Vatican based FO here. Will be upgrade eligible in the next few months. As the novelty of flying shiny new jets wears off and the onset of the reality that is flying for YX sets in, I’m conflicted. This isn’t another tired thread about reserve and training footprints. This is a thread for the rest of us. Those that are in it. So. You hold a line. Which is nice. You’re not slamming in a clapped out deuce or 145. Which is nice. You drive to work. Also nice. Maybe you commute but whatevs. You tweak your quantum physics FLICA bid calculations into the matrix and back door your schedule, to find out, yet again, you’re flying to your same 5 ****ing NE favorites. 10hr layovers, spa retreats at the Homewood suites Memphis, LGA-CLE-CVG triangle of depression. Bravo Romeo short 22R/N 14 times in a 5 dayer. Maybe a punt or two out to BFE Arkansas @XNA. Enough Canada turns to qualify you for dual citizenship. Captains reminding you of the good ole days when we flew to places you thought we still flew to when you got the CJO.

I wasn’t one of those who jumped ship for the lower hanging fruit of yellow bus and blue. It has been my intent to upgrade seeing as i see a value in it other than qualifying me for Purple Box or better chances of a mainline call. I’ve been *blessed* to be Vatican based when classmates of mine from over a year ago are still reserve in bases that seem to **** out less and less lines each month to the point where i can’t help but wonder if we’re just circling the wagons around IND. we all know the reasons for things being the way they are. I’m wondering if the regional model is dead and I’m moving my deck chair to a higher deck on the titanic. Or I’m actually in a good place stabilitywise when the economic downturn REALLY hits and I’d rather be in the upper 50 of senority at a more cost effective operation vs bottom seniority someplace that just overhired for a boom that’s busting already.

I think it’s the **** pairings that are getting to me. Maybe this is just winter flying. There’s zero time to do anything in the cities I’d want to do anything and there’s hardly anything I’d want to do in the BFE location i dropped into for a 36hr layover. I could go to blue, be JFK based and typed on a bus or 220, maybe see some Europe or SA. I’m not feelin yellow bus. Thinking I’d get more out of 135 except i enjoy the travel bennies here. Just hoping there’d be more variety in this life and there’d be more actual life in this life. I’ve flown with some fun crews, a few crews where day 1 leg 2 you realize how f’d the next 4 days are. I appreciate the opportunity i have when putting it in perspective of those FO’s behind me crammed into PIT crash pads sitting 3A RSV or those 1500hr cfi’s behind them with slimmer options than we had a year ago.

just wondering if anyone is feeling the same? Advice appreciated No. Not you, CFIsoon2beFO

I have been reading these forums for months now, and this is the first post that has compelled me to reply. Brilliantly and poetically written! I suppose there are some disheartening truths and struggles we all learn to put up with, but things like this have reminded to laugh along way.

LGA FO here

Not just you. I've just been here a year and I'm feeling the same. It's depressing. Boring routes, boring overnights or super short overnights in places I'd actually like to stay. It sucks. Also tired of hearing how great it used to be. It's not fun right now. I try to look at the paycheck and remind myself why I'm doing this.

Nobody knows if a recession is going to even happen, and if it does happen, will it be bad or mild? Too many unknowns in life to worry about them. If you’re not having a good time, either push to your upgrade and try to get out, or bail for LCC/atlas/whatever and enjoy a better life while you wait for the call. I’d rather be at an airline people actually know if the economy does go south, and life is too short to not be enjoying your time above ground

Low hanging fruit is a LCC??? That’s news. NK has some of the best language to tailor a schedule how you like. B6 is not bad at all. Pilots are easily earning 300k+ at each.

But anyway. Stay at a regional. That’s always the better bet

Upgrade, obtain 500 hours PIC, leave. By 500 hours you will have offers anywhere you want to go.

Man I felt every word of this and I hear you on all fronts. Been here just over a year and a half and upgrade should hit around April. My initial class had 28, there are I think 10 of us left. 2 to frontier, the rest went to JetBlue. I've considered jumping ship, at times I wish I would have left when everyone else did, even though I'd have to commute. But I also can't help but think that TPIC is still worth something. I can't go anywhere else right now and upgrade in under 2 years so my plan is stay and upgrade and fill that column in my logbook then get the he11 out of here.

Yes, the routes and overnights suck the life out of you. 4 legs a day around the northeast and seeing the same hotels every trip is tiring. But this is the regional life, upgrade and move on. I'd rather get furloughed from a legacy than keep my job at a regional.

JB/NK probably a faster route to the legacies than TPIC right now.

TPIC isn’t what it used to be. Unless you want Purple or Brown, gtfo. Any LCC will be a faster route to a legacy.

All your concerns about RPA doesn’t exist at NK or JB. But if you consider these carriers low hanging fruit then idk what to tell you.

I did enjoy the chuckle of this post and could relate to every one of your points. Good luck with whatever you choose.

hahaaa I'm not knocking B6! When I say "low hanging fruit" what I mean is, do I bail and go right seat-right seat for better pay/qol or risk the upgrade and put in my left seat time for a call from Daddy D/AA/United for even better pay/qol (debatable, yes). Yes, for much of 2022 the quicker path to the big 3 was sidestepping to a ULCC seeing as some calls were made and our CA's weren't getting interviews as much as in early '22. But word on street was that side door action was getting shut down and I've heard of legacies wanting to see some PIC time again. not just a 320 type and non-employment at their associated regional