Originally Posted by
FlyFast52
I have a CJO from both UPS and United. I don't separate from active duty until July so I fully expect that class dates will be equal. I am 40 and have no mil retirement. My family is in Lexington, KY 1.5 hr drive to SDF (outside the UPS reserve callout, but easy drive). Wife's family is in N. Virginia 25 min from Dulles. I am highly concerned about job stability/retirement but also interested in a better QOL if stability and retirement was close. My wife's does want to live near her family in N. Virginia so even if I work with UPS we may decide to relocate from KY to VA after a couple years if I go with UPS. If I roll the dice on UAL stability, how early could I expect to upgrade to NB captain to offset pay difference? UPS upgrade time from what I gather is currently 4.5-5 years. I don't have a gauge to compare the value of non-b$#%ing boxes, commuting, and top pay vs an unstable industry, the ability to bid reserve and flight benefits. Advice? TIA
good luck with your decision. You speak of QOL and then ask about how early can you expect to upgrade to CA. Quick upgrades and QOL shouldn’t even collide in the same forum, let alone the same post. There is a reason why it goes junior. You seek advice and here’s what I got. Pick either company. Be an FO on whatever fleet offers you the best seniority and wait for your QOL to improve. When you can bid 50-60% or better as a CA, then make the jump. Want to make money? Pick where you can make CA quick, do it, and then enjoy working a solid 18 days a month and watching your bank account grow and in 5-10 years you can think about QOL. Maybe.