Picking an airline because of their bases

Seggy

Seggy

Well-Known Member
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not pick an airline that you want to work for because of their bases*.

In this industry, bases change constantly, get downsized, get more flying, close, airplanes get reassigned etc.

Live where you want to, use those jumpseat benefits and commute if you have to. Yes it is nice to be based at home, but more times than not, especially at the regional level, it won't work out for you in the long run!





*Obviously if you live in MEM FEDEX would be a good choice, there are exceptions to the rule, I am saying in general.
 
I'll second that.

Additionally I recall a piece of advice given to me by a senior captain at one legacy carrier that is not known for its good bases...i.e. they suck. His suggestion to anyone just starting out that gets hired at the airline they want to make a career at is, if possible (family can move or no family at all etc.) just move to the base where the training takes place. It is not only probably the least likely to close, but there are also opportunities for a pilot outside the realm of just flying the line, such as working in the flight safety office, the training department, and so forth. Should a family crisis occur one day, or a medical condition that takes a pilot offline for a while, it's a short drive to the airline HQ building for a 9-5 job if the company can find work for that pilot.
 
or keep your family where the wife makes the bucks....she's the one that has to live and work there and she better be enjoying it whereas you guys can hop on a plane anytime, anywhere (just about)....

moving her around from job to job wears on her resume faster than yours.
 
Kristie said:
or keep your family where the wife makes the bucks....she's the one that has to live and work there and she better be enjoying it whereas you guys can hop on a plane anytime, anywhere (just about)....

moving her around from job to job wears on her resume faster than yours.
Click to expand...
:yeahthat: FLY SAFE T.C.
 
On the other hand there are plenty of examples to show that picking an airline based on their bases is an intelligent way to decide. AA for DFW, United for ORD, Delta for ATL, SkyWest for SLC, AE for ORD, CAL for HOU, etc.. Hubs like Denver are generally safer bets than outstation bases like Orlando, but of course nothing is guaranteed.
 
Kristie said:
or keep your family where the wife makes the bucks....she's the one that has to live and work there and she better be enjoying it whereas you guys can hop on a plane anytime, anywhere (just about)....

moving her around from job to job wears on her resume faster than yours.
Click to expand...

That's our plan exactly. :)
 
I don't entirely agree with this. If the bases are pretty solid, I'd say it's okay. I picked my airline b/c of the base. They've had a MEM base since they started, and there's about a 90% chance they always will. We might lose MSP to Mesaba/Compass, but I HIGHLY doubt we'd lose MEM.

Colgan is a TOTALLY different beast. With outstation basing, bases open and close totally based on the marketing schedule the mainline partner puts out. Look at Mesa and the B1900. If you live and die by outstation basing and EAS contracts, then picking an airline b/c it's got a base in your small town isn't the best idea. I wouldn't say "Don't go to Comair b/c they have a CVG base or ASA b/c they have an ATL base." If it's one of their stable bases, I think it's a valid choice.

Bottom line: do some research before you take the job.
 
And the DL guys thought the DFW base was secure too. The Simmons guys figured they'd NEVER leave MQT, after all that's where Simmons started!

Sure, it's possible that a base may be around for a long, long time. It's also possible that things will change and that base will close.
 
So far I have been told not to pick an airline based on:
1) Upgrade time
2) Bases
3) Types of Aircraft
4) Because they happen to be hiring alot right now

That does not leave alot to pick from! At least I might be missing it.

So how should you go about picking your airline?

And a sidenote: Is it not amazing that just a few years ago, no one would be saying "I pick X Airline", but just elated AN airline, any airline, picked them??
 
Seggy said:
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not pick an airline that you want to work for because of their bases*.

In this industry, bases change constantly, get downsized, get more flying, close, airplanes get reassigned etc.

Live where you want to, use those jumpseat benefits and commute if you have to. Yes it is nice to be based at home, but more times than not, especially at the regional level, it won't work out for you in the long run!





*Obviously if you live in MEM FEDEX would be a good choice, there are exceptions to the rule, I am saying in general.
Click to expand...

With regard to the Majors - I agree. The compensation at the Majors is enough so that you can afford to move.

