Originally Posted by
beachtaco
Interesting situation. I'm debating a similar move myself and would love some input and opinions. Currently at HAL for almost 4 years. It's a great company, I just really don't like living in Hawaii (high cost of living, island fever, bad schools, etc), especially being so far from family who live on the east coast. We are for sure moving to the mainland so I will be commuting to Hawaii going forward. I can pretty much get the schedule I want. Debating if its worth it to leave for SWA or another airline and not have to commute so far. Possibly even move to base depending on where I would get picked up and what bases they have. It is worth starting over somewhere else? Ideally we would end up on the east coast, but going west coast for now to make the commute not as horrendous.
Not even a close discussion, that commute would wear anyone out physically and emotionally. All the majors are hiring and almost all of them make NYC their junior base. Living on the east coast is not the west coast, but seniority climb is spectacular as it's eternally junior. Europe flying at any of the majors from the East Coast is the easiest flying, most remunerated flying in the US airline system.