I appreciate all the information and advice. I'd basically be looking at either FlexJet or NetJets if I were to make the switch.

Does it tend to be slower moving up in seniority at these Fracs since there isn't the 65 rule?

 

Initially? No. High turnover in the junior ranks. After that it’s a long slog.

 

Things are changing fast at the fracs. Even the massive stagnation at NJA is quickly becoming a thing of the past. All the fracs are expanding and upgrades will be light years sooner for a new hire than those hired before. The money is finally showing up for the fracs to make close to 121, but you will earn it. Unless you get into the long range fleets where scheduling can't mess with you as much and your average overnights will be many hours longer than the other fleets, QOL on the road will ALWAYS suck at least a little bit.

Seniority doesn't improve your day to day flying, just what schedule and vacations you get. I am an SIC in the long range fleets by choice over PIC in the smaller fleets. I am trading tens of thousands of dollars each year because I value QOL and would probably leave to start over at a major rather than take un upgrade in what I can hold if I had to make a choice. That said, I'm pretty happy at the top of the SIC payscales in the long range equipment. I don't need a bigger airplane to feel cool, but I do need a better QOL on the road than what most of the fleets offer.

Unless your commute is a freaking nightmare, you will be trading at least the possibility of great QOL with seniority and much better company retirement contributions (allowing you to stop the rat race quicker) for a little over 100 bases where the company pays for your commute on their time and dime. If the free ride commute is worth it, NetJets is a pretty good job, but not as good as even the lower tiers of the majors until you can hold PIC on the long range stuff (currently 20 years or so).

 

Loved your videos, I wish you would keep churning them out more frequently!

 

LOL thanks . . . yeah it was a lot of work, then the company let us all go . . . I went to the airlines, now back to private - so there may be some more coming.

 

Thanks fellas! Tons of good info. Certainly something to think about. I keep seeing the frac pay going up and here we’re sitting with a very adversarial relationship with management and a contract that expired 3 years ago. Cost of living and inflation keep chipping away at the pay and our benefits are not very good. But it’s hard to justify the loss of almost 5 years of seniority and a pretty sweet seniority outlook for the unknown. First world problems I guess.

🍻

 

Yes... interesting, useful, informative youtubing.

 

People not at a legacy have no idea how much QOL has degraded. It’s unfortunate.

Knowing what I know now, I should have taken a furlough instead and gone to NJA in 2002.

For perspective:
A320 CA
60% in seat at junior base
inserted around Nov. 2000 on the seniority list after a merger

TC

 

I fully believe the regular lines aren't what they used to be, but you do probably have options that would increase the QOL at a $$$$ cost. Things like dropping trips (not always an option) or taking a widebody SIC spot or depending on the airline, bidding reserve with the intention of not doing a lot of flying. I know a few guys at United that could easily hold captain in narrow body, but take the QOL on the 77 and 78. I have a couple of others that stay senior SIC on the 73 for better lines and no commute. I personally do the equivalent at the fracs. I most definitely want the PIC pay, but the job that comes with it sucks for QOL at the fracs, even with great seniority in the non long range fleets. Hopefully the majors will get some better QOL in their lines and hopefully the 135 rewrite will pass and force better QOL for business jets.

 

I left NJA about 3-4 years ago.

If I went to a major/legacy that only offered domestic/short haul flying I probably would be disappointed and maybe even regretted my decision.

Domestic schedules at big airlines are not that impressive, and not that much different than NJA considering all the delays, big airports, short overnights, etc.

Commuting isn’t fun, and neither is FAR 121 health insurance. FAs can often be a troublesome burden, wiping down a Phenom tray table won’t write me up…but a FA that has become the mask police? Heck, I’d rather restock.

NJA is stressful, the days are long. I was not happy, and the pilot group traded QOL for near legacy pay rates. There are characters everywhere, but sitting next to a character for 7 days straight, 11-14 hours per day…yeah, I couldn’t get paid enough.

NJA is a great job with lots of unique benefits, but it is stressful…long days…little if any QOL on the road.

The long, happy, enjoyable overnights are surprises that seldom occur.

There is much more freedom at the airlines, but some pilots don’t do well with freedom. Commuting? It is stressful and rough, but so is a NJA 7-day tour.