Hmm. If the risk we're talking about is being a pass-through job rather than a career airline, then I guess my answer is a qualified 'yes.' A yes with an asterisk.

Yes to the extent any single-type, narrowbody, domestic, relatively small, low cost carrier will ever be seen as a career airline.

I can't imagine that there are a large number of young aspiring pilots who dream of spending a 40 year airline career at a low cost carrier... any low cost carrier. It'd be like some MBA-educated stud dreaming of managing a Dollar Store one day. I suppose it happens, but it's not common.

A career at a low cost carrier will be a viable option for some for a variety of different reasons, but it'll never be the Brass Ring.

With all this being said, Spirit did well in their latest contract. They have a decent pay scale and decent work rules. I know several people of varying levels of seniority over there and they seem mostly happy. The story I hear is that they face a harsh management style hell-bent on pinching pennies no matter what the cost. Sound familiar?

Aside from the bitter relationship with management, the other factor that can't be overlooked when considering a career with an ULCC is the less than stellar relationship we have with our customers. It really takes a toll on me, personally, to hear the constant complaints from our customers. This is part and parcel to the ULCC model. If they're not at least a little disappointed with the product, you're probably doing it too well and spending a little too much money.

The key to a successful ULCC airline is finding the perfect balance between providing a product that's cheep, but not so shoddy as to cause passengers to book with a different carrier. The same principle apples to hiring and keeping employees.

Like I said before, lots of moving parts.