At the Regionals, I disagree to a certain extent and you know this. Being married, its a different ball game. Commuting sucks, and Regional pay is barely livable if you're single, let alone being married. I can't afford to move with my wife and having to commute to a Regional job sucks. For example, with a 4 on 3 off, you'll need to commute out the day before and often times the day after. Thats 6 days of the week that you are either away from home or trying to get to/from work. If you're based close to home, its 4 days on and 3 days off. I'll be driving up to Albany Monday night to work Tuesday. Thats another night my wife has to spend alone.

If you're sitting Reserve with a typical 5 on 2 off, dude thats more than half of your life spent sitting in a crashpad somewhere to make less then $20k a year. I'd rather sit reserve at home.

You can say what you want, but having to commute is the worst part of the job. I'd rather choose a company with slightly longer upgrade, but with a hub base close to home and better pay. That improves QOL greatly.
 
So should I go to Skywest in hopes of them opening a BOS base?

Hub basing is so much more stable than the Colgan system. The only regional that has had a complete shift of their flying has been AWAC.

I don't think its a bad idea to choose a regional because of a base, but one then needs to be ready to commute if crap hits the fan.
 
I think the biggest thing with this whole flying biz is you have to be prepared for change. If you are going to an airline just because of a base be prepared for that base to go away tomorrow. No matter how stable it may seem things change. Being junior and wanting to spend alot of time with the family doesn't always work out.

For guys thinking about going to Airnet. This is very true. Especially now. Ian can tell you that base/run changes happen weekly. I hear all the time about how the company is screwing pilots over by making run changes. No. The pilots just got comfortable with a "schedule" in a on demand system.

If any of you aren't happy where you are I really advise making a change and making it now. This is a really good time in this industry to move around. Not too long ago you didn't have the ability to move to a place that fits you and your life better.

Fly safe.
 
Since the theme of this thread is what NOT to do to pick an airline, I am interested in hearing the *key* items FOR picking an airline to work for from the OP.

Give it to us.
 
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not pick an airline that you want to work for because of their bases*.
Click to expand...


To each his own dude. ;)

I wouldn't have chosed my current airline without the ability to go to one of our West Coast bases.

I'd say choose one for the base, pay, QOL, ect. but be flexible. Who knows when your base will close?
 
If you're choosing an airline solely on the base, it's not the worst thing you could do, but don't be upset when the base closes. I DO think that the bases have to be factored in. If you hate living in the midwest, don't pick Pinnacle and then cry b/c of the base choices. If you don't like living out west, don't go to Skywest. Sure, they pay and QOL are good, but is it worth being miserable on your days off or losing multiple days off a month commuting across the country in some cases?

Use your brain when you pick a regional. I think saying "don't pick a regional based on their bases" is too limiting. Base choice SHOULD be PART of the reason you pick a certain regional. I had a choice, and I went with Pinnacle over XJT. Would I be making more money at XJT? Yeah, but my QOL of life would be less since I'd have fewer days off b/c of commuting/paying for a crashpad/etc.
 
MQAAord said:
And the DL guys thought the DFW base was secure too. The Simmons guys figured they'd NEVER leave MQT, after all that's where Simmons started!

Sure, it's possible that a base may be around for a long, long time. It's also possible that things will change and that base will close.
Click to expand...

In fact, DFW was becoming Delta's largest hub. Then American put a hub in BNA. A couple of "behind the scenes" meetings", AMR cut BNA, and then Delta drastically downsized DFW.

I do, however, think it's relatively safe, as a mainline pilot, choosing a large, well-established base like ORD for AA. But if your carrier is flying contract flying, I would lean heavily against getting too comfortable in any base.

YMMV!
 
Seggy said:
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not pick an airline that you want to work for because of their bases*.

In this industry, bases change constantly, get downsized, get more flying, close, airplanes get reassigned etc.

Live where you want to, use those jumpseat benefits and commute if you have to. Yes it is nice to be based at home, but more times than not, especially at the regional level, it won't work out for you in the long run!





*Obviously if you live in MEM FEDEX would be a good choice, there are exceptions to the rule, I am saying in general.
Click to expand...

Good advice Mark. I think I got tunnel vision with Colgan because of the bases near my house but I definately realize that there are other regionals out there. I'll be doing my research.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top