A tough choice... ASA or Eagle

[Dutch]

Qol

As a disclaimer, I've been at Eagle for a year and am ORD based. I have to disagree that Eagle will automatically give you the better quality of life. Buddies of mine went to CoEx and ASA on the same day I started with Eagle and they both hold hard lines with weekends off. I got the last hard line awarded this month...lots of sit time. Guys a couple numbers below me are on their 12th month on reserve. That said, what happend over the past year may not happen over the upcoming one.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my job (to a degree) and really like the fact that I don't commute. Chicago is a great town but is moving out of the question? If living in ORD outweighs all other considerations then avoid ASA. Commuting sucks, I did it for a couple months and the stress commuting adds is not worth it.

Best of Luck.

 

[Weasil]

QOL may not be the same for one person as it is for another. I live in chicago and If I could be based in ORD instead of commuting I would love it! I would bid reserve and ask to be the last called out if I could... stay home with my boy... it would be great.

 

[labbats]

Sit at home... on reserve... as an Eagle FO... hahahahaha.

 

[Burt Reynolds]

OK, what about this? CRJ or EMJ?

 

[Willy21]

OK, what about this? CRJ or EMJ?

They both have two wings, two motors and pay about the same. (which isn't the best) A flying job is a flying job.

 

[mach zero]

As a former 9 year prisoner of American Eagle, I can honestly say don't go there. You will not upgrade in the forseeable future at that company (no matter what anyone says). They treat their employees like crap, the maintenance sucks, the pass travel is expensive (even though it should be free), there is a terrible relationship with the AA employees, etc. etc. Go do night freight in Lear or Great Lakes or something. While you are sitting long term right seat in that Taco Jet for Eagle, the folks that went to the "less desirable" commuters / freight operators will have upgraded and be in the process of interviewing at majors. It says alot that I know 6 year guys sitting F/O over there (not by choice) who are making in the low 30's and less.

 

[NRHPilot]

As a former 9 year prisoner of American Eagle, I can honestly say don't go there. You will not upgrade in the forseeable future at that company (no matter what anyone says). They treat their employees like crap, the maintenance sucks, the pass travel is expensive (even though it should be free), there is a terrible relationship with the AA employees, etc. etc. Go do night freight in Lear or Great Lakes or something. While you are sitting long term right seat in that Taco Jet for Eagle, the folks that went to the "less desirable" commuters / freight operators will have upgraded and be in the process of interviewing at majors. It says alot that I know 6 year guys sitting F/O over there (not by choice) who are making in the low 30's and less.

The pay could be better this is true. Just as a reference a 5 year Saab FO will make more than 40k with per diem and some OT and I know a 5 year CRJ FO that cleared 46K last year with OT and per diem as well. Not that tough to do. Again not the best pay in the industry but not the worse either.

 

[PacoPollo]

As a former 9 year prisoner of American Eagle, I can honestly say don't go there. You will not upgrade in the forseeable future at that company (no matter what anyone says). They treat their employees like crap, the maintenance sucks, the pass travel is expensive (even though it should be free), there is a terrible relationship with the AA employees, etc. etc. Go do night freight in Lear or Great Lakes or something. While you are sitting long term right seat in that Taco Jet for Eagle, the folks that went to the "less desirable" commuters / freight operators will have upgraded and be in the process of interviewing at majors. It says alot that I know 6 year guys sitting F/O over there (not by choice) who are making in the low 30's and less.

Ahhhh the grass is always greener on the other side mr southwest..