SkyWest vs ASA

[Avboy]

I have an offer with both SkyWest and ASA. My class date with SkyWest is in July in the EMB 120 and my class with ASA will most likely be in May or June. I know very little about ASA and am looking for some input. Also, I would like to know the latest bases for SkyWest in the EMB 120. I have researched the last six months of threads in this forum. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Bluto]

For the Brasilia junior bases seem to be PSP, FAT, but recent hires are being awarded PDX, LAX, SBA, SAN, and DEN before too long. If you want to be west-coast based, SkyWest may be the place for you. Upgrades have been relatively quick; just over a year on the Brasilia, around 2-3 for the jet. There are many factors to consider, I don't know too many ASA pilots personally, so hopefully some of them will chime in. If you have specific questions as far as quality of life, etc. maybe we can help you narrow down your choice. It's nice to be able to choose from two healthy stable companies. Good luck whatever you choose.

 

[Deerkiller]

I'd have to agree with Bluto. West side = SkyWest East side = ASA Commuting sux, avoid it like the plague. If that doesn't matter then, even though I'm at SKW, I'd have to say whoever offers the class first. Seniority is everything.

 

[PalmettoPilot]

Don't Pick a company based on predicted upgrades

DONT choose a carrier based on what they predict their upgrades are. Upgrades this year could be vastly different from upgrades next year. Last summer ASA was saying upgrades of 6-7 years, I think the junior CAs at ASA now are around 4 1/2 years. That could move either direction based on how many planes a carrier gets, growth equals upgrades. Comair hasn't had any growth in a while and isn't hiring right now but they signed the deal to get more planes so expect growth there and hence upgrades. None of it matters until you get in the door anyway.

Your best bet is to pick a company that you could either be happy living in domicile or have an easy commute. Find out which domiciles are senior/junior and what you could expect to be awarded. 1 hop commutes aren't bad, but try to find out how hard your city is to commute from. If you live in Florida don't count on an easy commute.

You might also want to do some research on the company and find out how stable they are and how stable their flying is going to be. Try to find out what the short term growth looks like, that will affect how many pilots are being hired right now and how many will be hired behind you. More pilots behind you equals a better quality of life for you in the short term.

Good luck!

 

[711-24-7]

Skywest all the way.......and I don't even work for Skywest. If you know what I mean.

 

[Typhoon1244]

DONT choose a carrier based on what they predict their upgrades are.

My brother said it best: "If you hear some place has a quick upgrade, you already missed it!"

 

[Palmtree Pilot]

Any chance SKW will hire me as an EMB 120 Cpt. I'll stay in that seat, I promise.


I've gotta get back West!!!

PtP

 

[Bluto]

While seniority is everything, I wouldn't advise simply choosing whoever offers you the first class. At an airline your relative seniority is what really matters. If you get a class-date tomorrow, but your company stops hiring the next day, you'll be stuck at the bottom a long time. Look at the big picture.

 

[doh]

I consulted my wife, the ouiji board, had my cards read, looked into the chrystal ball, consulted a Rabbi, and prayed with a baptist minister. I'm still looking for a catholic priest to exorcise the demons I have from my choice! Seriously though, Skywest = west, ASA = east, avoid the commute if at all possible. Good luck!

 

["GO AROUND"]

I upgraded at ASA on the RJ at 4 yrs, I think the most junior capt. on any ac is 3 to 3 1\2 yrs. Couldn't even tell ya where it will be in 6 mnths. We are still to take delivery of 20 something more ac this year so there will be movement, just don't know for how long. I have to agree that base has a lot of weight in the decision, otherwise we are very similar (when we finish our contract)...

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Seriously though, Skywest = west, ASA = east, avoid the commute if at all possible. Good luck!

All depends on your definition of west I suppose. DEN, COS, and ORD just don't seem that far west.

