CaptSwift

Ok so I’m a 4 year captain and getting frustrated with the lack of bargaining power/crap quality of life that we’re settling for here at SkyWest, so I’m going to start chiming in here on the forums. (Yay my outlet to prevent spewing my poor complaints into new FOs)

So ok check the upgrade times are on the SkyWest website under pilot information. It tells you the average times in a nice chart so you can see where you can be a junior captain.

Most of us ERJ FO to CRJ CAs have gone East (ORD-MSP-ATL-DTW-LGA) for upgrades around the 3 year mark and we’re super junior and barely able to make any West coast base currently.

Days off are around 11-13 off per month and you’re going to be worked to the bone. Do not expect more days off per month. Also pay as far as regionals shouldn’t sway you too much, I am currently recommending that new hires look purely at domiciles they’d be at, quality of life/days off per month, and the overall vibe at that company (huge! And def influenced my choice which turned out to be the best I could have made).

Currently SkyWests lack of QOL is becoming worse as the company squeezes what they can out of us... and that seems to shadow whatever pay we are achieving... even senior papas can’t get the time off they’d like as our vacation is impossible, and ability to manipulate your schedule is becoming ever worse.. good luck.

I’d be very senior on the ERJ FO side and could be enjoying a more west coast base but need the PIC to move on out of here, so it’s a sacrifice that you’ll probably be making also. So try to examine where you’ll be at 3 years with this company and where as a captain or lifetime FO (my opinion, even with MIL time...).

Overall I am doing my best to move on as we all are but, happy I chose SkyWest.

I may have chose Mesa for more time off at this point, or Compass for a junior west coast base with faster upgrade (that’s now different) or Horizon (which is different for the better). I’d recommend her horizon if you’re looking at Junior West Coast base or even Compass even though they’ve lost their Delta flying. Mesa I don’t know much about but that could be a west coast option..

Tippy

^^most everything of what Swift said is true but I would like to add a different perspective...

Sounds like he and I are about the same seniority and have had a different experience, It Ive chosen to delay upgrade until i can have an acceptable QOL as a CA. I have no problem doing so because it gives me the lifestyle i want, Im a senior FO, bid almost anything I want, average 16 days off a month haven't worked a holiday in a couple years, and can get any vacation I want. Im not in a hurry to get the PIC time to move on, so if it takes me longer to get to a major so be it, I understand the economics of my choice and am okay with it. With wages coming up and in a two income household a nice life is very possible. My time here has been pretty decent. So theres two peoples paths and yours could be anywhere in between. I think people are picking up on the upgrade delay, theres a ton of senior FOs in every base, The company is Begging people to upgrade because there are now a lot more people staying FOs. If your west coast PDX or SEA the 175 is where you want to be, and trust me a senior FO bidding a sweet line can make about the same as a junior CA on reserve not breaking guarantee.


And yes i agree choose a regional that has a base where you live or provides the easiest commute. if you are commuting across the country or any two leg for an extra buck or two you are going to be a net negative dollar wise when you account fort the extra $ you will be spending on hotels, extra parking, meals etc. when you are spending more days away from home.

naa3e5

Is PIC time necessary to make it to the majors as an FO there? I live in PHX right now and will not move and everyhting down here is pretty senior from what I've heard.... so I've already accepted the commuting QoL for the time being. That being said is it better to go CRJ or ERJ to get the hours... or does it even matter
?

CaptSwift

Phx is arguably the most senior at a Skywest, 4 months for FOs, and just under 5 years for the Captains. Check out https://www.skywest.com/skywest-airl...es/pilot-jobs/.

And at this point without MIL, or previous experience, I’d say 89% yes.

CRJ for the PIC time because bases are more junior for captains on that airframe.

naa3e5

I’m ex-mil, but a helo guy... I’m just taking this week to week

4 months for FO is better than I thought


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Tippy

This is exactly why I'm remaining an FO, I also live in PHX and to avoid commuting won't take the upgrade, PHX is senior so either become OK as an FO, or take the upgrade and commute. You can get there pretty quick as an FO. Yes the PIC time is important, to me whats more important to me is my time at home and my schedule. Take the CRJ and enjoy being home based for a couple years and then decide if the upgrade is worth the commute.

N1CEandEZ

It pretty much is unless you are looking to go to Spirit, Frontier, JetBlue, or ACMI. It all depends on where you want to go and how quickly you want to get there. Understand that there is only so much increased hiring that will happen over the next decade. I’m not suggesting that waiting on the upgrade will result in you missing it but the sooner you can move on the more people that will be junior to you at the major. Being senior at a regional is nice but can’t even begin to compare to being senior at a major. As for the airplane CRJ will offer much quicker seniority progression and quicker upgrade - not to mention the PHX and TUS base being options.

KaptainSims

Hey Everyone!
I got a CJO from SkyWest, I live an hour west of Boston. They told me I'd be going for ERJ training mid to end of March. How does commuting work? I seriously went through the presentation, and then walked out, and blanked out on everything. What's the reserve call out? 2 hours? Long short? Does anyone else commute from the New England area?
I have so many questions. (some probably very stupid questions)
Also I'm totally new to anything airlines.
Thanks

hawk21

Please do yourself a favor and go to Republic. They will be opening up BOS as a domicile, if they haven't already and then you can drive to work. SkyWest really isn't a good option for someone on the east coast. LGA will likely be gone sometime this year. It's already slowly dying month to month as flying gets swapped over to the west coast.

KaptainSims

I want to go to Republic, and I phone interviewed with them in September, the recruiter didn't get back to me at all, and I just got an email a week later which was generic, about Republic looking at other candidates. I did reapply last week, and I have to wait until end of March or so to re interview with them.
My other option is PSA, I'd be commuting, but from the interview and forums here, I hear good things. Also flow, however long it takes. I don't have a degree yet.
I do keep reading that LGA would close though, so that's not very comforting... :-/