No guarantee anyone will buy breeze. If no one wants to touch JetBlue, what makes you think they'll touch breeze.
A220 is no better than the e175. Both comfortable to fly, both are rated in the exact same category.
If you're going to commute for breeze, expect to age 5 years over the course of the year you'll be on reserve. It's not a commuters airline. Btw, miss 3 flights a year and you're fired.
Stay and upgrade. Get 250/500/750/1000TPIC, and it should trigger an interview in one of those buckets.
I’m a fellow Brickyarder with slightly more time at the company.
I think this is a grass is greener situation. I’ve been there in my prior career. Most times, it’s not greener.
Having a line and being able to control to a point your commute (drive or fly) is hard to put a price on. The longer you are at Republic the better this will get. If you leave, you’re giving all that up for:
Reserve: nobody likes being in reserve, but Breezes reserve rules may be worse, I know ours aren’t great compared to legacies, but they are better than other regionals.
Aircraft: not sure where you heard the A220 is better. It’s newer yes but the Ejet is a great jet and there is a lot of debate on if Legacies care if you have a type. I personally don’t think they care because they are going to teach you how to fly the jet anyways. Also, the A220 has known engine problems and new tech often has teething problems.
Upgrade: I just flew with a brand new captain that waited 4 months for an upgrade class. Doing the math you laid out, it’s 16 months for a captain upgrade at either airline. It will probably be a few months before you get an initial class from Breeze assuming you get a CJO. Same with Republic and getting your hours. At Republic you’ll be getting more senior, getting better lines, more days off etc etc. At Breeze you’ll be on reserve not knowing how much you’ll be flying, things could slow down and you’re stuck on reserve for a long time.
Contract: if you have the money, ok sure but you’re basically buying your way to breeze to have a worse schedule.
Moving: I’ve lived in PA, VA, CA, SC and NJ over the past 15 years. Moving is awful and expensive and time consuming.
LCC: A few things to consider here. What is the overall trend of LCCs. Spirit is in the gutter, Avelo is hurting, Allegiant pilots aren’t happy, Jet Blue isn’t doing well, which leaves frontier and Breeze. The overall trend isn’t great, so you could be gambling that they don’t go bust or get bought out. Based on the governments decisions on airline mergers, who knows what they will rule. I think you’re playing with multiple what ifs here.
TL:DR It seems like you aren’t super happy with your schedule and think the grass will be greener at an airline with a lot of unknowns, leaving one that is growing. It seems your reasoning comes with a lot of what ifs as well. In a world where things change quickly you need to think if the music stops, where would give me the best overall life.
$100k of debt makes no sense. I know you’re young and could work it off over time, but you really don’t want to voluntarily put yourself that far into the red. Buying out of training contracts only made sense when it was tied to bonus money that you didn’t touch and got a job offer at a major.
Stay at Republic, upgrade when you can and start getting that PIC time. Get a college degree while you're there, and then start applying to not-Breeze.
Everyone is so quick to chase that shiny new A220. They got 80 on order but aren’t making any money with the ones they have now. They have a couple simulators and a undesirable location for HQ in Provo, UT. I don’t see why anyone would buy them. They don’t own any of their planes.
I would not be so sold on the growth they say will have. Especially in a LCC market where oil prices are high. That “growth” can easily turn into furloughs or even bankruptcy pretty fast. And another reason is that you are hoping they can get acquired by another company? You know how many times Spirit tried to merge and look where that ended with them? I think you would be insane to owe 100k to leave to go to Breeze based on uncertain hypotheticals.
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hey Folks, Current RPA pilot with nearly 600 hours of 121 SIC time. Im finishing up the interview process at Breeze. I currently drive 3 hours from home to base and hold a junior line, but a line none the less. I have about a year of seniority at the Brickyard. Upgrade time is currently 16(ish) months out, but is always subject to change for better or worse.
Anyway here’s what’s up! The hiring market is getting worse and worse and I don’t have a College degree! Meaning my shot at the legacies with Republic is probably not great, due to the amount of pilots metered at the Regional level since we fly for all 3 Legacies. I’d be at the bottom of the pool of the pilots that are hired, even with PIC time.
The way I see it, I have a chance at hand to leave and operate the A220, flying longer routes to better destinations.
Pros:
- LCC Growth > Breeze seems to finally be entering the stage of potential growth and seems to be one of them few LCCS with long term potential.
