Hi all, I've spent hours on the threads and gotten a lot of useful info but as to my question here, it all seems to be pretty old so apologies if its buried in there somewhere. I'm expecting an email any day to confirm class. With a 95** last 4 of social, its my understanding that I'll be towards the top. I'm leaving a really good regional job. Top of the pack company, top of a very large seniority list, and top of instructor ranks, non commuting with a bit over 9 years left.

To make the move I have to maximize two things:

1) Pay: There's no sugar coating that with the time I have left I have to earn as much as I can. With soon to be college kids and my own retirement nearing, I can't leave any $$ on the table. I have to match or exceed the $300-$350k I'm leaving behind as a senior SIM guy.
2) QOL: I currently drive to work or get PS to a 3-4 day SIM gig out of town. I bid whatever vacation I want. I would need a fleet/base that wouldn't make me regret leaving what I have now.

Looking at SLC if I want to drive to work but the math suggests that I need to upgrade ASAP due to goal #1. I suppose I'd sacrifice #2 until an AE could get me back home. I've heard the 73 is best bet? Current bidding ideas:

1) 73b wherever and get transfer to SLC hopefully before summer. Stay there and bid 73a and first available (NYC) and commute until I can get back to SLC. Is the speculation still supporting an upgrade with 1-2 years?
2) 320b same concept. How much longer to get to SLC as a b position? Similar upgrade time or much longer?
3) 220b seems to be better staffed from the guys I've talked to. Great for QOL to sit around? But maybe not as much for $$ concerns?
4) 76erb? Is it worth considering with an eventual commute to LAX or SEA based on schedules and QOL? Much longer to hold Captain?
5) Finally...I've seen an occasional 765b in class drops. Intriguing to fly international. I've heard that the schedules out of JFK are decent so perhaps good QOL even to commute? But would it be forever to upgrade?

Thanks anyone who cares to share. PM's are good too

 

Youre leaving a non-commuting regional job that you’re making $300-350K, with 9 years left till retirement? Buddy, I don’t think you can move up the pay tables fast enough to make that math work. Maybe it’ll be close if you take first upgrade in NYC, work your butt off, and include 16%DC…plus if our AIP has substantial pay raises and increases in DC contributions, it sounds kind of risky to me though.

 

Wow. A lot to unpack. First to make $350 per year as a year 1/2/3 FO you will need to play lots schedule games and even then it would be hard. That would realistically only be achievable in NYC. The positive space commutes you’re enjoying currently have gone away. I don’t see them returning, but I hope I’m wrong.

that gets us to bidding. My first advice is consider that your current position might best meet your goals. Following that you will want an early upgrade. If you want to do a short course (same aircraft upgrade) the 737 (73N in delta speak) makes sense.

Any quick upgrade you get will require a commute most likely. NYC, tends to be the most junior, LAX, SEA, DTW, and even ATL have had very junior captain awards.

The 765 is a great spot if you’re wanting QOL schedules with decent money as an FO, however in your situation I would advise against it compared to the narrow body aircraft and 767/757 (7ER in Delta speak)

hope that helps. Good luck on your decision

 

You have to bid as if the music is going to stop and you get stuck for 4 years. If the music doesn't stop it doesn't matter what you bid if you want a fast upgrade because you aren't seat locked. You don't have to over think it, either bid for base or bid for money after year 1.

 

If you think your regional is pretty stable financially and will last another 9 years then I'd probably stay if I were you. The only reason for youn to leave would be if you really hate your life there, but it sounds like you don't.

 

I would stay there. Our domestic schedules suck right now and you would not enjoy being junior or commuting to one.

 

And.....since you were a little "gauzy" on your regional job....what you think the calculus is that that job will still be there and continue to pay you that salary. If the answer is yes, it's solid, there is no, "WTF could possibly go sideways"? ...me personally...I stay put. Otherwise, the timeline is really important as to when things go TU.

Maybe regional pay is sustainable...maybe not so much.

BTW...compliments on your post.. very well articulated and presented. You are prolly best suited to answer your own ???

JMHO. Good luck with whatever you decide. Make an educated, rational decision and then don't second guess yourself later. That would be a fools errand

edit ... I see m311 basically beat me to the same conclusion( my 2 fingered typing is slow and sucks...yes it actually took me 4 mins to type that out and proof it)

 

I am year 6 pay and no where near $300K. Now I only fly an occasional greenslip and just upgraded so you COULD definitely make more. BUT if schedules become normalized your ability to make more than min pay goes away. So if I were you and had your priorities then I would stay put. GLW your decision.

 

Taking a snapshot of todays environment, you’d be hard pressed to do better here. I’m a captain and I barely make $300k/yr before taxes (that includes 401k contribution). I’m on the lowest paying plane, 717 so add roughly $20k to that for a 320/737. I don’t do many greenslips so if you add some of those you could be in your window.

SLC junior 73N b: 124xx a: 101xxx
SLC junior 320b: 122xxx a: 95xx
SLC JUNIOR 220 b: 12xxx a: 91xx

It would be awhile for a captain slot based on those numbers. 7ER in LAX mirrors the SLC 73N numbers.

I have heard the opposite about the 765. Lots of early show transcon to the junior folks. But I’m outta my element here Donny.

320 and 737 is our future. They are still growing so movement is quicker. The real answer lies within how sure you are your new found pay rates stick around. I’m not poo pooing but I wouldn’t take that chance. I don’t envy your decision and I wouldn’t judge you either way. Just know most of the junior upgrades are in NYC, DTW, and ATL for the most part.

 

true in Covid. It’s 95% international now. The domestic is mainly there for OE, or so I’m told. I’m not bold enough to bid it hoping for the buy off.