Originally Posted by AllYourBaseAreB

Hi OP,

You will get more useful answers if we know where you live and your level of aversion to the guppy. Seniority progression is still quick to get off the bottom save for CLT and DFW.

Originally Posted by Yellowbrickroad

Would anyone who has actually started over please share your experience.

13 year Captain starting over looking for guidance an experienced hats ahead.

please be kind
looking for personal experiences from your preferred quality of life to staring from the bottom

pay loss
reserve
upgrade
family time
bases/commuting not commuting
any information is helpful

Originally Posted by AllYourBaseAreB

some of the ex-regional guys i fly with now were making crazy money and super senior, and many delayed their flows or applications. They took massive paycuts, QOL hits, etc.

obviously this is not the same as spirit guys thinking they had a career seat, but this liquidation wasnt exactly a rug pull either. Literally hundreds of senior Spirit guys have left over the past 2 years.

Originally Posted by rickair7777

On the guppy note... if you're on the older side I would probably suggest trying to start and finish probation on the bus, unless maybe you have prior guppy experience or a type. Bit of a hassle going from bus to 737, BTDT.

Originally Posted by Yellowbrickroad

Would anyone who has actually started over please share your experience.

13 year Captain starting over looking for guidance an experienced hats ahead.

please be kind
looking for personal experiences from your preferred quality of life to staring from the bottom

pay loss
reserve
upgrade
family time
bases/commuting not commuting
any information is helpful

Originally Posted by RStrawberry

OP is posting on behalf of an F9 CA. This isn’t a jobless person looking for a life raft but someone that’s lost faith in the F9 gig. Just for context.

Originally Posted by AAdvocate

How would you know this? How would we know this? This is the first and only post by the OP and his ID is "Yellowbrickroad". Why would it be anybody other then a recently liquidated Spirit pilot??? If it really is an F9 pilot then the OP needs to make that clear because the advice would most likely be different.

Originally Posted by Lobaeux

Thanks!! This is some great information and what a lot of us are looking for. A true kick in the teeth, but all we can do now is pick ourselves up, dust off, stay humble and remember NO ONE owes us a thing. As heartbreaking as this has been, it is also pretty exciting... new challenges, new experiences, new friends.

Originally Posted by rickair7777

I was at the regionals for 10+ years, so similar experience but not as severe.

pay loss: planned ahead, and it wasn't that bad anyway. First year should be north of $100K these days anyway, second year pushing $200k. I had planned ahead because it was a premeditated career move. Hopefully last Saturday didn't come as a complete surprise and you have some socked away. And hopefully your lifestyle is structured so you can do triage (I'm not afraid to enjoy my income, but I ensure that I can afford the house and basics if push comes to shove).

reserve: you adapt pretty quickly to the new reality. Worst part would be sitting reserve in base as commuter.

upgrade: Might still be able to snag one in a year or three if needed. Otherwise FO pay will quickly get in the ballpark of NK CA pay.

family time: Everybody adapts. We have facetime now. Might be able to bid overnights at home, I've done that on and off as available.


bases/commuting not commuting: If you're fortunate enough to have multiple CJO's in short order, you can prioritize domiciles in your decision. Otherwise it depends on your family circumstances... is moving in cards? I'd avoid long commutes, or commutes with limited flights, or routes with a lot of commuters. Avoid multi-leg commutes like the plague if possible.

Bottom line, you'll adapt and be fine and likely be better off at some point in the future (if you're not too old). A little seniority will open up many new options.