I'm a little ahead of you as far as time "newbie01", around 900, but like everyone else is saying there are a lot of better places than envoy right now. They have pipeline at the school I work at also and my student asked me about them. I'm not too sure that he liked the response he got from me but I stated facts. No progression, currently loosing planes, and closing bases. There's more to an airline than nice shiny signs with an E-175 picture on it and the captain that comes to the school every couple of months, and if you want travel benefits go throw bags part time. I instruct full time and throw bags for Daddy D (Delta) 5 days a week so it comes with decent flight benefits if that's your thing, and working there has made me aware or giving me an inside view I should say so that'll help some with your research when you do have to choose a place to hang your hat or jacket.

For all the **** talking on Envoy, I'd like to say you will work with great people there and great crews while going through a pretty damn good training program. The place is definitely taking its fair share of blows right now, but it isn't going anywhere overnight. I don't see DFW or ORD shutting down in the foreseeable future, and if your main goal is to eventually be at AA a lot of the procedures and op specs are quite similar to whats at AA. Definitely not a reason to go to the place but things in this industry change very quickly, and nothing is set in stone. Best regional out there today may be the worst a year down the road. Pick a place where you can be where you want to be based at this point. I've never worried about not receiving a pay check here and you can get some decent flying on reserve. The place is a little top heavy and a lot of captains have been here for 20+ years..you can learn a lot flying with them. If you plan on coming here and have to commute a good bit then I'd definitely look elsewhere though where you can live in base..at least until things really do take a turn for the better.

Shrinking pilot base.

You need thicker skin.
It was a wistful laugh at how Envoy, RAH were growing like crazy about 8-10 years ago and are now are heading in the opposite direction.....

A cash retention plan is not in the works. That was covered at the DFW meeting yesterday.

Envoy management is again threatening our union that they will unilaterally impose new reserve rules if they don't play ball. The company struggles with properly utilizing a reserve system and being efficient with staffing and when they get themselves in a bind they feel their only option is to threaten us. Someone looking for a PhD thesis on employee relations could use AMR/AAG as a basis for one. The last three years when there is an option, they have always chosen the adversarial path. That being said you will find most of your co workers enjoyable to work with.

I stand corrected, hadn't had the chance to read through the meeting notes when I posted.

Envoy has flow through. It IS something to consider. Plenty of guys retiring from regionals because they never made it to the majors. I know assume guys at my airline would rather have gone to majors...but it didn't work out for them. No other regional has direct flow through...

The flow through is definitely something to consider. You'll hear a lot of people say the flow will never happen, it'll take 10 years to flow, etc. I personally don't think its going to take that long once it goes into full force.

Piedmont has direct flow through. It's nice to have this option...apply to any major/lcc at will, but if nothing else you can and will flow in a short period of years. Even if it took 10 years, a younger entrant to the industry has favorable odds to be at a American for 20+ years.

Reason why Envoy is falling hard is because of an ALPA failure at an almost epidemic level. The fact that our airframes/flights/domiciles are being given away to all these other scumbag regionals who willingly have no problem ****ing over other pilot groups for personal gain. For the record this isn't a shot at PSA only, Piedmont taking our 145s, TSA operating in NYC, and RAH commandeering our crew rooms in MIA. Enjoy it all.

ALPA carriers taking each other's flying with almost no recourse for management. For me, the place is now a joke. They pay for my commute with guaranteed travel/hotels to and from work. 4 days of work is really only 2 due to the commute to and from on first and last day of work. This needs to happen to EVERYONE, not just the dudes like myself whose bases keep getting closed.