Regional and ULCC Dispatch Red flags

DeltaJulietTango

DeltaJulietTango

Well-Known Member
What are some red flags that you might see in a Regional or ULCC dispatch interview or during ground school?

What are some things you wish you had known before getting into Dispatch at a regional or ULCC that might have made you decide not to pursue this career?
 
It's a regional. I think it's been pretty well advertised that the experience will range from alright to awful. Nobody gets into this job to go to the regionals. The pay stinks and everything else is anywhere from somewhat to much worse than a major.

It's something you do, get your experience, network a bit and get out.
 
Beware of the "Coming Soon™"

Two air carriers I had interest in but decided not to pursue due to red flags. Hiring/dispatch managers hinting at new things "Coming Soon™" but couldn't say really any details (closed 6 months later). Second carrier, not a regional/ULCC but another 121 I had looked at, CEO had been saying 757s were "Coming Soon™" for the past several years (closed 3 years later). I left my regional gig for a ULCC as soon as I could after the "Coming Soon™" started.

When the hiring environment is good, you might be able to pick and choose where you try and end up. But current hiring market may leave some the choice of working for that red flag or not getting in the industry. As autosave mentioned get your experience and can move on from there. Any 121 you work at will provide experience that will you work your way up the food chain even if its just to a "better" regional. Just might want to lean towards a short term lease if the airline says things are..."Coming Soon™"
 

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Its always been my opinion that one would go to regionals to gain experience or they are located in you hometown.
ULCC's are classified as major airlines or at least two of them are that I know of. That being said you can make a life with them if you choose.
with ulcc's and regionals you gotta do you time to get the schedule and pay. its a seniority thing and not a red flags . You may get a relief line starting out which isn't uncommon for first year dispatchers. I may not be getting paid the best but I'm happy where I'm at and have some of the best coworkers/managers I've worked with so far in my 12 + year career.
 
Yurie158 said:
Regionals aren't gonna be the most pleasant or best place to work or else no one would be wanting to move onto the majors from there

They get the experience you need to move up
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This is true to a degree, but there are some regional "lifers" out there who really like the area they live in, or just never got hired by a major early on and now like their seniority and schedule. It depends upon the regional of course. I know there are several people like that at SkyWest. Mesa - there may be a couple there, but I'd bet it's a lot less.
 
manniax said:
This is true to a degree, but there are some regional "lifers" out there who really like the area they live in, or just never got hired by a major early on and now like their seniority and schedule. It depends upon the regional of course. I know there are several people like that at SkyWest. Mesa - there may be a couple there, but I'd bet it's a lot less.
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At both my regional and ULCC, I have found "lifer" status is usually because the area was affordable/cheap when they got hired, and they have affordable mortgage payments on an owned house they bought back in the day. And pretty much all the newer hires from after when said regional or ULCC area become expensive and are forced to rent....well they either are jumping ship to majors ASAP, commuting to crashpads, or in many cases leaving the profession entirely to live somewhere else with family or a better pay to COL ratio.
 
TAF_Master said:
At both my regional and ULCC, I have found "lifer" status is usually because the area was affordable/cheap when they got hired, and they have affordable mortgage payments on an owned house they bought back in the day. And pretty much all the newer hires from after when said regional or ULCC area become expensive and are forced to rent....well they either are jumping ship to majors ASAP, commuting to crashpads, or in many cases leaving the profession entirely to live somewhere else with family or a better pay to COL ratio.
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Depends on which part of the country you are in, but I do know that's very true in SGU. Used to be quite affordable, and today it is definitely not.
 
TAF_Master said:
Yes the regional was SGU. As far as ULCC's to be frank, none of DEN/FLL/MCO/Cottonwood Heights, UT are very affordable these days. LAS and IAH are probably right around average plus or minus a few percentage points.
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As far as regionals go, I don't think PHX is very affordable any more either. ATW was, but ZW is done hiring for a while. IND is not too bad, according to a friend at Republic. I think MSP is on the higher side, and it sounds like the DFW area isn't as cheap as it once was either (although at least there's no sales tax in TX.) No idea how people at Horizon make ends meet in SEA.
 
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manniax said:
As far as regionals go, I don't think PHX is very affordable any more either. ATW was, but ZW is done hiring for a while. IND is not too bad, according to a friend at Republic. I think MSP is on the higher side, and it sounds like the DFW area isn't as cheap as it once was either (although at least there's no sales INCOME tax in TX.) No idea how people at Horizon make ends meet in SEA.
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Fixed that for ya. ;)
 
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