shot. To me, that insurance alone was reason enough to choose Envoy.



Republic is a great place too though. Good pay, good culture, and a bright future for sure. Hard to go wrong either way.

SilentLurker

If your end goal is AA, getting on with a WO like MQ is the best way! We have FO’s & CA’s at MQ who get picked up by other Mainline carriers, even to AA outside the flow. Flow is really a good back pocket Insurance. Facts from data shows it’s really difficult to get hired off the street as a civilian from non- WO carriers to get to AA.

Pros & Cons... MQ has quicker upgrade than YX presently. Less pay though, and lower QOL. Overall MQ is leveraging flow, NH bonuses, quick upgrades and huge DEC bonus to generate huge interest pool of aspirants. Unless your RTP program, Cadet program, DEC it’s difficult to get into class. So smart move is to join the cadet program. I will say, MQ is working with union to improve our Rsv rules to catch up to industry standards and help increase QOL to at-least match the rest of the industry.

But a career at YK is looking promising if u were to get stuck at a regional due to a downward economic cycle (which does come, cyclically). We’re on a good stretch now. In 1-2 yrs maybe not. YK is a great choice as well. Much much better QOL. Recent Pay increase, makes YK easily top 3 or top 4 regional carrier of choice today! Could change in 1-2 years.

FYI... your only required to pay back any tuition assistance received and Flight Benefits you use us. 1 year from the the picture could look different and you may want to go to YK. But I would join the cadet program (back pocket) deal, not use the Flight Benefits much, and don’t take the $10k tuition assistant. while keeping your options open.

Overall regional industry (less SKYWEST) is improving and starting to seeing the light of day. 2 years from now when retirement from all Mainline gears up for takeoff, we will all have better opportunities for a smooth career WO or non-WO.

SilentLurker

Op, I forgot to add.

Upgrade at MQ is immediately you have your upgrade hrs. 950 qualifying 121 time. Which takes about 1.5 yrs if you come here. Our new LOA guarantees a few nice things for those getting ready to upgrade. It expires February 2019, (as it appears to be a trial for the company to get CA’s we desperately need. Due to flows & attrition). I’m sure & hopeful it gets renewed into a longer better LOA.

In 1.5 yrs you could be awarded upgrade, on the date of upgrade award is announced is your effective date to receive CA Pay (approx $67). While still an FO (senior FO) waiting for your upgrade class, which could be months ahead. As a senior FO you could get the days off you want in your bids (15-18) or bid reserve and if you live locally your at the top of the list hardly getting called while at home, while getting 75hr min guarantee and CA. You can fly as much as you want, to maximize pay also.

But overall 1.5 yrs. Granted YK pays CA more, but how long is that upgrade? 2.5 - 3yrs? How your already closer to flow by then, gained about a year extra of CA Pay.

Long term regional for regional, pound for pound, without flow, YK is the better place to go.

Just want to highlight that there are a few good benefits at MQ not talked about in the forums. With this new LOA we have. Also everyone thought NYC would be junior base, but folks are getting ORD. Aviation is all about timing!

greendotplus10

Republic and Envoy were my top picks when I was looking at airlines late last year. I chose Republic and after being on the line 5 months I can say I made a good decision. I was/am most interested in training timeline, QOL/work rules, and domiciles (I also call Texas home).

Interview to completion of IOE (including ATP/CTP) was 2.5 months, with no significant delays in training. Meanwhile MQ had a 6 month training backlog. Republic's training timeline was the best fit at the time, as I wasn't interested in waiting.

The flow at MQ wasn't a make or break item for me, and it still isn't. I'm not particularly interested in any one major airline either, or even sure if I want to go to the majors at all.

Envoy was, and still is, mostly taking FOs from the pipeline programs because they need CAs much more so than FOs. These folks get first pick in class for the equipment and domicile vacancies available, which, if you're looking for DFW, this could help. This might be the only way to get in at this point. However that captain shortage that they are having creates some other issues, like forced upgrades to LGA, and from the MQ forum, folks don't seem to like it there. FOs close to upgrade are bidding reserve to avoid it.

YX has the LGA problem too, it's one of the junior captain bases. But here there is no forced upgrade because we're short on FOs rather than CAs. If the new IAH base grows, perhaps it'll get easier to upgrade and be IAH based. We'll have to wait and see.