Originally Posted by
galaxy flyer
If you interview, don’t be hesitant to ask about trip planning, handling, schedule and vacation, pilots per plane (4 is nice, 5 or 6 better, if lots of international), how they handle cleaning and stocking the planes, flight attendants, what hotel chains they use (Marriott seems to be best, but it varies), how the manage training, class of travel to position, in addition to th$ usual questions. The airlines are pretty simple, but every flight department is different. Get a read on how they are to travel with. The department I was in immediately struck me as a enjoyable gig—good people who made trips sail by. It remained so the 12 years I was there. There are plenty of departments like that and plenty that that the pilots can’t stand each other.
GF
Definitely varies.
As far as stability goes, I think the airline pilots are alittle quick to say "mines better".
The airline industry has been historically unstable. TWA pilots not getting the call back until 14 years later might be an extreme example, but it happened. Pan Am, Eastern, Braniff. It's silly to think it can never happen again.
Meanwhile corp flight departments are often tied to 'downturn resistant' industries. We flew ag-pharma sales people into small towns. Even in the worst of times people still need food and drugs. 08' wasn't even a blip on our company radar financially, except for the hundred+ airline pilot apps received.
There are +/-'s to both. The airlines aren't a panacea for every lifestyle.