The 91 job wasn’t awful, just not ideal for family life.

The advantages of 121 is a predictable schedule, ability to manipulate my schedule most of the time, pay is better (FO pay is better than CA pay at Corporate) for sure even without factoring in retirement (which is better). The ability to just be a pilot, not wearing 5 hats. The likelihood of long term stability, (not 100%) but better than my experience in Corporate for sure. Knowing that I’ll always have that seniority #. Knowing that I can just be a #. Having a union was more important than I thought, pilots are definitely able to bargain better as a group rather than as individuals. Flying with a lot of different people has been better experience than I thought (because of stronger adherence to SOP’s).

I could probably list a lot more but you get the point. It’s been 4 years since I made the switch and I’m still excited and proud to be here. I’ve never looked back and thought maybe I should’ve stayed. All that being said what’s right for me may not be for everybody and I’m sure that some will find the Corporate pilot lifestyle suits them better.