Originally Posted by F9 Driver

You don't have a choice to make until you get a job offer(s).

Do your homework on both, try to get at least one and, if you're fortunate enough to be hired by both, make a "pros v cons" chart or flip a coin. With low pay QOL is everything.

Once you get to one of these ULCCs don't get comfortable. Learn as much as you can and have some fun, but if total career earnings and international widebody flying are what you're looking for - keep the applications with the Legacies current, and work your contacts.

The Air Wisconsin pilots were once very happy flying BAE-146s out of Denver for jobs that topped at just north of 100K. They were home almost every night, and had a nice niche carved out for themselves. Some of the Major airline pilots gave them grief, but $100K was enough to live on and they were happy. Nobody's business but theirs. Then UAL filed.

All of a sudden the 146 went away, and commuting to PHL on our red-eye to start work a couple of hours after landing, in a CRJ for $100K (or less), took the polish right off that apple. The #1 pilot from their list jumped to F9 almost immediately.

The moral is: Figure out what's important to you, and go for it. But try and make every stop along the way someplace you'd hang your hat for the rest of your career - in case you have to or decide to.

I've got no answer to your question. It's a matter of personal choice. I came to F9 with plenty of total & jet PIC time, but no 121 time. I figured I'd get that box checked, and go to DAL or Alaska (the only two that appealed to me for my own reasons). I got here just before we announced the Airbus order (then 9/11 & Legacy bankruptcies happened), and was off to the races with a two year upgrade, a bunch of out-of-contract pay raises / bonuses, a PS ride to/from work in my car and a fun group of people to work with. I'm not leaving now - but that's just me.

Good luck & study hard!