- One of the big ideas of Breeze seems to include eventually getting acquired by another operator. If I get on the seniority list there, it seems like there’s a good possibility in the future that I’ll be acquired into another LCC/major/Legacy via merger.
- A220 > E170
- Breeze has 80 A220’s on order and I’d hold a good seniority there alone.
- Relatively quick upgrade time. (16 months from hire.)
Cons:
- 100k Training Contract. I have no other debts and I’m sitting on a bit of cash, but it looks like our union seriously dropped the ball in its court case, and agreed to settle on a “non-compete” and collect a paycheck from Republic. (Not just “court costs” See most recent court documents.)
- Non-AQP
- Growing Pains
- Relocation to a different state.
- Reserve for a year prior to holding a line.
All in all I’ve seen a lot of posts complaining about QOL at Breeze, but I don’t really see differences from how my Regional is operated other than the lack of a commuter clause.
Would it be worth trying to make the jump for Breeze? I’m young and have a lot of life ahead of me. Just looking at the future growth potential. I’ve had a lot of Captains recently upset that they didn’t attempt to jump to a LCC/ULCC back in 2022 and aren’t getting calls with 3000+ TPIC.
It looks like you're asking about getting a college degree.
A degree never hurts, get one if you can afford it. Whether it is required today or not, it may be required tomorrow. And the degree can be in anything, the major isn't that important.
Please read our FAQ, which has a ton of information and wisdom about becoming a pilot, including advice on college.
Checkeide-failure@reddit
No guarantee anyone will buy breeze. If no one wants to touch JetBlue, what makes you think they'll touch breeze.
A220 is no better than the e175. Both comfortable to fly, both are rated in the exact same category.
If you're going to commute for breeze, expect to age 5 years over the course of the year you'll be on reserve. It's not a commuters airline. Btw, miss 3 flights a year and you're fired.
Stay and upgrade. Get 250/500/750/1000TPIC, and it should trigger an interview in one of those buckets.
f1racer328@reddit
No union yet right?
Desperate_Exercise13@reddit
For a 100k, no way. When I was hired at a major I avoided SWA because they required a 737 type to interview. No way for breeze and 100k.
ThatLooksRight@reddit
Your Pro/Con list failed to convince me that it’s a good move.
MyPilotInterview@reddit
Take your savings, get a degree (study.com and Liberty - you can have one in a year to 18 months) and keep working towards a legacy.
ThatLooksRight@reddit
I’m at a legacy.
Strange_Parsley_5730@reddit
I’m a fellow Brickyarder with slightly more time at the company.
I think this is a grass is greener situation. I’ve been there in my prior career. Most times, it’s not greener.
Having a line and being able to control to a point your commute (drive or fly) is hard to put a price on. The longer you are at Republic the better this will get. If you leave, you’re giving all that up for:
Reserve: nobody likes being in reserve, but Breezes reserve rules may be worse, I know ours aren’t great compared to legacies, but they are better than other regionals.
Aircraft: not sure where you heard the A220 is better. It’s newer yes but the Ejet is a great jet and there is a lot of debate on if Legacies care if you have a type. I personally don’t think they care because they are going to teach you how to fly the jet anyways. Also, the A220 has known engine problems and new tech often has teething problems.
Upgrade: I just flew with a brand new captain that waited 4 months for an upgrade class. Doing the math you laid out, it’s 16 months for a captain upgrade at either airline. It will probably be a few months before you get an initial class from Breeze assuming you get a CJO. Same with Republic and getting your hours. At Republic you’ll be getting more senior, getting better lines, more days off etc etc. At Breeze you’ll be on reserve not knowing how much you’ll be flying, things could slow down and you’re stuck on reserve for a long time.
Contract: if you have the money, ok sure but you’re basically buying your way to breeze to have a worse schedule.
Moving: I’ve lived in PA, VA, CA, SC and NJ over the past 15 years. Moving is awful and expensive and time consuming.
LCC: A few things to consider here. What is the overall trend of LCCs. Spirit is in the gutter, Avelo is hurting, Allegiant pilots aren’t happy, Jet Blue isn’t doing well, which leaves frontier and Breeze. The overall trend isn’t great, so you could be gambling that they don’t go bust or get bought out. Based on the governments decisions on airline mergers, who knows what they will rule. I think you’re playing with multiple what ifs here.
