Life at Compass

MusketeerMan said:
Does anybody know (or tried) to get a commuter hotel in or around working a CDO? It would be nice if you have them back to back to be able to head there before and after the CDO..
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I had a CDO line in February. I used four commuter hotel nights to cover the last three-day set of CDOs that month. It worked rather well.
 
MusketeerMan said:
Does anybody know (or tried) to get a commuter hotel in or around working a CDO? It would be nice if you have them back to back to be able to head there before and after the CDO..
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I always booked a commuter hotel between CDO. I'd try to get an early check in so I could sleep before the next one. Then ask for a late check out so when you're back the next morning, you can go back and get some rest.
 
BarbieDreamPilot said:
Long time lurker turned convert. Compass seems like a good place to spend time - I'm a CFI starting classes late September. any traffic please advise
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Congratulations on the class date! There are JCers in the training department and the mentor program. I'm sure you'll have plenty of support throughout your new-hire adventure.
 
I'm looking for feedback here. Poke holes in my plan.

I'm banking on a Seattle base. Assuming things continue the way they are and I can hold SEA out of initial training, I'm going to need to move cross country Atlanta GA to WA. My options are to:

(A) Take advantage now of the time before CTP and initial training to rent a truck and trailer, tow my car and haul my motorcycle and belongings to a storage unit in Seattle. $800 for the truck and $500 for gas. 38 hours of driving over 3 days. Then leave them there and fly home. I wouldn't have a car during training - given they have company paid hotel I'm thinking it's that MSP Marriott and there would be a daily shuttle.

Advantage is that I wouldn't have to squeeze in that long drive after training. Get it over with now. Disadvantage is that if something went terribly wrong in training or whatever and I didn't get the job then I wasted time and money. Don't want to count chickens before the hatch type deal. NO reason to think I would wash out but don't want to get cocky.

(B) Wait to move, put all my stuff in a storage unit here in ATL, then find a week down the road after I have successfully completed training but before I'm out on the line, throw belongings in a truck and move once I have the Seattle base for sure.
 
Don't move for a regional. I did it. I moved to MSP before CP flew west of Hayden. It had 200+ crews. Flash forward a couple years- I had to commute MSP to LA as a Captain. Never move for a regional. Seattle is a small base and it's future is uncertain. LAX is much more secure for now. However, cost of living is many multiples higher than Atlanta.
 
I moved for a regional....and it was the best decision ever. I was commuting across the country, wasting so much time at the airport/in the jumpseat/ airplane. Now I'm home based and couldn't be happier. Ups your QOL tenfold.
That said, I expected to get LAX and I went into it planning on moving. But I don't plan on staying out here forever, only until I can move out and up.

Even then his commute wouldn't be too bad to LAX if he had to do it from SEA for a few months. I just completely disagree with the whole "never move for a regional" sentiment.

But yea I concede that things tend to change pretty quickly and it would totally suck to move out and have the base close on you.
 
"I'm thinking it's that MSP Marriott"

If only brother.


And as far as holding SEA out of training, Not saying its not possible, but as of the last notice of Vacancy, there were "0" openings in the Seattle base.
 
BarbieDreamPilot said:
I'm looking for feedback here. Poke holes in my plan.

I'm banking on a Seattle base. Assuming things continue the way they are and I can hold SEA out of initial training, I'm going to need to move cross country Atlanta GA to WA. My options are to:

(A) Take advantage now of the time before CTP and initial training to rent a truck and trailer, tow my car and haul my motorcycle and belongings to a storage unit in Seattle. $800 for the truck and $500 for gas. 38 hours of driving over 3 days. Then leave them there and fly home. I wouldn't have a car during training - given they have company paid hotel I'm thinking it's that MSP Marriott and there would be a daily shuttle.

Advantage is that I wouldn't have to squeeze in that long drive after training. Get it over with now. Disadvantage is that if something went terribly wrong in training or whatever and I didn't get the job then I wasted time and money. Don't want to count chickens before the hatch type deal. NO reason to think I would wash out but don't want to get cocky.

