Airline to Fractional...

[SELFloadingCRGO]

Anyone that has been at a major or regional airline made the switch to fractional? Pros/Cons? Do you regret ever making that move or has it been the best thing you ever did?

 

[bailey3083]

6 years at a regional and let me tell you the best thing i ever did. I will never go back to the Airlines again.

 

[Gator1999]

5 years at the regionals and my QOL is better than ever. I will never go back to the airlines either.

 

[CA1900]

Anyone that has been at a major or regional airline made the switch to fractional?

Yep. Best move I ever made, no question. I didn't realize just how much better things could be--from pay and benefits, to hotels, to condition of the equipment--until I came to Netjets. Absolutely no comparison.

I'd be hard pressed to ever go back.

 

[c5driver]

How about from you major guys out there. I know it's much better than the regionals but what about a major??

 

[Willy21]

There are a lot of guys with numbers at AA, UAL, Delta and US Air that are still here. You won't make 777 captian of FedEx money at NetJets, but you will have a stable career. Being backed by Berkshire is huge.

 

[fischman]

3 years at a regional. I'll NEVER fly a 121 plane again. Best move I ever made.

 

[bailout]

do a search,...

 

[jaybird]

the only thing i miss from the 121 world is the size of the cockpit. i'm not big either.

 

[Mooneymite]

Major vs Fracs

I spent 27 years at a major. I'm working at a frac two years now and can tell you, I think the 121 major world is better. Much better.

The big problem with the fractional world is that there really are very minor rewards for longevity, or seniority. Were I to stay at this fractional for another 27 years, I could never, ever look forward to the QOL that I experienced at the majors. I just rode on a Falcon piloted by guys who were super senior. Their life style was good, but nothing compared to what senior pilots at the majors have. They were real proud of their lifestyle, but I pitied them because, if that's the "top", it aint so good.

Who at the fractionals works a 2-on-5-off schedule? When I worked the 2 on 5 off, my 2 on comprised two turn-arounds to SJU that departed at 8 in the morning and got back at 7 the same evening. I never had to spend a night away from home if I didn't want to. I knew where I was going to be a month in advance and if I didn't like it I could swap it away for something I did like. I didn't have to start my trip parking at some FBO and airlining to some other FBO. I didn't have to wonder where I was going to be that night or if I was going to be in a nice hotel, or in the only hotel room the company could find at 7 o'clock that night.

There was no worrying about catering, passenger issues, cabin cleaning, etc. The dispatchers were exceptional. I didn't have to worry about customs, or a million other details. The equipment I flew was head and shoulders above what I'm flying at the fractional (but, I'm flying a Cessna product :0 ).

My wfe and kids flew non-rev anytime they wanted. Never got stranded and went to Europe on a lark. I would have to have a zillion airline points to provide the leisure travel that we all took for granted for their entire lives until they left home. Even now, they have non-dependant passes until I die.

Yes, the commuters are the pits, and even being junior with the majors isn't that much fun, but there's a future at the majors that's brighter than a career with the fracs. A bankruptcy with the majors is also the pits, but there are no guarantees that the fractionals won't go through the same thing 27 years from now.

Do I hate working for a fractional? No. It's a very good job. Is it as good as a career at a 121 major? In my opinion, no.