Originally Posted by
Nevets
Seriously, I don't feel disrespected or under appreciated (other than pay) because I'm "regional FO." I don't get all these supposed slight of hand examples you guys have pointed out in this thread. How is doing a preflight or post flight being disrespected or under appreciated. And hotel key card what? What is that about? And who are these people that dont look at you as a "real pilot" or as an annoying apprentice? Honestly, I don't get it. Maybe some people are too sensitive or maybe some people are too sled-conscious or maybe your life is all about being an "airline captain" or maybe some people need to over compensate and feel that being a captain will do that for them? I really think people just reflect on themselves what they feel about themselves.
First off, you work for a completely different company with a completely different culture than the one I'm referring to. There are first officers (seniority dependent) and there are co-pilots (mostly experience dependent). Sometimes the 2 are mixed up. Your experience is clearly different. But you can't tell me that pay is the only motive for moving to the left seat. The job becomes progressively easier with respect to effort when you switch seats. You don't have to play the chameleon working with bi-polar individuals running around in the rain and elements doing walk arounds. This is not opinion but a fact of the matter.
If you like doing walk arounds, you can do them all day long as a captain. If you don't like doing them as an F.O. you have no choice. I can probably count on one finger the number of times a captain volunteered to do the duties of the F.O. This would lead one to believe that it is desired to not have to do them.
The point is, chasing a quick upgrade isn't just for getting PIC time or getting paid more. There are many perks to being assigned to the left seat. And getting stuck with no choice in the right seat can be a drag. I think most could agree with that. But I'm sure someone has a completely differing view on all of this.