OhSnapAF

To clarify, it ALWAYS happens on go home day lol.

727C47

This.......

86BravoPapa

What's the oldest someone can start a career with hopes of climbing the ladder at the majors?

Starchkr

I didn’t mean to suggest that you can’t go to a major when you’re older. I think that is really up to the individual and their circumstances.

For example, if you live in a low seniority domicile for the major you want to work for, you could have a fairly decent 5 year go at it at age 60. You’d probably never make captain but if that’s not a concern for you the money would still be fair.

Starchkr

Are you sure your daily schedule is better than Netjets? How do you know what the typical day is at NJ compared to XO? Back when I flew at XO I had several multi day stretches of 12+ hr duty days with 4 to 5 legs and some international thrown in for fun. Sure I had some cakewalk days too but there were plenty of busy long days. I’m not saying you’re wrong I just want to hear where you got your info to make the comparison.

One thing I always thought was a bad idea was not having defined rest. Has that changed? I got several late evening calls for trips without a defined rest period beforehand. I think that’s bad news and I hope they’ve changed that.

I agree with you on the 7/7 schedule. I likely would have stayed much longer had they offered an alternative schedule with less work days. I would have gladly accepted a bit less pay for what I think would have been a much better balance for me.

It was good to see they increased vacation time at XO. Unfortunately for me, that was changed after I left. I understand that NJ let’s you use some of your accrued sick time for PTO days. If that’s true, they get a significant amount more PTO than XO guys.

I believe that you enjoy working there. I know I miss a lot about it. There are lots of good people there that I really enjoyed working with.

Worth mentioning, lots of XO pilots went to legacies and other majors so it’s not like flying for XO would prohibit you from making it to the majors if that’s your goal.

Maybe you’re right about NJ and working harder IDK but they have some decent rules(much better than XO) when it comes to go home day and it’s hard to argue against the 7/7 or even the 52 day schedule they offer(on a limited basis). Without a doubt the compensation for a long term pilot at NJ is better than XO. You do have to commit to a long wait to upgrade but if you’re willing to put in the time and love the fractional type of flying, don’t mind restocking and cleaning etc. it’s not a bad deal.

86BravoPapa

Thanks, what I meant to ask was: At what age could you start at a regional and probably not have time to progress to a widebody captain at a major?

Starchkr

That’s a tough question to answer. Lots of pilots go to majors knowing they are likely to never make FO in a widebody let alone make captain. You’d have to know what seniority number you’d have to reach to be awarded widebody captain in the domiciles that even have that position as an option. Then it’s all projecting based on current data but it would be even less accurate than predicting the path of a hurricane a week out. There are just too many factors to predict with any certainty. The economy could take a turn for the worse or the airline could acquire another. Who knows?

My personal goal would be being able to have a reasonable amount of control over my schedule, not necessarily bringing home the biggest paycheck. IMO if you’re bringing home 200+ you should be able to have just about everything a normal citizen should ever need and then some. Who cares if you’re not bringing home widebody captain pay, you’d have it really d$mn good already. But I suppose I’m just motivated differently than some.

86BravoPapa

Thanks for the insight. Pay isn't my biggest factor, still struggling between 135 vs 121 path so any info helps a lot. The earnings and eventual QOL at the airlines is appealing but the variety of flying, locations, and to an extent, spontaneity of 135 is also appealing.

OhSnapAF

I spent my entire career doing 135/91/91k before going to SWA three years ago and I couldn’t be happier. I don’t ever see heavy jet international, but I also won’t ever see the inside of a truck stop holiday inn express ever again either.

You will never live the good layover life at NetJets. You will do 12 hour days and 11 hour overnights with small variances in that, for the rest of your career. There are plenty of good 135s thst pay well and have great QOL, I worked at one before NetJets. 4 days in Aspen, all expenses paid, skiing and having a blast, then flying home. You will never see that ever, at NJA. Your chances of seeing that might be better at places like XO and WU but that really only happens at smaller companies, and there is always a risk of seeing the Hasbrook Hilton.

I commute to work at SWA, and I am still home more than I was at NJA and I will probably make 80k more on year 3 salary than I did on year 8 FO pay at NJA.

Find what works for you, it’s a job so make sure you work to live, not live to work. There are morons at NJA that extend 10+ days a month (management pilots that are on the A team) and have wives/kids that hate them because of it. Find a way to be at home as much as possible while making money you can set yourself up financially for the future.

86BravoPapa

Thanks, I really appreciate the insights.