Originally Posted by
Oskeewowow
+1
Just because you hold a line in LGA after a month doesn't mean you will upgrade in 2 years. Ask the 5 year CHQ CMH First Officers how close they are to an upgrade. It took me 3+ years here to hold a consistent line, and that was shear dumb luck. Next month I might go back to reserve for the foreseeable future. What you need to consider is if you can tolerate years on reserve work rules, and topped out FO pay. Please don't be charmed by the recent movement. You could be furloughed in a heartbeat and your longevity frozen, just like slumlav in 08.
If I had to do it all over again, I would've gone to Eagle or XJT. Even if it meant more than a year on furlough. Think big picture, not flash in the pants movement. Its not that I'm bitter about past choices, just that I wish I had more perspective.
Oh yeah, get ready to strike or be management contract hostages. Either way, prepare to not work in 2012 as a new hire. Know your history.
2-3 years ago no one was going to Eagle, upgrade was 9-10 years. Now it's the place to be today. Again have some perspective. Will it be that way in a year or two, especially if they are divested? Things are moving at a trickle now without much hiring to speak of. If you are here you see how short staffed we are across the board. I really do expect to see another substantial upgrade as soon as the IMSL is in place. (So end of the summer). That, combined with the new duty rules coming into play in the next 12-24 months alone will result in an upgrade for roughly 150-200 of our guys almost immediately, not to mention the staffing increases required at mainline that will pull a few away. I consider myself I fairly plugged in person. The facts are we're short handed on every seat. We need more captains. So more upgrades will happen when they can afford to take FO's offline again. I stand by my 2-3 years for everyone who is here right near the bottom now barring bankruptcy, buy out or loss of a code share.
Just remember that Tsunami's start at the bottom first.