Would you leave CAL for NJA?

[Apeman]

As a recipient of having to take LTD, it IS taxable income at your current tax rate! Your 60% quickly becomes less than 50%.

 

[VmaxFlyR]

Tough call. Without a crystal ball, no one can tell you what to do. However, I'd definitely stick with CAL for a couple of reasons. First, I think the 121 world is at the bottom of a cycle. I don't think it'll get any worse. Second, there's a good chance that over your career, CAL pilots will negotiate some big improvements. Thirdly, NJA is about to enter into a deal that could tie them up for another 8.5 years. They could really get hammered by inflation. What you see, is all you'll be getting for about 10 years.

NetJets' QOL is good, but a 121 carrier can offer a lot of things that the NJA guys can NEVER have based on the kind of operation it is. You'll be cleaning planes, toting bags and flying into tiny little airports for the rest of your life. Doesn't matter how senior you get. You're never going to fly high time turn-arounds 12 days/month.

As far as commuting. Move to your base and give yourself the biggest increase in QOL imagineable. Do it while you and your family are young.

Pretty adept agrument, Mooneymite.
If you're looking short term, it looks like you'll make a bit more at NJA as a FO, but if you're looking at a 30+ year career, the greenbucks will be at Continental. The lack of COLA at NJA will negate raises after a few years. Also consider that no matter how long you fly at NJA, you'll probably be working half of all the weekends, until the day you retire--the general schedule you begin with is pretty much the one you'll retire with, for better or worse (kinda like a wife?) Weekly commutes are a b*tch at CAL, but then so are 7 day, basically unscheduled, trips at NJA. As Mooneymite advised, consider a move to within 2 hours drive time to a CAL base. A winter place in HOU, and a summer cabin in SE Michigan?
In general, they're two different animals--got a coin?

 

[yankee]

You shouldn't drink and post at the same time - you sound like an idiot. This is an informational forum and he asked some legit questions. People do make career-rated mistakes from time to time and he is asking some good questions. Thanks for adding NOTHING to this discussion.

Johnson....sounds like a "ROD"... You mean to tell me an educated person with alllll that training to get to Continental is not smart enough to research the QOL and work conditions at continental. I'm pretty sure he checked the interview gouge!!! ...and I sound like an idiot!?? SOrry everyone! I think I hurt jrods feelings.

Heres my contribution to the forum and my advice.....stay at COA!!!! Live in BASE!

 

[CRAWDADDY]

I thought the trolls left this board after the contract...