TL:DR It seems like you aren’t super happy with your schedule and think the grass will be greener at an airline with a lot of unknowns, leaving one that is growing. It seems your reasoning comes with a lot of what ifs as well. In a world where things change quickly you need to think if the music stops, where would give me the best overall life.
NoConcentrate9116@reddit
$100k of debt makes no sense. I know you’re young and could work it off over time, but you really don’t want to voluntarily put yourself that far into the red. Buying out of training contracts only made sense when it was tied to bonus money that you didn’t touch and got a job offer at a major.
Several-Village5814@reddit
Longer routes to better destinations? Breeze flies into cities that the big major airlines don’t. Your republic routes go to better destinations.
Aviationer065@reddit
Absolutely not
Khantahr@reddit
Stay at Republic, upgrade when you can and start getting that PIC time. Get a college degree while you're there, and then start applying to not-Breeze.
Wouldn't hurt to do the interview though.
Checkeide-failure@reddit
Yes I would do the interview for shits and giggles and practice. You don't go in person anyway, it's virtual.
PureMoose7735@reddit
Everyone is so quick to chase that shiny new A220. They got 80 on order but aren’t making any money with the ones they have now. They have a couple simulators and a undesirable location for HQ in Provo, UT. I don’t see why anyone would buy them. They don’t own any of their planes.
lil_layne@reddit
I would not be so sold on the growth they say will have. Especially in a LCC market where oil prices are high. That “growth” can easily turn into furloughs or even bankruptcy pretty fast. And another reason is that you are hoping they can get acquired by another company? You know how many times Spirit tried to merge and look where that ended with them? I think you would be insane to owe 100k to leave to go to Breeze based on uncertain hypotheticals.
f1racer328@reddit
Go for the interview with Breeze and if you get a CJO you have a decision to make. If you don't get it, then you don't. However...
Is the 100k training contract prorated? That's a massive amount of money to lose.
Would you move to a Breeze base? I heard they have a lot of day trips, and commuting can be painful there.
Where would you rather be stuck? How long is the upgrade at Breeze?
Lastly, turbine PIC is king and you're much closer to it at Republic than Breeze.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hey Folks, Current RPA pilot with nearly 600 hours of 121 SIC time. Im finishing up the interview process at Breeze. I currently drive 3 hours from home to base and hold a junior line, but a line none the less. I have about a year of seniority at the Brickyard. Upgrade time is currently 16(ish) months out, but is always subject to change for better or worse.
Anyway here’s what’s up! The hiring market is getting worse and worse and I don’t have a College degree! Meaning my shot at the legacies with Republic is probably not great, due to the amount of pilots metered at the Regional level since we fly for all 3 Legacies. I’d be at the bottom of the pool of the pilots that are hired, even with PIC time.
The way I see it, I have a chance at hand to leave and operate the A220, flying longer routes to better destinations.
Pros:
- LCC Growth > Breeze seems to finally be entering the stage of potential growth and seems to be one of them few LCCS with long term potential.
- One of the big ideas of Breeze seems to include eventually getting acquired by another operator. If I get on the seniority list there, it seems like there’s a good possibility in the future that I’ll be acquired into another LCC/major/Legacy via merger.
- A220 > E170
- Breeze has 80 A220’s on order and I’d hold a good seniority there alone.
- Relatively quick upgrade time. (16 months from hire.)
Cons:
- 100k Training Contract. I have no other debts and I’m sitting on a bit of cash, but it looks like our union seriously dropped the ball in its court case, and agreed to settle on a “non-compete” and collect a paycheck from Republic. (Not just “court costs” See most recent court documents.)
- Non-AQP
- Growing Pains
- Relocation to a different state.
- Reserve for a year prior to holding a line.
All in all I’ve seen a lot of posts complaining about QOL at Breeze, but I don’t really see differences from how my Regional is operated other than the lack of a commuter clause.
Would it be worth trying to make the jump for Breeze? I’m young and have a lot of life ahead of me. Just looking at the future growth potential. I’ve had a lot of Captains recently upset that they didn’t attempt to jump to a LCC/ULCC back in 2022 and aren’t getting calls with 3000+ TPIC.
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It looks like you're asking about getting a college degree.
A degree never hurts, get one if you can afford it. Whether it is required today or not, it may be required tomorrow. And the degree can be in anything, the major isn't that important.
Please read our FAQ, which has a ton of information and wisdom about becoming a pilot, including advice on college.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.