Originally Posted by
Pancake
Beside pay, what makes flying for a cargo carrier better than a legacy pax carrier?
I'm new to the cargo threads, and have generally had my focus on DL. However, as I transition from active duty to a civilian career, I can't ignore the pay and general business model that seems less affected by economic downturns and rising fuel prices than the majors.
Pancake,
I was fortunate to be in a guard unit as a youngster and have every major airline represented. I haven't ever flown pax so I am just basing it on what other in my unit have told me and my observations of their schedules. Here's my take:
If you want to walk through the terminal with your uniform on and be admired, don't go cargo
If you want pass privileges or want to meet your spouse at work, don't go cargo.
If you mind your neighbors thinking you fly a caravan to destinations all over the world and ask if you get enough flight time could you fly commercially, don't go cargo.
If you only want to fly with the giant bright orb in the sky, don't go cargo.
OK, here's why I am really happy at purple. My schedule is very flexible and has something for everyone. Every airplane basically operates as a different airline with options, i.e. international, day domestic, night domestic, fly only out of your home town, chase the almighty coin, it is all there for you to choose . You may have to become senior to do some of this but that is your choice to do instead of upgrading. Some trips have deadheads, meaning that you have airline tickets to and or from a trip and it is on company time. This definitely benefits commuters. Layovers vary from 10 hours to over 80 hours(getting paid the entire time). A four day layover in Sydney or a weekend layover while you are laying over in your home down, doesn't stink. We have some of the best trips in the industry!! However, we have some of the worst! Then again, get senior and choose. Very quickly you can be a wide body f/o and have international options. The pay hasn't always been some of the best but it has been respectable.
My best advice is to find a bud you have flown with that flies cargo and see how his schedule/ QOL/pay is compared to what you want. Hearing it here helps but faceless inputs sometimes aren't exactly true to form. It is easier for some to embellish or think they are sitting better than others or that their opinion should be used as fact. Hope this info helps!
Pakage