sargeanb

Hello all, I have a very common question, but bear with me.

I'm 40, in the top 1/4 seniority at my regional. I've been with my company for 15 years. 7-8 years ago when I was a new captain I was charging hard to go to mainline. Unfortunately I did have two 121 checkride failures years earlier. I figure that's the only reason I never got a call.

I decided to better myself within my own company. Joined the training dept and I've been a sim instructor for a couple of years. It's a great job. Averaging 19-20 days off a month...lots of family time with my little ones. I'm driving to work and I enjoy teaching much more than line flying. I figure if I stay here for the duration I'll max out at around 160K or so a year before retirement, and I have enough time for a side gig to bring in more money.

Something else to note, my wife is a flight ops assistant for a ACMI cargo carrier where we live, a job she does not want to give up if we needed to move.

If I move on, the only positive I can think of is money. I'd make 2-3 times more at a major over time. But...commuting/moving, crashpads, redeyes, less days off, and being at the bottom of a much longer list. I don't think it's worth it.

The reason I ask is many of us "lost decade" types are getting calls now. Considering all that...if you were in my shoes, would you still try to go to mainline?

Excargodog

Depends entirely on the prospects where you are right now. We are going to lose a number of regionals. The survivors I am reasonably confident about are Skywest and Republic. The others are iffy. You have a quarter century left in your career. Most regionals will likely fold in the next 5-10.

PotatoChip

“I don't think it's worth it.”
Pretty much sums it up don’t you think?

rickair7777

Age 40? GTFO!

I'd do it at age 50 knowing what I know now.

jaxsurf

You can make $160k and be in the top 30% relative seniority by your third year at the legacies (fleet dependent). Maybe sooner at AA or UA than DAL, but I only know DAL.

But yeah, staying at a regional for another 25 YEARS to make it an even 40 altogether is probably better.

TransWorld

My advice. If you were 62+ I would recommend staying put. At age 40, I would say go, NOW.

Whether you commute or move, is up to you. But there are so many advantages, I think you should. Three years as a FO you will be making $160K. By then or shortly after, you will be moving into the CA seat. You will be making $250K at the minimum, and even more if you pick up premium or eventually fly wide body.

Whether your wife’s situation has one of you commute or moves with you and finds another position (her experience sounds extremely marketable), you are going to do so much better.

As others said, in the next couple of years, most of the regionals will crater or merge. I would not want to be banking on that position you have. The company many not be there.

TiredSoul

How about the ACMI your wife works for?
You’ll pretty much be on $130k in year 2-3.
Review your own post and consider the changes:

Atlas vs staying with my current regional...

The most junior 74 FO CVG base is from Jan ‘21

6ix9ineYearFlow

The industry is volatile. I feel like as you move up the "tiers" of airlines ... let's say, for example Regional > U/LCC or ACMI > Legacy & Major Cargo ... there's inherent risk at each level, but the regionals probably carry the most risk for reasons I'm sure you're already aware of. If the QOL at your regional checks all the boxes, you definitely should consider staying, but know that the risk of the operation staying solvent is a gamble. Likewise, starting over at the bottom of a seniority list also carries risk. That said, with the amount of retirements and/or growth at the majors, there's a level of insulation/furlough protection just due to the industry dynamics right now. I'd definitely lean towards leaving if I were in your shoes...

oldmako

Go. Go. Go.

I rode the airline biz on the wrong end of the hiring wave, the US economic waves, and the wrong end of the seniority list for the last 30+ years. In balance, my mainline experiences (plenty of them BAD) were still worth all the BS I was subjected to while there. I get it that guys don't like the WB experience, but for me, WB flying was some of the most rewarding of my career. I loved it. MOST of the overnights in EU, SA, and Asia knocked the hell out of those in the domestic system. Not that I didn't have a HELL of a lot of fun during my "first" flying gig, I did and have the scars (and bills) to prove it. But intl flying was the most rewarding and easiest part of my career. A 3-day trip is two times through security, not 3. Two preflights, not 5-8+. Zero swaps. At least 24 hours in the hotel. You won't have that opportunity at the Regionals, and flying into YYZ doesn't count. The newest, fanciest RJ doesn't hold a candle to an old and beat-up triple 7. The 3-day (26 hours pay) NRT BUNKY trip out of DC goes HYPER senior. Some of those guys have 777 Captain seniority! There are a dozen reasons for that. And if you'd rather flog the yoke all day you can bid the Bus or the Guppy.

I don't have a crystal ball, but it really looks as though the airlines are FINALLY setting up for a prolonged period of decent earnings and stability - once this covid mania has passed of course. Money and movement. And along with that, opportunity and security.

Mother U put 16 percent of my earnings into my 401K. Read that again. 16Pct. How much is your RJ employer offering? Then consider that your hourly wage will be significantly higher than it was in just a few years. You'll quickly have the ability to put away even more money and then RETIRE early. How is that not a win-win? As cool as flying is, having enough coin to leave on your own terms is even better.

ALPA at my Regional was essentially feckless. And while ALPA at mainline was also feckless it did offer significant improvements over my commuter-pilot life. The contract was an inch thicker. My commuter Chief Pilots used to call and question my decisions twice a year when I was wrangling The Dash, Captain's Authority was a joke. My Chief Pilots at U didn't even know who I was and couldn't be bothered.

You're lucky enough to be in a win-win position. Far enough along that you've made a nice nest at your current spot should you decide to stay put. But don't sell yourself short. Mainline offers opportunities as well. Those busted check-rides likely won't matter at this point. The airlines are growing desperate and lord knows you waded through enough BS to make up for them.

I could go on, but I won't. Best of luck with your decision.

Rama

Not sure what kind of a retirement your company gives, but the legacy and many LCC 401k plans will surprise you in a 20+ year career.