 

[Bluto]

I don't think you can get too much "wester" than MRY, SBA, SAN, LAX, PDX.... Although, come to think of it, maybe you were just saying SkyWest isn't just about the West coast. Got it. Sorry.

 

[ifly4food]

If you have any doubts as to how much the quality of life at ASA sucks, just search "ASA" on this board.

If you come here, you will be on reserve for at least a year, and will not see the left seat of anything for at least 5 years.

I would advise you to go to SKW.

 

[CF34-3B1]

If you have any doubts as to how much the quality of life at ASA sucks, just search "ASA" on this board.

If you come here, you will be on reserve for at least a year, and will not see the left seat of anything for at least 5 years.

I would advise you to go to SKW.

I recently flew with a 5 month FO who was holding a relief line. Whether or not that will continue to be the case, who can say.

Don't forget, if you come to ASA, upgrade will really depend on how many Sub-Orbital Regional Rockets Virgin Galactic gets, and whether or not we get stapled to their list or merged.

Oh, and one other very serious point to ponder in your decision: SKYW has, on average, way better looking FA's than ASA, but lots of them are Mormon's, and won't put out on the overnights. (or so I'm told by my friends at SKYW). Get an ASA FA on the long MMTY overnight and get a few tequilla shooters in her and see how religious she gets........

Seriously though, they're both good companies, and each has it positives and negatives. As many have pointed out, commuting really does suck, especially on reserve. If either company has a base in a city you'd like to live in, I'd weigh that heavily.

 

[~~~^~~~]

As IFF says, QOL at ASA sucks. I have never seen a more hostile place to work.

But again CF34 has a point about the MMTY overnights

 

[svcta]

I'll just tack this question on this thread to save electricity........................

Should I leave the company I'm with and go to ASA and not have to commute? I live 10 minutes from ATL so sitting on reserve won't be nearly as bad as commuting to do it(and rarely fly). Is this worth it?

 

[jstyle13]

I spent 4 months on reserve, 3 months on relief and in April am hodling 4 on 3 off here at ASA. You will get used and abused on reserve, but where would you go that you woudln't? QOL hopefully will get better with a new contract (some day...). We are still hiring like crazy so as long as you don't get in the last couple classes life shouldn't be to bad. And as stated previously there are very few hot flight attendants here.

jj

 

[BlackPilot628]

Oh, and one other very serious point to ponder in your decision: SKYW has, on average, way better looking FA's than ASA, but lots of them are Mormon's, and won't put out on the overnights. (or so I'm told by my friends at SKYW). Get an ASA FA on the long MMTY overnight and get a few tequilla shooters in her and see how religious she gets........

Now this guy is a TRUE PILOT. You're my BOY BLU!!

 

[Midnight Flyer]

And as stated previously there are very few hot flight attendants here.
jj

I worked for ASA back in the early 90's, and let me tell you, there were tons of hot flight attendants. So what happened? Every time I fly on ASA or any regional for that matter, it seems as if the f/a's are older women with bad attitudes. I know that's a big gereralization, but where did all the hotties go?

 

[crashpad]

I'll let you in on a little secret: Most of the LCCs' are recruiting ONLY young hot F/As as part of a new marketing campaign. Very Smart!

 

[SKYMASTER]

Congratulations. From what I hear Skywest and ASA are probably some of the best regional airlines to be hired on. The pilots talking about commuting are right. If able, don't do it. Bases should be a strong consideration.

The upgrade comment is also right. If there is a fast upgrade, you probably already missed it, so don't base it on that.

According to airlinepilotpay.com, the pay at both seem to both be relatively close.

At ASA, pilots do get unlimited, world-wide, free passes on Delta AirLines and Delta Connection. They also get ID96 on many Skyteam flights in the Delta system. This includes Air France among other airlines. An ID96 is very cheap, if you aren't familiar. All of this is also First Class available. If you do have to commute, free passes may be a consideration in conjunction with the relatively low regional airline pilot pay.

