CHQ/Republic or Express Jet?

[nikoz1200]

I've finally decided to give the Regional 121 route a go.. I've got friends at both CHQ and Express Jet, and both are equally happy. Neither knows much about the other company though. I've read the payscales on airlinepilotcentral.com ... How current is the data there? What other points are there to consider when chosing between these 2 companies? I live in Florida and plan on commuting. Also, for the recent hires, what kind of timeframe between sending the resumes and interview is there?

Before the flames start, I've read back and searched already, but want to freshen it up a bit.

THanks!

 

[9rj9]

...

XJT might not be the place to go. I think they are following FLYI and Midways fine example of how to lose your shirt flying 50-seat RJs in a new go alone venture. Its just 25 aircraft, but no one else has made it work.

The quick upgrades will come to an abrupt halt at most regionals, so pick somewhere you can afford to be an FO for 5 plus years. The market is saturated with 50 seat lift and the age 65 thing will add an additional year or so to upgrade times.

Might want to check into PNCL, seems like thay have the best chance of adding a considerable amount of aircraft in the next few years. Pick a place that could grow over the 2 bucks and hour difference in pay. Its all about upgrade time.

 

[340SAM]

Not express JET the sad truth is that there new routes will not work with an RJ and if they do we all know that CO and SWA will jump all over them.

 

[rjacobs]

OH NO THE SKY IS FALLING AT XJT, DONT COME HERE. Come on guys, the only similarity between us and FlyI is the branded flying. Besides that we are not doing anything like them(flying out of a hub, throwing everything at it at once, ordering big airplanes, etc..). We have 204 airplanes making guaranteed money for CAL right now, 15 making really good money at charter(not sure the amount, wait till after Q1 2007), 10 to an unknown carrier(most likely delta, but nothing firm yet), and the rest going to do branded flying. We are not competing on any routes and the product we are offering will be superior to SWA for sure and probably CAL as well. So before you say the end is near for XJT, let us get this branded flying up and going and see for ourselves, I trust that Ream is smarter than you all so I will trust my companies leadership for now, thats not to say my opinion wont change, but for now I have to have faith in XJT's management. So with that in mind come to XJT if you want to work under one of the best contracts in the industry(our contract is better in some areas than some of the majors), fly airplanes that are kept in excellent shape, and fly to some really cool places. I cant speak for CHQ(I will not talk bad about them), I have alot of friends over there that are happy, but dont know much beyond that.

 

[Superpilot92]

XJT- NEW code share with DAL rumored to be announced in a couple days. ONT added as a base, Just announced internally 2 more bases by March 1st. Branded flying and Charter are new ventures. Charter is already showing as a successful operation. Branded flying will hopefully show everyone that it can work. Still remains to be seen. Anyone who says " IT wont work" Has nothing more than an uneducated ASSumption. However if its works, wouldn't it be nice to fly for a company thats flying for 2 code shares and for themselves? things are changing everyday. People seem to enjoy CHQ; also i will let CHQ pilots comment on that as I would sound just as stupid as those above commenting on XJT when they don't work here. Good luck with your choice.

Also Upgrade at XJT is 2 years right now and is rumored to drop below 2 years this year by our crew planning. Lots of movement here at XJT.

 

[ERJDRVR]

You will here this again and again. Pick one that has a base you want to live in. What's good today is in the crapper in the morning.
DO not commute.

Look at Comair, once the BEST regional on the planet to work for but is now one of the last places you want to be with the screw-job by their scumbag mngt.

I work for CHQ/RP/SA and have had a good run here, but would pick XJET in a heartbeat if I lived in any of their cities.

The upgrades to the left seat have been quick at both but that is due to come to a grinding hault at both in the near future. You just can't keep filling left seats. (You would need 900 seats to move up for an upgrade @ CHQ/RP/Sa right now).


PCL might not be a bad place right now with the added flying and buyout of Colgan.

back to pick a company and base you want to live in and can afford to sit in the right seat for a while.

 

[340SAM]

Express looks like they picked good routes but they are going to piss off CO buy flying customers around there hub. Look for CO the replace more express jet routes with Colgan Q 400 same cost to them 24 more seats in the hub.

 

[Superpilot92]

In my opinion i dont think upgrades will come to a grinding halt at either company due to attrition. DAL starting to hire, UAL coming soon, plus all the others. NWA wont be to far off maybe. As those start sucking people up then more will be seen. However i dont know how the age 65 rule will affect the whole thing. Pick a company that has a base you like Everything else is trivial.

 

[Habib]

I work at CHQ, and I would say go to XJT, MUCH BETTER CONTRACT, Better Labor Relations, better QOL, more options with the trip trading, etc... Come to CHQ if you live in base, but we might close it next week.

 

[ALGFLYR]

The upgrades to the left seat have been quick at both but that is due to come to a grinding hault at both in the near future. You just can't keep filling left seats. (You would need 900 seats to move up for an upgrade @ CHQ/RP/Sa right now).

With Republic adding 30 new 175's, that will mean continued movement for some time. Also keep in mind there are about 100 J4J CA's on the property. USAirways will be recalling these pilots back, so in addition to the growth aircraft, these 100 CA seats will open up as well...

 

[Master Shake]

Express looks like they picked good routes but they are going to piss off CO buy flying customers around there hub. Look for CO the replace more express jet routes with Colgan Q 400 same cost to them 24 more seats in the hub.

Ha! That was hilarious. I'll believe that when Colgan can actually fly their SF340's in and out of IAH more than 2/3 full.

 

[340SAM]

I didnt say replace the 340s I said take over RJ routes. Colgan and the Q 400 will soon change the RJ game.

