Mid 40s - Smart to leave LCC for Legacy?
 

I'd like to get some thoughts from the APC community on this.

My husband is currently working his way through first year pay at an LCC.

At face value it would seem an easy choice for him to move over to one of the big 3 if the opportunity presented, but he's in his mid forties, and he worries he could end up a career FO if he went.

My thoughts are that we should do it because the pay and benefits are so much better.

We're light on our feet, and adventurous, so domiciles and such aren't playing a huge factor.

Any thoughts? I really appreciate it.

Depends really. Spirit payrates aren't bad at all. With the situation in the gulf ie ISIS, oil prices couldn't rocket causing potential slow growth and more outsourcing. It's really anybody's guess. I would chase QOL and not so much the almighty $$$. Life is short, be thankful for what you have. If I were in my mid 40's, id probably stay put and enjoy life... Work to live not the other way around. Just my .02

IMO I doubt he would be stuck as a lifer FO at any of the big 3 because of the amount of movement that is going to take place. It will be even better if you are willing to relocate to or commute to a junior base. A lot of people speculate that upgrades are going to be dropping to 10 years or less at any of the 3. Upgrades on the 190 at Airways are still at around 1 year I believe.

I'm in my mid-40s and just started at AA. I wasn't at a LCC though; was left seat at Eagle which was, until recently, a pretty good gig for the most part. I think I will upgrade in roughly 10 years IF things remain reasonably status quo. Regardless I should have decent QOL (slats is spot on w his advice IMO) in the right seat of pretty much any equipment in just a few years (maybe even making LCC captain pay) and have the last 5-10 in the left seat. Of course if he's gonna do it sooner is better. Giving up less than one year to hire on early in the wave would probably be a good move. JMO though of course.

Depends on the LCC. If he's at Frontier, Virgin or Allegiant, I would say it's probably a good move. Spirit would be a much tougher choice. JetBlue will probably be getting large improvements to their pay and benefits now that they have a union. More information is required to give the best answer. Just keep in mind that the best place today may not be in ten years time.

If domiciles aren't an issue then I don't think he'll have much to lose by leaving a LCC with less than a year seniority to go to a legacy.

Career FO at a major can be a pretty good deal, don't knock it.

I dont know what the LCC pay are but a career FO at Delta makes pretty good coin (albeit we are still way behind what we should get paid). You can have a great career and make mucho dinero as an FO at Delta.

TEN

Upgrades might be as soon as 8 yrs at AA.

It would be a tougher decision if he was making six figures at a regional carrier. But a newhire at an LCC? I'd leave yesterday.

First newhires at AA will probably be 737 and 757/767 lineholders one year, or sooner, after coming on property.

You can't game the system. Yesterday's rising stars are today's sinking ships. CEOs in this industry know that even 5 year plans are pipe dreams. Go where you will be happy. The rest is up to the airline gods.