121 pic or UlCC
 

Currently, having recently upgraded at a major west coast regional with a convenient base location, my goal is to join one of the big 6 airlines, ideally Alaska or Southwest. Although I previously interviewed at Southwest and was turned down, I reapplied during the recent window, but they won't be hiring for a few months. Now, I'm debating whether to stay, accruing turbine PIC hours, or jump to F9 to avoid the metering. The downside of joining F9 would involve potential commuting and all-day trips, impacting my quality of life. While F9 has bases out west, uncertainties about future developments make it a consideration. On the positive side, joining F9 would mean leaving the regional for a major with accompanying benefits. However, the trade-off is dealing with commuting instead of waiting it out to gain valuable time as a captain, anticipating a call from one of the big 6. Despite my current reasonable quality of life, bidding for reserve grants most desired days off and some weekends. Would it be short sighted to not try at a ulcc just to gain turbine pic if that requirement does ever come back? I am fortunate to have 38 years left in this carrier as it stands now so time is not too much of a concer but I don't want to waste it.

Stay where you are for the time being, and continue to accumulate TPIC. Apply with carriers, primarily, that will offer as close to the QOL you are seeking. In the mean time, you have your seniority, and your QOL. In life, settling for the sake of settling leads to unhappiness. After all, you have 38 years to go... perhaps a bit more is age 67 is the new age 65.

Check the 1000 TPIC box.

I don't know if it needs to be 1,000 but get 500 while you wait to hear back from WN. If you end up needing to go somewhere for another type rating to trigger the scoring algorithms at the Big 3, you will be ahead of all the people who skipped upgrading.

At least 500 TPIC at this point. With the retirement wave probably peaking and ramping down, 1000 might be a safer number since that's historically been the gold standard. Might not want to go to a ULCC and then get stuck if the competitive TPIC goalposts move soon after (that might happen with age 67).


Also I'd only prioritize SW or AS if you live in a base where they are the only option. If Big 3 are a practical option, do that. More retirements, different airplanes... 38 years is a loooong time to fly the 'ol guppster. Although if the HA merger goes through, AS will have at least one WB fleet.

Apply to any major where you would be happy to work at for the rest of your career and update your hours at least monthly. Let THEM determine when you've upgraded sufficiently to get the call.

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
-Wayne Gretzky

Get the 1000 hrs TPIC. Then look at the horizon - with 1000 hrs TPIC you might already be in the top 10% of candidates. What's the next biggest resumer fluff you can get? Part 121 CKA would be GREAT. That's not on the horizon? I'd chase a LCC and get more experience on a larger jet and a new type rating. That job can also be a 'destination job.' Keep you foot on the gas until you get to your final 'destination' job. I'd recommend pressing on to a Big 3 job for the option of doing w/b flying. Most try and those that can hold it with decent seniority often stay on it for years. Some guys do it for their entire career. It has i'ts downside (less seniority and sleep cycle issues) but the most common advice is "it's a different airline." It's LIGHT YEARS different than doing domestic n/b flying. Reread the comment about guys who NEVER do domestic n/b flying. Or the guys who take the Captain upgrade but say they're going w/b Captain as soon as they can. Former FO, who didn't care for 767 w/b flying, is chomping at the bit to give the 787 a shot. At worst he'll have two years on it and he can bid back. If he decides he likes it he's on the best fleet doing the best flying in the industry.

You're 27? So at least 2,000 hrs at a minimum. At least one type rating. At worst you'll be 30 w/3,000-4,000 hrs and 500-1000 hrs TPIC. That's a top 10% candidate on paper. They want to meet you to see if the candidate they see on paper is the individual that walks in the door.

If you got hired by AA at 28, based on today's data, you'd retire as #143. Hired on your 29th birthday? #256. Hired at 30? #385. 31? 515. Delta and United might have similar projections. Is one of the Big 3 within driving distance? That's your career goal.

Good luck.

I hear or read comments by other young people about QOL and commuting to a job. Improve your resume. Suck it up now to gain more over the long term. Is the payoff guaranteed? Life isn't like that. But putting as many cards in your favor typically is a strong move in ANY job, sport, etc.

Commuting? That's the easy part. In years past we moved. Rented a truck, threw a bed, dresser, chair, desk + chairs, clothes, kissed my GF goodbye and off I went. Buddy moved from Long Island to LA. "Know anybody?" Big laugh "nope, just the guy who'd gone out there and said "hey, there's a FO job I can get you out here?" Jumped in his car and drove to LA. Commuting? LOL. No. That didn't exist. Couldn't buy tickets. Figure life out as it comes to you. It paid off for him, retired from a Big 3 airline about #30-50? Pay, days off, work rules, location? Most of us just focused on the best opportunity to improve our resume AND position ourselves for the next job up the ladder. For you it's - 500 hrs TPIC minimum, 1000 hrs preferred, CKA...no CKA? LCC.

Report back in 1-3 years if not sooner.

Good luck.

That's been my concern if 67 goes through the competitive mins are gonna go up so it would be good to have TPIC to differentiate myself from all the other do's that have hopped from the regional to ULCC route.

I have apps out at the big 3 plus AS and WN. Been trying to update after every chance. Also I do have a few meet and greets schedule at NGPA this month so hopefully that will help a bit.