(B) Wait to move, put all my stuff in a storage unit here in ATL, then find a week down the road after I have successfully completed training but before I'm out on the line, throw belongings in a truck and move once I have the Seattle base for sure.
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congrats man! maybe let the dust settle after training before you load up and drive across the country, wouldn't want to make a move of that distance only to have to commute or end up moving to another base. Is there a pressing time constraint (i.e. lease is up at your current place) that requires you to move asap? Would be more fun of a trip if you could get a week off once you have a schedule, get all your ducks in a row and take your time getting out there
 
bimmerphile said:
congrats man! maybe let the dust settle after training before you load up and drive across the country, wouldn't want to make a move of that distance only to have to commute or end up moving to another base. Is there a pressing time constraint (i.e. lease is up at your current place) that requires you to move asap? Would be more fun of a trip if you could get a week off once you have a schedule, get all your ducks in a row and take your time getting out there
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Good points. My landlord is cool with month to month. I don't want to pay for it if I don't have to, but that makes sense. I'll keep it during training. It's just so far away I don't think I would be returning weekends or anything.

I was told after 1-2 months I could hold any of the 3 bases. Not true? Is there any reason to think I couldn't hold Seattle after 3 or so months with the company? How does the base size of SEA compare to LA or MSP? The SEA base was a major reason I chose the company.
 
BarbieDreamPilot said:
Good points. My landlord is cool with month to month. I don't want to pay for it if I don't have to, but that makes sense. I'll keep it during training. It's just so far away I don't think I would be returning weekends or anything.
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You're gonna pay rent if you move, not sure if SEA is cheaper than where you're at. If you really want to save cash, might be better to throw it all in a storage unit or something, if you can get creative with living situation outside of training
Can't comment on the compass bases/seniority, I'm just a dirty turboprop driver lurking
 
aviator147 said:
"I'm thinking it's that MSP Marriott"

If only brother.


And as far as holding SEA out of training, Not saying its not possible, but as of the last notice of Vacancy, there were "0" openings in the Seattle base.
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good to know. 0 vacancies, but could you ostensibly hold reserve there once some guys were under you on the list?

They put me up in a town place suites for the interview. Said they just switched hotels. http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trav...ca/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2
 
bimmerphile said:
You're gonna pay rent if you move, not sure if SEA is cheaper than where you're at. If you really want to save cash, might be better to throw it all in a storage unit or something, if you can get creative with living situation outside of training
Can't comment on the compass bases/seniority, I'm just a dirty turboprop driver lurking
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right right, dirty turboprops, hey at this point I'm still grunting "right rudder" 6 days a week
 
BarbieDreamPilot said:
good to know. 0 vacancies, but could you ostensibly hold reserve there once some guys were under you on the list?

They put me up in a town place suites for the interview. Said they just switched hotels. http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trav...ca/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2
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unfortunately its now one of the Extended Stays I believe. "0" vacancies right now mean that the base is at capacity and no one else will be going to that base for reserve or otherwise until they have a vacancy. Right now the base is at 79 crews which (correct me if im wrong) is just about the biggest it has been and larger than originally planned. Too hard to say when they will have more spots available as it depends on the amount of flying being done out of that base as well as attrition and people base swapping.
 
aviator147 said:
unfortunately its now one of the Extended Stays I believe. "0" vacancies right now mean that the base is at capacity and no one else will be going to that base for reserve or otherwise until they have a vacancy. Right now the base is at 79 crews which (correct me if im wrong) is just about the biggest it has been and larger than originally planned. Too hard to say when they will have more spots available as it depends on the amount of flying being done out of that base as well as attrition and people base swapping.
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Oof.:ooh:

Ok, got it. Thanks for the heads up. Maybe I'll hit it right so I finish training around the holiday season.
 
CrazyGiant said:
I moved for a regional....and it was the best decision ever. I was commuting across the country, wasting so much time at the airport/in the jumpseat/ airplane. Now I'm home based and couldn't be happier. Ups your QOL tenfold.
That said, I expected to get LAX and I went into it planning on moving. But I don't plan on staying out here forever, only until I can move out and up.

Even then his commute wouldn't be too bad to LAX if he had to do it from SEA for a few months. I just completely disagree with the whole "never move for a regional" sentiment.

But yea I concede that things tend to change pretty quickly and it would totally suck to move out and have the base close on you.
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How long have you been working for a regional? Because in the last 9 years, I've seen 7 bases close, including one I was living in.

Moving for a regional may be fine when you're 23 and single, but uprooting a family every 12 months gets old quickly.
 
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