Originally Posted by
Airdale
Some love this career, some hate. Depends on where the luck falls.
Me personally, the first chance I get at a normal job making a decent wage outside of this rat race, I'm gone. I LOVE flying. I can't even describe the feeling I get from flying. But I HATE this career. I'm sick of it, and I've only been in it a bit longer that you (the OP). I hate displacements, I hate commuting, I hate reserve and I especially hate 6 on 2 off reserve blocks where I have to commute.
Would upgrading make life a bit better? Yes, in a lot of ways, but am I willing to do this for another 6 years to get there? I think in another 6 months I'm gonna rip my head off.
I started this month off with 3 uncommutable trips. Two 4 days and one 3 day. I slept in my bed with my wife 3 times in 3 weeks. I love flying...but I hate flying for a living.
Where the luck falls is an important thought. Many posts on here about people hating the career and how it is better on the other side. You do not see too many about people liking the career. If someone writes that they like the deal they have someone will bash them and where they work.
Luck is a part of it, but skill is important too. Every airline has its share of people that finally get called for upgrade and wash out of it because they did not prepare. You know some of those people are the ones on here complaining about the industry. Many of the successful ones are out playing golf or enjoying themselves on days off so you will not see too many posts out of these people. I and I am sure many others have watched others make very stupid decisions that you knew would come out wrong. Leaving a turbo prop regional that has an 8 month upgrade to go to Eagle to fly a jet. People did that. Now they complain. I know many that quit a turbo prop regional while in the captain seat before they had the 1000 PIC to go to the regional jet. DUMB! Everyone should know that if you agree to work somewhere after the hiring wave has been going for a while will not be as happy as the ones that got in the first few months of it. Those are the ones that complain the loudest on these boards.
I like the career and it has worked out for me so far. I upgraded in one year at a turbo prop regional and upgraded in a year at Allegiant well under the age of thirty and have been making over 100K for a few years now. Lots of days off and no overnights. A bunch of fools will bash me but consider you have many others that have done better than me that will not post here. Many got quick upgrades at SWA and Jetblue as well. My point is many of the posts are one sided on message boards. Every single airline is bashed. If Allegiant gets the pay rates beyond industry standard some fool will complain that they do not have wide bodies or first class seating. UPS is a garbage place to work because of the night flying. SWA is garbage because they just fly in the lower 48. You can not win in the eyes of the pilots on these boards.