Whats so great about working at a major?

[whymeworry?]

The reasons to leave a good regional carrier for a major are many and most are all compelling enough to justify the move. To sum it up, though, you leave because the future upside is significantly higher than that of a regional. At 90-100K per a year, you are a hitting the ceiling of earning potential. At a major, 100K a year is the lowest pay you will receive as a first officer AFTER you've advanced deep enough into the longevity payscales (usually the 5 year point).

It's really a no-brainer. We all need to make the jump at some point. The longer you delay the inveitable pay-cut the harder it seems to overcome. But the first year goes rather quickly so it's not really that big of a deal.

 

[Dirty Sanchez]

In the not too distant past a job with a "major" was desirable- good pay, QOL, and (jet) equipment. There were no $90K regional captain jet jobs, only 'commuter' t-prop 135 positions paying half of that. Who would have wanted to fly 8 leg day, 120 hour months for their entire career?

Unfortunately our chosen profession does not compensate based off of experience level, only longevity. Until thousands of people stop lining up for a few hundred jobs that will never change. Your acquired skills will by far exceed your hourly rate for years (or even an entire career).

It is a difficult decision, but technically Mesa is a "major" now. Be happy there with $90K and some senority or take a pay cut, roll the dice, and go back to the bottom of the list somewhere else.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

I'm away from home more than all of them except the super tanker engineer. Did I mention he has a pension?

Chicks dig Super Tankers.

 

[greenbayfan]

"There is precisely one airline that won't treat you like a robot. If this really means a lot to you I suggest pursuing a B737 type rating"

The airline you speak of may not treat you like a robot, but requiring someone get a $7,000+ type rating BEFORE even showing up in their "hollowed" facility certainly puts them them in the "our ******************** don't stink" realm.....no offense, but SWA needs a drug test if they think the type gives them better new hires.

 

[skypine27]

"There is precisely one airline that won't treat you like a robot. If this really means a lot to you I suggest pursuing a B737 type rating"

Well, we're treated like children here at FedEx. Stupid ones, in fact. By both management (which I expect) and by our Union, which surprised the he l l out of me.

Buy the type and hope for a shot at working some place fun and that pays decent.

Or come here and work some place that just pays decent.

 

[igneousy2]

"There is precisely one airline that won't treat you like a robot. If this really means a lot to you I suggest pursuing a B737 type rating"

The airline you speak of may not treat you like a robot, but requiring someone get a $7,000+ type rating BEFORE even showing up in their "hollowed" facility certainly puts them them in the "our ******************** don't stink" realm.....no offense, but SWA needs a drug test if they think the type gives them better new hires.

From my very first introductory flight, private, commercial, instrument rating, CFI, CFII, MEI...it was ALL so I could get a job at a major airline. Flying is and always has been too expensive for this to be a hobby. If I thought for a minute I wouldn't have made it to a major airline I wouldn't have wasted the $20 for that first intro flight in the first place.

This argument against SWA because they require a type is STUPID. If SWA is your dream job then GO FOR IT. If it's not...then don't bother. You mean to tell me you plunked down 60-70k or more to get to the doorstep and then balk at a $6k type rating for your dream job. THAT's ABSURD.

And btw, SWA hasn't required a type before the interview for several years now...if you don't want to get the type before you show up at there "hollowed facility" you don't have to.

 

[FurloughedAgain]

Why do so many people get these major airline "blinders" on?

Flylow is right. There are other jobs out there with far better quality of life, better compensation, and more nights at home with your family than even the majors can provide.

Don't strap on the golden handcuffs just yet. Look around.

 

[Double Shot]

Hey Greenbay

do what i did. Go to Continental get the FREE type and then leave for Southwest.

 

[spacecadet1]

Remember when you were a kid and you had to sit at the kids table during Thanksgiving, because there wasn't enough room with the adults. Well, at some point you have to grow up and sit with the adults.

 

[FurloughedAgain]

Gimme a break.

Remember when you were a kid and went to minor league baseball games. Not EVERY player at the minors went on to the bigs. MANY players had fantastic careers in the minors playing a game that they loved.

 

[capt_zman]

Why do so many people get these major airline "blinders" on?

Flylow is right. There are other jobs out there with far better quality of life, better compensation, and more nights at home with your family than even the majors can provide.

Don't strap on the golden handcuffs just yet. Look around.

Really good advice. I was a guy who left a sweet corp gig flying top notch equipment, great people, great QOL, and decent money for the "major airline blinders". There are so many variables that come into play in an airline that I had no idea about and had not planned for.

After 3 years at FDX, I feel like I sold me and my family out, almost like a deal with the devil.

 

[Whine Lover]

The reasons to leave a good regional carrier for a major are many and most are all compelling enough to justify the move. To sum it up, though, you leave because the future upside is significantly higher than that of a regional. At 90-100K per a year, you are a hitting the ceiling of earning potential. At a major, 100K a year is the lowest pay you will receive as a first officer AFTER you've advanced deep enough into the longevity payscales (usually the 5 year point).

It's really a no-brainer. We all need to make the jump at some point. The longer you delay the inveitable pay-cut the harder it seems to overcome. But the first year goes rather quickly so it's not really that big of a deal.

Not necessarily... This is representative of what my friends make at a few of the "majors":

- 16 year American 757 FO - 89k

- 19 year Airways A320 FO - 82k

- 10 year Delta 757 FO - 85k

I think your " 100k / Five Year Theory" may be a bit flawed...


YKW

 

[AA717driver]

Not necessarily... This is representative of what my friends make at a few of the "majors":

- 16 year American 757 FO - 89k

I think your " 100k / Five Year Theory" may be a bit flawed...

YKW

Bull. As a lineholder, you'll EASILY make $105k. (Unless he bids conflicts every month and takes the 64 hour guarantee.) Work the system (sell back two of four weeks of vacation) and you're up to $115k.

I will say that the 20 hour layovers at the Sherry DO cut into your earnings--and your lifespan! TC

 

[Captain Morgan]

I have a bone to pick with some of the posters. I know this will offend some people, but not all people are "cut from the same cloth." There are all types of people that like different types of flying. I for one like flying the small regional jets and turboprops. It seems some people only got into this profession to fly the large jets. We don't give you a hard time because you want to be a captain on a 777 flying internationally, so don't catagorize us all as short sighted just because we enjoy what we do no matter how many zeros we lack on our W-2 and our plane is smaller or has props. Also, there are alot of people out there that are happy with the simple things in life and don't have to have a 300k house and a BMW along with every gadget ever invented. All I am saying is, don't go thinking we all want to be at a major because not all of us do. Good luck to everybody in the pursuit of what they want out of their career.

CM

 

[Captain Morgan]

From my very first introductory flight, private, commercial, instrument rating, CFI, CFII, MEI...it was ALL so I could get a job at a major airline. Flying is and always has been too expensive for this to be a hobby. If I thought for a minute I wouldn't have made it to a major airline I wouldn't have wasted the $20 for that first intro flight in the first place.

This argument against SWA because they require a type is STUPID. If SWA is your dream job then GO FOR IT. If it's not...then don't bother. You mean to tell me you plunked down 60-70k or more to get to the doorstep and then balk at a $6k type rating for your dream job. THAT's ABSURD.

And btw, SWA hasn't required a type before the interview for several years now...if you don't want to get the type before you show up at there "hollowed facility" you don't have to.

To put it blatenly, we need less of you in this profession. It's obvious you're not in aviation for the love of flying. Maybe you should've taken that 20 secured yourself an intro to law school.

CM