 

[Master Shake]

Right, and I said

I'll believe that when Colgan can actually fly their SF340's in and out of IAH more than 2/3 full.

 

[hawaiimei]

Under our contract with CO, we get paid the same flying full or empty. XJT is enjoying the stability of having paid flying under CO, 15 planes sold out flying for charter work (waiting to see Q1 profit report), and the branded flying looks promising.... ONT, IAH, EWR, and CLE bases with two more to come. All we fly is the EMB jet.... skip the turboprop route, get yourself into great equipment.

I am less than a company man, but if you are looking for a place to fly on the way to the majors - your timing would be great to come here. The stability is for real, and you never see anyone counter us on the great contract.

Like so many others here, I have virtually no complaints.

 

[mack82]

removed

 

[mack82]

I work at CHQ, and I would say go to XJT, MUCH BETTER CONTRACT, Better Labor Relations, better QOL, more options with the trip trading, etc... Come to CHQ if you live in base, but we might close it next week.

At least someone can look at the bigger picture.

 

[ERJDRVR]

With Republic adding 30 new 175's, that will mean continued movement for some time. Also keep in mind there are about 100 J4J CA's on the property. USAirways will be recalling these pilots back, so in addition to the growth aircraft, these 100 CA seats will open up as well...

Ok, so that supports about 150-200 new upgrades with the yet unforseen withdrawl of US Air and DL E145's. It could be a wash or even worse, a negative impact.
I wouldn't pin my hopes on that with the chance of sitting in the right seat for 5+ years.

 

[ratherbeflyen]

Heres what you do. Take out your crystal ball and look five years into the future. Then your choice will be easy. No crystal ball, roll the dice like the rest of us. Then with hindsight being 20/20 complain and bit[h about your career like everyone else.

 

[Popeye0537]

At least someone can look at the bigger picture.

Much better contract?? Get off probation before you start spoutin off about how "$hitty" our contract. Labor relations??? What the hell are you talking about....The only thing I like better at XJT is the trip trade program.

And the rumor about flying for DAL, I seem to remember you guys winning the NWA and Frontier flying.

My advice is to go with the first company that offers you the job, not much difference being on the bottom of either seniority list.

 

[Whiskerbizkit]

Much better contract?? Get off probation before you start spoutin off about how "$hitty" our contract. Labor relations??? What the hell are you talking about....The only thing I like better at XJT is the trip trade program.

And the rumor about flying for DAL, I seem to remember you guys winning the NWA and Frontier flying.

My advice is to go with the first company that offers you the job, not much difference being on the bottom of either seniority list.

XJT contract wipes its a$$ with CHQ's contract hands down!!!!!

Oh yeah, good luck commuting from FL!

 

[wmudriver]

Ok, so that supports about 150-200 new upgrades with the yet unforseen withdrawl of US Air and DL E145's.

What?!?!!? Don't hog the doobie...pass it around, I want some.


For the original question....go to where ever you want to live. A regional is a regional is a regional. Its like trying to polish a turd.

 

[superrav]

XJT might not be the place to go. I think they are following FLYI and Midways fine example of how to lose your shirt flying 50-seat RJs in a new go alone venture. Its just 25 aircraft, but no one else has made it work.

The quick upgrades will come to an abrupt halt at most regionals, so pick somewhere you can afford to be an FO for 5 plus years. The market is saturated with 50 seat lift and the age 65 thing will add an additional year or so to upgrade times.

Might want to check into PNCL, seems like thay have the best chance of adding a considerable amount of aircraft in the next few years. Pick a place that could grow over the 2 bucks and hour difference in pay. Its all about upgrade time.

I think you need to educate yourself.....

 

[Turtlesfly]

Express looks like they picked good routes but they are going to piss off CO buy flying customers around there hub. Look for CO the replace more express jet routes with Colgan Q 400 same cost to them 24 more seats in the hub.

Reread what you wrote. It doesn't even form a proper sentence.

And besides, XJT is not going to piss of CO by flying around them. CO pissed off XJT a long time ago - that's why we're in this branded flying thing anyways - and desipite all our hard work for CO they just keep giving us the finger every chance they can get.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

I would not be surprised to see CO code sharing with XJT brand flying. It is an opportunity to get more west cost seat cheaply and also get around scope if XJT gets larger planes (not likely but a possibility). We are rumored to have code shares. We will see.

I am hopeful of our chances here at XJT but we will see. Our contract is great and we provide a good service but it is hard to compete with companies that are willing to fly for hardly anything to win new contracts. Rumor is that CHQ put its bid in with CO with a 3% profit margin. That is why there is no way we could beat them. This industry will continue to go to $hit if this continues. The majors will put pressure on the regionals to cut costs, the regionals will put pressure on pilots to lower costs. Pretty soon we will earn less than the van driver who takes us from the hotel to the airport. Well I mean to say more will because a lot of you already do.

 

[greedypilot]

Rumor is that CHQ put its bid in with CO with a 3% profit margin.

What was CHQ bidding on?

 

[coolyokeluke]

And the rumor about flying for DAL, I seem to remember you guys winning the NWA and Frontier flying.

My advice is to go with the first company that offers you the job, not much difference being on the bottom of either seniority list.

You're right in that XJT didn't get Frontier flying, NWA flying, or Midwest flying for that matter either. But they have 69 airplanes released from the Capacity Purchase Agreement; 44 are going to branded flying and fifteen to charter ops. That leaves ten unaccounted for. I would bet XJT gets those airframes flying for somebody; they're not going to the desert just to sit while they make lease payments on them.

Going with the first company is a good idea; you never know if you're going to get another offer.