immolated

If you had offers from each, would you rather live in base with F9 or commute to a legacy from LAS to LAX/SFO? I'm a mid-30s single guy just starting out, don't care about much beyond compensation and commutability. Obviously legacies are more pay, but it seems like living in base gives me the opportunity to close that gap. A close friend, 10 year F9 CA, showed me a nearly 7 digit W-2 from a few years ago, but I know he busted his ass off picking up trips.

Supercubbin

Why not move to a legacy base? You could make more with a better QOL. With that said LAX or SLC isn’t a terrible commute from LAS for delta. But living in base will (almost) always be a better option, and moving is easier without a fam.

303flyboy

I am a mid 30s CA. I considered going to Delta. Assuming 80 hours a month the rest of my career both airlines, never a premium trip here or a green slip there. Current contracts. I would come out 80k ahead at Delta .. (this assumes 5 year NB upgrade at Delta as I like everyone else wouldn’t care about the 73 in NY). I had mountain Captial run the numbers for me. And I assumed no WB left seat. To me it isn’t worth it. A plane is a plane and under both scenarios you retire with millions. That said I don’t have fomo anymore at this stage of my career and all I care about is being able to be with the family and work as little as I can.

If you are a first year fo though .. I get it. Though you won’t go wrong I feel either way.

the problem with these topics is it’s different for everyone. There is no wrong or right (you’ll find out when you retire ) though someone will come screaming for sure here and go (XYZ ! )

For me being able to drive to work while we’re healthy and happy and while I make a lot of money and sleep in my own bed is all I want at this point in my life. The color on the side of the plane matters very little to nothing anymore.

I think of all legacies though Delta is a very good choice and you should be fine there for years to come. Same with UAL.

Best of luck !

madmax757

I got on with F9 in 2015 before they opened LAS where I live.

If they had not opened LAS I would have probably left a while ago. But I’m in my mid 50s.

Not commuting is worth over 100K a year to me.
I still have concerns about the ground handling and cheapness of the operation. You can only go so cheap before stuff will happen. - like MSY

You say you have 30 years left. A lot can happen in that time. Maybe F9 will be the next SWA - who knows. Keep the board posted on you’re decision.

Otterbox

I'd move to base with a legacy. Best of both worlds. 30 years at a legacy is a great career.

fcoolaiddrinker

Just ask anyone hired in 2000. Amr-furloughed a decade with zero longevity. UAL-furlough at least once possibly twice with no longevity for a while. Dal-furloughed 6-7ish but got longevity. F9-never furloughed. Not saying that happens again but that’s what happened for those hired 2000.

OpsCheckOK

You’ve got 30 years left. Never commute IMO. But if you don’t have a family to uproot or they don’t mind, why not move in base? Bases come and go more often with the ULCC’s. Sure F9 may not have furloughed in the past and maybe never will, but what if their “projected” growth never happens? Big rewards often involve greater risk.

CRJdriver2017

This is one of the reasons I chose MCO over say TPA. MCO seems alot more secure that way. As far as the legacy thing is concerned I'm in a similar issue although I don't have any offers. UAL bases aren't appealing at all and Deltas aren't much better. AA has better locations but its also AA and they lag in other areas.

IlliniPilot99

I left for AA 4 months ago as a 4.5 year CA at F9 . I live in DFW and commuting back to reserve (with no end in sight) was the nail in the coffin. After commuting for 12+ years to various operators, I couldn't do it anymore.

1. Move to base, it's the absolute best way for QOL
2. Make the decision sooner than later...the next 5 years will be insane for hiring, AA is retiring ~2-3 per day for the next 5 years and between the 6(AA,DL,UA,WN,FX,UPS) its something like 20 a day for the next few years. By the time I'm done with sims and OE I'll hold a line in DFW with ~1200 people below me (on property for 6 months).

FWIW: if F9 had a DFW base (as its rumored) the decision would have been much much harder. (also I have 28 years left)

FWIRW: my class had mostly flows, military and 6 CA's from NK/F9/B6