Originally Posted by
Hedley
Right seat on a WB sounds like a lot less work.
We’ve also had a cultural shift in the industry. In decades past everyone upgraded as fast as they could at the regionals to build a resume. Once at a career company most people wanted to be the captain, advancement opportunities were far less frequent, and upgrades went more senior. Things are different now. Regional FO’s bypass upgrade because QOL is more important than money or gaining PIC time. At career companies the prestige of being a captain and a higher pay scale has been replaced by the emphasis being placed on days off and QOL when at work. Titles and money aren’t the motivators that they once were.
Another astute point, I'd say. For Millennials/Gen-Zers especially. Of course we all still want to be compensated fairly, but at my age (mid 30s), I'd rather stay a widebody FO at least until I could hold a good line as a CA. I'm fully invested in reaching the "getting paid not to fly" stage of my career.