Fastest path to legacy: LCC or Regional CA?

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09-20-2021, 08:12 AM

#191

Bike Handles

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Joined APC: Jul 2018

Position: Reserve

Posts: 641

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aero1900

I was talking to a DEN based 777 pilot the other day and he asked me what kind of planes Frontier flies. I was tempted to ask him if the 777 had a windshield

That is next level checked out.

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09-20-2021, 08:51 AM

#192

ElCaribe

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Joined APC: Sep 2020

Posts: 407

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bike Handles

That is next level checked out.

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That’s what 30 years in the airlines will do. Bankruptcies, mergers, negotiations, retirement losses, red eyes etc. Don’t forget the only working 9 days a month and all the time zone changes. The senior long haul captains are flying in a different world.

09-20-2021, 09:33 AM

#193

acecrackshot

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Joined APC: Jul 2014

Posts: 257

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenix 23684

I never planned to stay at my LCC for life, finally got the job offer at a Major, but decided for family, QOL that I stay here. You never know what life will bring your way or what the economy will do. At the end of the day when the music stops it is 100x better to be at a LLC/National than ANY regional period. Only regional pilots would think otherwise.

That's next level Kool-Aid guzzling.

09-20-2021, 09:44 AM

#194

60av8tor

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Joined APC: Jan 2011

Posts: 480

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickair7777

Actually some people might very well have said that... about 5-8 years ago. Recall that ULCC's only recently got pay + 401k in the ballpark with the top tier.

I was one of those people because I couldn't take a permanent paycut to go to the right seat at a ULCC, and maybe someday break even after I upgraded. That combined with seniority/schedule/vacay made it a loosing proposition for a seasoned regional CA. Second year regional FO? Sure, why not? And that's what they got...

All different now of course.

Regional PIC + instructor/LCA + other leadership opportunities have always been the faster path to the top tier. Whether you should pursue that aggressively depends on age and motivation.

Yup - and that's what makes some advice difficult to give. Not only to dynamics of the industry change, so many decisions are based on personal circumstances, needs, wants, desires. I drove to work at my regional, was logging 121 pic, and was scheduled to become a LCA just as covid hit - beginning of '20. Prior to that, a certain LCC was snagging our FO's. While moving on/up (and more than likely still being able to drive to work) was tempting, I chose to put my energy into learning to be a 121 CA, becoming a LCA, and focusing on my 3 desired destinations. I also had a flow to hedge some of that bet. That was a gamble that could have backfired when covid hit, my LCA date got put on hold, and flow/hiring stopped. I may have been able to weather that storm in the right seat of an AB vs the left seat of an RJ.

Ultimately, I got back to a regular schedule and updating my apps again this last spring and was fortunate enough to move on. My view would be very different, possibly, if the results were different. I'm a head down, 121 PIC, LCA, extra-curricular advocate, but a big part of that is due to my own experience. And while I chose to focus only on 3, that in no way implies that it was financially the best choice - or 'better'. Better is in the eye of the beholder. As a second career type, I had a goal to be a LCA at my regional and, at some point, get to a legacy. If $ had been my only goal, my path may not have been the best and perhaps an LCC would have been best...