Originally Posted by Qotsaautopilot

I’m at a ULCC in the left seat. It is true ULCC pilots can make the same as legacy pilots.



The thing that my fellow ULCC pilots fail to include is that to make that money you have to work the system, work more, or both compared their legacy counterparts just flying their line. Lower retirement and no profit sharing. Add also widebody flying and compensation at the legacies and it’s not a comparison. Seniority movement was fast but the legacy retirements are coming and seniority movement at the legacies will be as fast or faster than the ULCC moving forward simply because of the hiring demographics of the ULCC pilots already hired.



I find that many ULCC pilots have a bit of Napoleon syndrome. It’s fine to be happy with what you have but legacy compensation it is not. I have a seniority percentage that’s not worth giving up because of the age demographics hired at delta and United the last couple years. I’d move fast for many years at a legacy and hit a seniority wall when I turn about 60 years old with most guys senior to me being younger. AA might be a different story but for a new hire or junior FO at a ULCC is highly likely to have more career progression and make much more at a legacy.