elmetal

valid points. especially about holding a line. heck I would probably venture to say I'd rather commute to a line on a short hop (say pdx-sfo, phx-lax, etc) than be reserve on base, simply because of life planning.

tide is leaning towards the Brasilia more and more

Cruz5350

I just left Horizon for Skywest and it was a tough move. Horizon is a great place and the flying is awesome but it will take awhile to hold a line. If I would have stayed Medford or Boise base I'd prolly be able to at least hold a composite line but the commute was hard from Chicago. Hence why I left to come over to Skywest, but like everyone has said if you take a Bro class you'll be a line holder much quicker. Upgrades over there are not much longer than here and I'd be willing to bet it will continue to drop albeit slowly. If you're concerned with pay it a toss up. 401k and health insurance are much cheaper and better at QX. As far as pay it's going to be about the same not more than a couple hundred bucks in either direction, but if you go to the Bro I'm sure you'll be able to make more. PM me if you have anymore questions.

phalanxo

Jeez Cruz, regionals aren't pokemon. You don't have to try and collect em all.

Cruz5350

Tell me about it lol!

skiK2

Choose whichever is best for your situation. I agree with the others about reserve at either place. You'll hold a line much faster on the bro at SkyWest vs. Horizon.

I don't think you'll have a chance at either airline to upgrade, so take that into consideration.

elmetal

Not chasing an upgrade. if it happens, great but really I want to live, not move around and chase the career. I think Horizon suits me better in that regard.

there's talk that down in MFR people are only reserve for a bid period or two at horizon, so that's not too bad.

skiK2

That's what a lot of pilots say when hired, but after several extra years of rotting in the right seat, you'll change your tune.

I've found that no matter even the most positive guys in this career tire of sitting in the right seat of a regional. Being grossly underpaid (in respects to the entire airline industry) for relatively the same job, will wear on anyone. Even the best people I know become bitter.

elmetal

that is true. I do worry about that in the future. But at the same time though (and this is assuming other higher up airlines are hiring) isn't leaving to go somewhere better paying an option?

It's hard to think of how I will react after being an FO for say 8 years or 10 years. 10 years ago I had given up my hope of being a pilot (thanks to my then terrible knowledge of how flying works in the USA)

8ballfreight

I could be very wrong with the numbers but I heard horizon was losing twenty a month, if Skyw is losing the same amount, wouldn't horizon be more attractive with a smaller pilot group?
Time to a line can change in the blink of an eye from music stop to start and back again.

elmetal

theoretically, sure that would make horizon more attractive but you have to think of where the attrition is. Is it senior FOs? great that'll get you up the FO ladder, is it senior CAs? that would be ideal since the senior CAs at horizon are what keep upgrade times insanely long (and I don't blame them, not here to criticize, I think everyone should do what is best for their situation). I have talked to one fella who can point out 7 people leaving in one week alone, so that can be a great thing!

I would venture to say, without any evidence, that it's senior FOs leaving. which is good in a way but doesn't mean upgrade times will get better. That said, I still think Horizon might be a better fit for me.