The fact is that I had not updated my applications for months, but the day after the TRO dropped I updated my apps, called my friends for recommendations, and got 2 interviews almost immediately. None of that would have happened if the company hadn't sued us and I might still be flying for spirit today if it hadn't happened. I took a pay cut the day I quit and by my calculations over my remaining 18 years of flying I'll make up to $200,000 LESS where I'm at.

I freely admit that being a member of the check of the month club made it a lot easier to do 2 consecutive years on first year pay. I paid those dues over the previous 26 years and one result of the choices I made is that now I have the luxury of quitting and taking a pay cut if I don't like my boss.

Everyone has their own preferences and reasons and I wouldn't dream of criticizing anyone for joining, staying with, or leaving Spirit. I had a good time and learned a lot flying the yellow bus and the pilot group was almost universally made up of good people I enjoyed working with. Awesome pilot group, possibly the best possible group of people to help me transition from mil to civilian flying and I'm in debt to those amazing pilots who taught me how to fly all over again. Still, mgt crossed a line that was to me intolerable so I left as soon as I got an offer elsewhere that offered essentially the same pay. Putting my money where my mouth is, I don't even update my logbook anymore because that's how important management practices and labor relations are to me when compared to other things like salary and benefits.