However, do look at attrition, growth, and jets on order. Moving up is what seniority is.


Good luck, SKYMASTER

 

[Dave Benjamin]

I don't think you can get too much "wester" than MRY, SBA, SAN, LAX, PDX.... Although, come to think of it, maybe you were just saying SkyWest isn't just about the West coast. Got it. Sorry.

As an FO the guy could probably get one of those west coast bases. Of course at 19/hr and a few months of training for free it's really questionable if he could afford anything nicer than a dumpster.

Look where the growth is. None of it is on the west coast so unless the guy that started this thread plans to be a long term FO he'll end up commuting to DEN, ORD, COS, or SLC.

 

[Bluto]

Good point. Although, EMB CA isn't terribly senior in places like PSP, FAT, etc. that are west coast adjacent.

 

[Dave Benjamin]

Good point. Although, EMB CA isn't terribly senior in places like PSP, FAT, etc. that are west coast adjacent.

True. The only thing is that the EMB will slowly go the way of the Dodo Bird and many of the remaining CA's are there as a lifestyle choice. In the case of PSP an EMB CA with 12 or 13 years of seniority could not hold the RJ unless he slid over to the right seat. FAT isn't bad for someone who can drive there but it's not an easy city to get to unless you're in SFO or LAX.

 

[Avboy]

I live in the Midwest and will need to commute, so DEN or SLC are my best bet at SkyWest. What are the chances of getting that right away and how long is reserve currently?

Thanks

 

[SKYMASTER]

If you're going to commute, you might want to find out what the pass policy is at Skywest. Some airlines have a service charge per flight. That will add up if you're commuting.

 

[jetstream]

I thought SkyWest was buying ASA.

 

[FL990]

If you have any doubts as to how much the quality of life at ASA sucks, just search "ASA" on this board.

If you come here, you will be on reserve for at least a year, and will not see the left seat of anything for at least 5 years.

I would advise you to go to SKW.

As IFF says, QOL at ASA sucks. I have never seen a more hostile place to work.

DO NOT FORM YOUR OPINION OF ASA OR ITS CULTURE BASED ON THE CRAP YOU READ ON THIS BOARD. The opinions shared on this board about ASA represent a minority view of how its pilots as a whole feel. The people that say our quality of life sucks here are clueless. Its not the best in the industry...but it sure as H3LL isn't the worst...but everywhere you go, there will be whiners and unfortunately, they flock to boards like this and you don't get to hear from the guys that are happy with there life and with there job. I just happen to be one of those guys. ASA is ...all in all...a good place to work!

Now, its not the best company in the world, and it can and will get better...but it is a really good place to be. As far as on reserve, you won't be on reserve that long. Most guys are sitting reserve for a few months. We are hiring anywhere from 24 to 48 per month for the rest of the year...you will move up fast...HOWEVER...after that, its all up in the air. Upgrade, as it was said by someone else...what upgrade is now is not a good representation of what it will be 2 or more years away. You just never know.

The question you have to ask is can you live in LAX or SAN on 1st, 2nd or even 3rd year FO pay on a Brazilia?????? Heck, its tough to live in ATL on first year FO pay.

Ultimately though, they are both good companies, I would be more inclined to pick based on where you want to live as opposed to what you "think" upgrade will be.

 

[CandlerWun]

If you have any doubts as to how much the quality of life at ASA sucks, just search "ASA" on this board.

If you come here, you will be on reserve for at least a year, and will not see the left seat of anything for at least 5 years.

I would advise you to go to SKW.

I was hired in August and spent 3 months on reserve. I had a relief line in February, and a hard line (naps) in March. Of course, someone who is hired today may not have that experience.

Josh M.

 

[CandlerWun]

Heck, its tough to live in ATL on first year FO pay.

Yes, it certainly is. I'm starting my second job some time this week, if all goes well. One benefit of being off reserve is that you have the ability to do that.

Josh M.