Fractional or Regional
 

I am very conflicted about which direction to go. I live in a domicile for both NJ and Flex, and I’d have to be a commuter at a regional. I understand QOL and first couple years of pay would be better at a fractional, but my end goal is to get to a legacy, and it seems like a regional is a better and faster path. On the other hand, I wouldn’t mind spending a couple years at a fractional to be honest, even if it takes a little longer to get to a legacy. But there’s always the risk of an economic downturn and losing a chance to do that.

I'm in the same boat. FlexJet pay is awesome but if I can go to Delta quicker I'd prefer to do that.

How old are you?

An economic downturn might delay opportunities at the legacies but it won’t entirely prevent it.

Given the captain constraints limiting FO hours (and likely ULCC hiring trends decreasing regional FO attrition) I don’t know that a regional is a clearly faster path.

I went from fractional to major as I really didn't want to go to a regional. Make the decision that will give you the best QOL and happiness. It may take you longer to go to a legacy if you are coming from a fractional but you might really enjoy it too. Commuting to a regional is better than it used to be, and honestly, you will probably be home the same amount of time and make more money at a regional, but that would be very dependent on the regional and a whole host of other factors. Pick what sounds more fun and do that, you have an entire lifetime to go sit at a legacy so enjoy the journey and have fun while you work your way there.

You will find a lot of differing ideas of what you should do with your life most of which are telling you get there as fast as you can. Obviously, we don't know your specific situation, but I tend to agree with what was stated above. You are only young once so enjoy the journey and experience things that you can only do when you are young and without real responsibilities. There is more to life than a seniority number and at some point, more money is just a larger number that does not equal a better life.

I made a similar life decision 10 years ago and ended up with the opportunity to fly pointy nosed helicopters. All my friends have been at a major airline for 3-4 years. If I decide to go that route, they will always make more money than me and have a higher seniority number. In my opinion it was a price worth paying for the experience I had.

You cannot mess up by doing what sounds fun and making the best of it. The rest will sort itself out. Good Luck.

So I am 42, leaving the military. I have a high child support payment for the next 2 years so that factors into my decision as well. It would be easier to take a pay cut in 2 years than right now.

Thats a big factor to consider. I am about 9 months from separation and NJ or FJ will not go forward with interviews until 3 months and 6 months from availability date respectively. All the regionals just keep telling they are back locked and will get to my application when they can. I hope you are having more luck then me. There are Pros and Cons to both options but maybe the fastest route is whoever will get you flying the soonest?

Easy decision if you ask me. Flex, NJ, or FlyExclusive without question. Once you are hired, you will be in training quicker, on the line quicker, building time quicker, upgrading quicker (at least at Flex and FE). Majors want to hire from Flex and NJ, quality training, you will have TPIC, Flex is losing a ton of pilots to the majors (they cant keep pulling from their regionals). I know of a 24 year old who was just hired at at a Legacy. IF there is an economic downturn, Id rather be stuck at Flex or NJ vs. a commuting Regional (look at all of the regionals that went out of business during Covid). On top of every thing else, its a different type of flying. You may find you like it more in which case you make it a career, or you may find its not for you, in which case you leave for the Majors. I dont see the benefit of a regional at this point.

You will fly more at a fractional. You will also work harder and have shorter overnights. For me no commuting was huge.

Also keep in mind, if you want to fly for AA then don't work for an AA regional. Neighbor of mine got on with PSA upon getting his ATP, fast forward a few years and AA won't interview him because they want him to wait to flow. So as he gets close to 1000 hours SIC time in the CRJ900 Delta calls him in and hires him. This was 13 months ago. He commutes to JFK/LGA and for the past few months he can hold Captain on the A320 at around $330/hour.

If you want NetJets, don't do any financial planning based on anything including FDP pay and extended days. You will have almost zero control over their availability and little to no control over what airplane you get assigned initially. Those assigned the XLS are looking at probably at least 10 to 20K less per year than someone from the same class who gets the 350 or Latitude. The recruiters cannot be trusted to tell you accurate pay estimates and we have had many, many first and second year pilots bailing out for other jobs after realizing how far behind NetJets is getting and how much they are actually making while working way harder than they would at an airline. Good luck wherever you end up.