stringandrudder

Thanks for reading.

I've been going nuts trying to decide on which regional to got to. I've pretty much narrowed it down to Endeavor and Republic. I have a CJO from Endeavor currently and an interview with Republic later this month.

Here is what's important to me:

- NYC Base. EWR not an option. Endeavor has JFK and LGA. RAH only LGA. If RAH pulls out of LGA, it's quite undesirable. Endeavor is making a big push for NYC, which is great imo.

- Pay/work rules. Republic's contract has higher pay rates. Endeavor has the bonus. Delta could theoretically take that away at any point. An extra guaranteed day off at republic (12) instead of Endeavor's (11) would mean 1 more day per month to pick up open time at a higher pay rate. I don't know much about the "work rules," side of it, but I've "heard," that they're not as good at RAH.

- Stability. As far as I'm concerned, every regional has the same fate - no one ever knows what it is. However, looking at the current snapshot, Endeavor has the full support of Delta. They're a top performer and it doesn't seem like they're going anywhere. Current growth looks great. I've heard mixed things about the RAH bankruptcy. Some say it's been bloody, others say the future looks bright. The new AA deal confirms that they'll most likely pull through. It seems like an unnecessary risk though. Flying for all 3 legacies can be a good thing though?

Thanks for your comments. Thoughts?

Riverside

TSA! We here a rdu base and you'll deadhead all the time LGA.

greenroute

Delta can't just take away the bonus at any time, it's contractual through the end of 2018.

Five93H

The bonus could not get taken away at any moment. It's a signed LOA by the union and company.

stringandrudder

hahaha I'm well aware of the LGA flying at TSA! A friend of mine works there and we joke around all the time that she's LGA based.

stringandrudder

Yeah, I realize that. But it's a lot easier for them to NOT continue the bonus moving forward then completely cutting the contract pay. Let's say the -200s aren't successful and they start parking them. Then there are way too many endeavor pilots and pay is already crap, and now bye bye bonus.

I know that's a lot of "what ifs," but still something to think about?

Outof410

I am sorta debating between Endeavor, Piedmont, and Republic. I already have offers at the first two for when my 135 contract is up in Oct. I live in Allentown PA so the drive to NYC is 2 hours with no traffic and one for PHL. I have a family so QOL is important. I am leaning towards Endeavor because of the bonuses and better QOL. I dont know that I trust the flow carrot (pdt) or a airline in BK (rah).

Reason for me saying all that is do what is best for you. Alot of these places seem so close on pros/cons that its anyones guess what is best.

stringandrudder

Yeah definitely trying to do what's best for me. Endeavor would definitely be that for me since I am substantially closer to JFK.

JesuitValen

No, thats a weird train of thought (not that you're weird but that isnt how CBAs work). Now sure, the 200s might go away if gas goes up, in fact I think it's reasonable to say, yes they will go away in the future, right now we are getting pumped up with 200s, next year we will get more (supposedly).

Now if the 200s go away in 1.5 yrs, you'd have probably 600 or more pilots, under you if you started class in next couple months. We would still get paid the bonuses, except we'd furlough potentially. By then majors will be sucking up pilots so fast I think it more likely we will park 200s because they cant find the bodies to pilot them.

If you want to wait to pull trigger here you'd probably have some agreement in principle announced before the years end, if not a completely voted upon and granted new loa turning the bonuses into pay as a thanksgiving gift. Endeavor, the endeavor pilot union, and delta are all on the same page looking to end bonuses to create a pay rate that makes sense. Endeavor and Delta backed us pilots into this corner with backruptcy and understand the pilots are gonna squeeze them back. Delta isn't pretending they are going to go forward at this airline with a bargain pilot group. If they don't like it they can go pump up gojets and good luck. The truth is, non wholly owned regionals don't care about Delta flying, United and American pay very well to fly regionals around in comparison. Historically Delta pays the least and expects the most.

If you'd like to wait until the end of year to come here fine, I have a high confidence the bonuses will switch to pay because pilots at job fairs are freaking out about the loa with our retention bonus ending. Endeavor needs class sizes at 80 and 100 to make up for the failed hiring of 2014, 15, 16 and the 20% fail rate. Someone's going to scream we're above projections, and thats the opposite of what russ's memo says, read it again and use your fingers and toes. We hired less all year than we needed and we washed out 20%.

If you come here, though, understand you're probably gonna be in ny. Efbs will happened early next year (though idk if itll be feb or may) and jfk and lga will join into a co-base in exchange for MORE money to us. The operation is run like mainline, when I say operation I'm speaking about the airplane upkeep and SOC tools. Scheduling is a disaster, FAs are woefully underpaid for now, and the pilots should probably make more than we do now with all the customer service stuff delta expects from us rather than "encourages" of the other regionals. However, this will never be Delta, its just a regional, and you can move on to a mainline in 3-4 yrs most likely.

If you want to work hard, get paid well, and have the support from management to get passengers to hub asap then we are the best place to be,

Fourpaw

*Applause*