Corporate vs Airlines

[griffith30@mchs]

Lots of good input on corporate vs airline.I've flown most of my career corporate and got into the airline game late.Airline job is a different job entirely if you have to commute.I was told that if you have to commute you have two jobs;one you love and the other one sucks.At least with SW you can usually commute in on day one of the pairing and home on the last.Depends on where you're based and where you live,of course.My airline has seen fit to construct pairings so that you start early on day one and end late on the last day.It's enough to make me miss corporate.Yeah,sitting around the FBO in TEB is no fun but neither is sitting reserve.Don't even mention the crashpad thing.I had my last roomie in college and that was a long time ago! Good luck,must be tough to have two tough choices.

 

[Bally]

Thanks for all the great comments guys (gals)! I know I am very very fortunate that I have a job given the number of our fellow pilots out of work. All in all, I look forward to an invitation to a class at Southwest Airlines where I will finally see first hand the other side.

I am however, glad that my leaving my current employer will open a space for another pilot to fly the mighty BBJ at a great company. The net effect will be one additional pilot job among a very professional group of folks.

I am happily on my way to some po-dunk town in Russia that I have never heard of. With four RON's there, I guess the soup de jour will be Vodka this week. This is especially true since I am flying with my CP (just kidding). I will be off line since the Rooskies do not have internet access.

Keep warm.

 

[viking737]

Left corporate in 1984, and haven't regretted it one second!
However , now in my 18th year with AA, it looks like a bumpy road ahead! I am sure SWA is a great airline, but I prefer
the mixture of flying that comes with an international carrier.

 

[JetPilot500]

Here is my experience:

After being a CFI (until I had 2700TT), I got a job flying passenger charter in a Falcon 20 as FO. Eventually, got experience flying King Air's and Citation's too. and eventually Captain in all of those planes. Had this job for a few years. Typical charter B.S.. Broken planes and "rules are for the weak" kinda stuff. Not my idea of fun...but the experience was good and necessary.

Then, VIOLA! I got a job flying a G-IV for one of the largest companies in the world. I thought it would be great. I expected it to be everything and more that I wished my last job was. While maintenance was great, I found the there was still an attitude of "rules are for the weak." Gone all the time (Big Airplane = Big Suitcase). Gone 12 days and only fly 2 days, or less. I quickly decided it wasn't for me. I found an airline job so I thought I would try that.

I then get a job with Midwest Express flying a DC-9. No move or commute necessary...thank God! Big pay cut...about 50%, but I was ok with that. I loved the job! Midwest Express had been profitable for the last 12 years and never furloughed a pilot, even during the early 90's. I felt secure. I enjoyed the schedules, but not reserve (but that was only temporary). I flew to like 20 different places, but that was about the same as my corporate stuff. 3 or 4 days of flying followed by 3 or 4 days off....terrific! Couldn't ask for more. I loved it and planned to retire there if I could. Then a month and a half after 9/11, I got furloughed.

Quickly found a job flying charter for the time being.

Then, a flying job with a Fortune 100 company came along. This company turned out to be everything I wanted in a corporate job. A good mix of domestic and international flying. Yes some trips vary in length, but not too bad. Most of my trips are planned way in advance so it's almost like having a schedule. No "pop-up" trips...unless a very rare emergency occurs, and I'll be happy to help out. Great equipment. Profitable company. 15-20 days off per month. No reserve. No commuting. I hope this job lasts! I turned down my recall at Midwest because of this job.

My point. Maybe you don't have the right corporate job. I thought I had a "Cream of the Crop" corporate job, and I didn't like it. I don't get paid as much as the first corporate job, but I'm making more than I would make at Midwest (and they paid pretty decent for an airline). Midwest is not Southwest, I know. Since you are in the pool at SWA, maybe you have some time. Put some feelers out there in corporate, you might find what you are looking for...they aren't all the same.

Good Luck,
JetPilot500

 

[Old Crow]

It's the same question over and over... Is giving up the corporate pay worth the schedule of an airline.

That's all it really comes down to. The benifits of a good corporate job far out weigh the airlines. However, the real benefit of an airline is that **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** good schedule. It's worth millions to some, worth pennies to others.

I was a captain with a fortune 100 company and went to the airlines against my good judgement simply because of the schdule and future security. I question myself, yet I always come back to the same answer... MONEY. I took a 60% pay cut and am paying for it dearly. I also know when I'm leaving home and when I'm coming home and that's where I make up that loss.

If you can adapt to a new financial lifestyle fairly easily... SWA is my opinion.
If you like the things you have and don't mind the schedule. I'd say you should stay put.

Good luck bud.

 

[mdf]

I have also been corporate my whole career. In the last few months I have been to Aruba, Grand Cayman, Bermuda, Nassau, and Cabol San Lucas. All with private islands, beaches, ect.,ect.. I sit there for days watching people play on the beach with their children while mine are miles away. I also get to change plans with my family on a regular basis because of pop up trips. I have worked for the wealthy individual and the big global drug company. All have pro's and con's. All will downsize at a moments notice. None have real schedules. I am going to be taking a paycut when SWA calls. I have planned ahead for that, and I feel it is definately worth it. I look forward to working with some great people. I look forward to MDW, BNA, ELP, ect. All right here in the USA, the greatest place on earth. When I leave for class my wife will be smiling knowing how are lives are going to improve. Just my two cents worth.

Good Luck, go with your gut..