Airhoss

You can only plan based on current information. I guess my best advice is to expect the worst and plan for the worst. The worst happened to folks like UALSUXs my experience was not as bad however I am still suffering the consequences of the lost decade. Hopefully I am starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. And am fully expecting the next freight train at any moment. That has been the story of my career.

In this business no matter who you work for. You've got to live sensibly.

woomaster

I'd like to see your W2. Unless you are on the Global 18 day schedule, no way in hell you are making $110k. And definitely no way you upgrade to the global meaning max cap captain pay for you would be $166k on the 18 day.

I'm a 7/7 14yr captain and my w2 was $136k last year....with all of the holiday/OT perks. Unless of course you are a G carryover guy with the golden pay parachute. Good luck, you can have my NJA captain spot....I'm out of here the first chance I get. Money's not everything and I've had about enough of the dog and pony show at NJA.

NJAXRated

I'm a year 9 SIC on the falcon and I made 106k last year with overtime but no per diem. Easily obtainable if you are on the 18 day all year. No voluntary extended days for me and one after midnight.

woomaster

I'll buy that, but not the $190k with an upgrade.

F16Driver

Hope you make it out woomaster. I left NJ for a major and it was easily the right choice. It's funny seeing NJ paychecks being compared, especially when NJ pilots are working harder for it then anyone else. The flying at NJ was interesting. However, it was all the other stuff that sucked (loading and unloading of bags/golf clubs, vacuuming, wiping down tables,windows, cabinets, and toilets, taking out trash, clearing customs (a much more involved ordeal in the corporate world), restocking (and throwing out expired items), getting catering, crew food, coffee, ice, magazines, and newspapers, getting lav serviced, getting water uploaded or downloaded, getting all unfreezable items out of aircraft when the temps dropped, etc., etc.)

Life is much simpler now. Plus, I make more and I'm home more (including my commute).

osuav8r

The united guys hired late 90's, early 2000's got run through the ringer hard. While I don't doubt the numbers posted at all, they probably don't reflect what you could expect as a new hire if you were hired today (assuming no furlough!). I would guess you'd clear 65-75k the first year and right at $100k in your second year without working too hard. Last year as a 7 year 737 fo, including the retro/signing bonus, my w2 was like $184k with about $5000 in per diem on top of that if you consider that income. About 30k of that was retro, so subtract that out and I cleared $154k or so on 7th year pay as a 737 fo. It WAS an exceptional year and I picked up a lot of flying and had quite a bit bought for training etc, so even this probably isn't necessarily realistic. On year 8 pay, Ive cleared $137k so far with a month and a half to go in the year, so $150k or so, give or take with some high credit months over 100 hours and a few at around 87 hours credit. If you go to guam as a new hire, you get second year pay and $3000 per month for housing allowance. A friend of mine from college took that deal and I suspect he'll clear $100k or so plus the 36k in housing allowance. Not too shabby for a probation year. If you have a decent amount of time left in your career, the money is there if you are willing to take the risk of starting at the bottom of the list, but it can be ugly if the economy hiccups as the legacy United guys have testified to.

Packrat

There is no question that over the long haul of a career, a fractional pales in comparison to the Major airlines.

If you get the chance, bail out.