Not in flight school, but some time between getting my regional class date, and finishing IOE, I had squarely set my sights on ULCC. Hoped and prayed I could build time quick and go right seay to right seat. Perusing forums for info daily, talking to guys in DTW when I commuted, and it sounded like there was a lot more positivity in 2019 and early 2020. I didn’t really update apps or read much on the forums during covid but I’ve been back the last few months and it feels like a totally different environment. Yes I know it’s the forums, and I know every airline forum has started to look like this. But F9 looks…idk what’s going on over there and morale here seems to have tanked to non-existent, with attrition and retention as bad as my regional.

after a year of eagerly applying and updating I finally got an MTC coming up. I’m looking forward to it, but I can’t help but feel some cold feet at the same time. My “good seniority” here doesn’t really mean much, but at least I’m based at home. Second year pay is good at spirit (compared to a regional) but I could upgrade now and get an immediate big raise, then probably get in range of second year spirit pay based on the 90+ hours a month they keep giving us. I’d have to commute either way, but my young captain friends are all bailing for majors like your pilots are too.

anyway I like spirit and for a long time considered it a destination. But some days, even filtering the doom and gloom, it’s a bit scary.