These replies are a bit dated. Nowadays, the company will try and offer you a base before you start. If you don't want to be based there...wait until your preferred base is available. If you're not under pressure to start (i.e. a newbie desperate for a 1st job) then you aren't in the same boat of accepting anything. A few of my friends have started with flybe from other companies and got the base they wanted because they weren't desperate to start regardless of base.