"If you can live in base...." cannot be said enough. I truly believe that this one factor can make or break an airline experience for people the easiest. Myself as an example I live in a base which almost is a guaranteed two-leg commute unless you live in a hub. It is also a large mx base, so most trips have one or both of early reports and/or late releases. For commuters, that is a nightmare. Only the most senior commuters can guarantee multiple commutable trips per month. For myself living 15 minutes from the employee lot, I could care less.

This is very much a "to each their own" question dependent upon who you talk to and their circumstances. If you live in base, or can realistically move to a base, do it, no questions asked. The regionals are NOT worth commuting for.

Commuting is a hassle and takes time. However, I chose this industry for the ability to commute. I can live where I want and work where I need. It's been better for me to switch domiciles than to uproot my family every time a base closes.

Now that I can get by working 12 days a month or so and a lot of it's commutable, commuting doesn't seem to be a big deal any more.

That said, there is no regional with really great schedules any more. With staffing getting worse and travel getting busier, schedules will be busy until you get seniority. For really good regional schedules, go where your seniority increases the fastest and then don't answer the phone.

Curious,.does republic have a lot of lifers ? I know skywest and horizon does.

I really wanted my account to go inactive but this is such a stupid question, had to say something! YES!!!!!
And the regionals with the best schedules? Spirit, Jetblue, Frontier, and if you live on base, Allegiant.

To say they're all the same is ignorant. While I was at trans states I had ten days off per month and rarely broke guarentee. At awac, I average 16 off and typically credit 90+. 6 days extra a month is 72 additional days at home per year. That doesn't include trip touching vacations that typically result in three weeks off. I've seen schedules at many other regionals as well.. to say they're all the same just isn't true at all.

Take it easy would you. It's not like airlines publish their seniority lists for the public to see.

It has not been said yet in this thread, but I read this here before and I feel this is the best way to go about it...

Pick the airline that you want to get stuck at the most. We have no clue when the next industry downturn will be, so plan for the worst and hope for the best.

For me, QOL and pay are important over everything else. I will be living in base hopefully straight out of training if not shortly out of training and will be making decent money on the current contract.

I just want to bid reserve and hope they don't call me.

Thank you, I needed a good laugh. :-p

I intentionally bid reserve at my regional for 3 months. They used me every single day except two. I'm sure there are places where you can bid reserve and not get called...I just don't know where they are.