As a retiree (not airline) now at NetJets, I also thought NetJets would be an interesting retirement job. My past career allows me a little more financial flexibility that some of the younger co-workers I fly with, but does not lessen my interest in getting paid a market-based wage. The one thing that I would keep in mind is that when you show up for work your past success or financial resources have no bearing on how much you will work. Your schedule is just as heavy as that of the pilot behind in his house payments and trying to put three kids through college. As a result of the current labor tensions, scheduling has adopted punitive work schedules that play havoc with any normal person's rest cycles. While this will probably abate somewhat in months to come, my personal forecast is that 12-14 hour days will become the new standard, regardless of when a new contract is approved. Additionally, morale throughout the company is abysmal, and while a new contract will improve some of the morale, I believe the issue will have a longer impact than most people I talk to. New contract or not, the management philosophy (and ability) is not likely to change quickly, and the pilots will continue to bear the brunt of that no matter what they get paid.
If it sounds like I don't like the work, that's not true. It is interesting flying and the pilots are a good group of people. However, the current situation is so corrosive that I would not join this company if I had it over to do today. The upgrade times are long, the schedules are rigid and awful, and compensation picture is unclear. My recommendation is to sit out the next six months to a year and then check back to re-assess the future at NetJets.
