I definitely hear what you're saying. I just meant 2 months ago it looked like being home-based was a slam dunk. Now not so much. If it looks like i'll have to commute for an extended period of time, I'll most likely relocate.

On the FO side most of the bases (other than PDX and SEA) are all seeing a lot of movement right now. A few junior people have even gotten PHX and SFO recently. LAX has a few people on the CRJ who have been here less than 6 months. I'd say you're probably fine assuming you'll get a transfer to base if you live in any Skywest base other than PDX and SEA.

I lived in a Skywest domicile when I was hired and it took me 1.5 years of commuting to get a transfer there. It wasn't fun but it wasn't the end of the world. I'd do it again if I had to rather than going to a different company.

Over 2 years with the company and you can't get into PHX. That's not junior. That much longevity in any other base (beside SEA & PDX) and you could hold a line on the RJ.

While it's not as hard to get as SEA/PDX, PHX is a very senior FO base. We all live here, nobody's going anywhere. Movement is slow. (admittedly there is some, but slow).

Dumb question but, do guys ever get to trade bases regardless of seniority? As in, if I'm in Domicile A and want Domicile B, and there's another guy who wants the reverse, and we're both in the same seat on the same airframe...anyone ever trade?

(Probably not. It sounds like it would make too much sense) ;)

No. That would circumvent the seniority. If it works out as a one for one swap thats great, but I think what your asking is if you know a guy in Base A who wants to be in your Base, Base B and you want Base A could the two of you work a dope deal to swap? The answer is no unless you each have the seniority.

I guess it depends on your definition of junior. Someone right now with 2 years seniority at Skywest would have about 400 pilots junior to them, and 2800 pilots senior to them. They would barely hold a line in even the most junior RJ bases and would be 800 seniority numbers away from the most junior captain at the company at a time when they have been upgrading ~100 per year.

On one hand 2 years is a long time, and on the other hand someone with 2 years seniority at Skywest is pretty darn junior.

Do you even work here? I'm around the 2 year seniority mark and I would hold a line in the majority of our bases. And a pretty good one at that. I've been averaging 85 credit and 14 to 15 days off.

Where in my post did I say anything about not holding a line? The last time I was on reserve was a year and a half ago. All that I said is that 2 years seniority is actually pretty junior at a company with 7.5 year upgrades.

I bid 70% in one of our most junior bases so I'm not sure I believe that you're holding 15 days off with 85 credit as a 2 year FO. This month I was awarded 99 with 10 days off.

You actually can achieve 85hrs with 15days off if you know how to use PBS and swap stuff around/drop or trade when the window opens on the 24th. Not hard at all.

What is PBS?