Im a Boston based FO, been there for 2 years now and enjoy the base. The CP and ACP are great guys, the pilot group there is smaller than DFW/ORD so its easier to get to know everyone. I started holding a line after about 1yr 10months on reserve. We are in desperate need of BOS FOs and our bottom line holders have only been here a few months now. Being here 2 years I can't hold a line on any other EMB base in the system. The lines arent very commutable, so if you live within an hour or two drive of Boston then you should have a decent QOL.
How are the trips? Do you have a lot of down time between legs or do you stay moving during the day? On a line the trips havent had too much sit time lately, avg about 30mins sit. They are trying to cut sit times down so that they can get more usuage from the a/c. My trip this month is a 4day trip, and only has 1 sit time of 2:55. The rest are 1hr or less.
Do you do a lot of deadheading? Lots of deadheading on reserve, and some lines even have deadheads built in. The trips out of BOS arent out-and-back flights like DFW/ORD. We leave BOS and dont fly through it until the last day on some occasions.
Are there a lot of aircraft swaps? Sometimes you get lucky and keep the a/c all day, sometimes you dont. I would say avg swap every 2-3 legs
Does Boston have many out and backs or two day trips? We have lines that are day trips, 2day, 3day and 4day. Lots of the junior lines have been 2day trips. Lots of other FOs dont want them because they commute, but if you live in base they are sweet.
In general how is Boston as a pilot base? As stated before, great base in my opinion IF you can live within 2hours from base.
