Originally Posted by
bluespoon
First I have to say that obviously legacy’s offer more diverse flying opportunities, and my argument assumes you’re ok with a single fleet domestic flying. The movement that we saw last few years will never be seen again. Even if you go to United or AA you’ll never have the general seniority you might have now assuming you’re at least half way up your current company’s list. You probably fly more at the low cost carriers due to soft pay not being as good as at the legacy’s but you have just as much if not more time off especially with good seniority. At a certain point all you care about is control over your schedules, spending time with your family is priceless. At the end of the day the Spirit captains or seniors FOs leaving for the legacy’s aren’t exactly happy or they would have left long ago, they’re forced to go to a legacy and they’re losing out on a lot. Don’t forget, just because you recovered your pay and QOL in 2 or 3 years(unlikely), it doesn’t mean you wouldn’t have gained even more at the place you left. The industry has always been about having good seniority.
You’re missing the real point of diversity at the Big 3. Your relative seniority on the systemwide list is irrelevant if you’re content to stay a NB pilot for life. Someone with 2 years in the right seat of a NB is approaching 50% on that fleet at any coastal base at UAL. As people bid off to bigger equipment and new hires come in behind them. If one chooses to stay on the NB for life between left and right seat they will move up the lists relatively quickly. If you get tired of multiple leg days you have the option of going WB and dozing for dollars. Anyone with under the age of 55 is losing money staying at an ULCC no matter how many years they have at their current company.