Last trip
 

This is it. Today I start my last four day, and it is a beaut! If trips were always like this I might not have left. But they aren't. Not even close.

I live SFO, was based LAX until they closed it, now based ORD. (That's the short version of a long story.) I wasn't about to move for a regional so I commuted. I took a leave and got a law degree. I returned after three years of glorifying flying in my head and was quickly reminded why I left. Resumes flew out and I will be starting as an aviation and aerospace associate in April.

This last trip is a deadhead to LAX and a deadhead back at the end, meaning I can commute to LAX instead of ORD and I don't have to go out a day ahead and get a hotel room. Four legs total over four days, two overnights in LAX and one in DEN, all places where I have friends to visit. Done early enough to hangout.

I imagine my eyes will water a bit. It is going to be hard. But I am also excited about my next adventure. I will miss the best parts of this so much but it just was not worth it to me anymore.

The only bad part is that I am flying with a very inappropriate (read: pervy) captain who thinks my presence in the cockpit with him must be a sign of attraction. But I wasn't willing to drop such a good final trip to avoid him. And since it is my last trip, I will have no issue telling him to shove off. I really won't miss the way women are treated in this industry.

Well congrats. Don't male lawyers hit on their attractive female coworkers or has tv given me the wrong impression of the law associate profession.

Please write back in two years though to let us know how the career change has panned out as a job. Best of luck, really.

And the dress code will be a little tougher to figure out than the pilot uniform. :)

Good luck on the new job. Just because you're leaving 121 flying don't give up flying for fun! I still do... And no idiotic Capts (or FO's) to put up :D

Believe me, you won't miss Part 121 flying. Once you decompress you may find it hard to believe you actually put up with the B.S. as long as you did.

Thanks! Looking forward to that feeling. The interview process alone was eye opening. So much respect and professionalism!

Re: male lawyers flirting. People flirt everywhere. But there is a stark difference between a coworker making a pass and the down right misogyny I encounter. In most industries, even if some jackass thinks that way, he can't really vocalize it without repercussion. Plus, I won't be locked in a cockpit with some guy that does not understand boundaries where I am hesitant to speak up because of the safety of the flight.

I will literally mark my calendar to come back in two years. I am curious as well :).

I still plan on flying for fun!

I hate hate hate the women's 'uniforms', aka daddy's clothes. Looking forward to wearing a suit that is actually flattering and stylish :). Granted, I do have to learn what that means...

Good luck! Your aviation experience is invaluable in the legal field, so you'll do fine. I've been doing both flying and legal work for a few years now and haven't yet pulled the trigger to go solely to either one. Maybe soon if you keep me posted!

I will! If you send me your info, I can add you on LinkedIn or sommat.

Congrats on your next opportunity! I'm sure you'll do fantastic.

I know what you're talking about missing the good stuff, and I hope you enjoy your great last trip.

I can remember one of my last trips. I'd been hired at my new non-flying job and but was still awaiting a start date. I was flying a leg into Miami, looking down on South Beach as I rolled out base to final, the weather was gorgeous, the water was crystal clear, the winds were light, and the plane was all trimmed up and ready for landing. In that one moment, everything with the pilot life was right...and if I could guarantee that feeling on every trip, gah, i'd have stayed. I turned to the CA and said "Boy...I'm gonna miss this, right here." And 5 years later, that's about the only part of the job I miss...the rest of the BS they have you put up with, flush i, cause you won't miss that at all!

Congrats on the big move. I'm sure you will have no regrets in the end.

Congrats on the move, I may need a lawyer if life at the regionals doesn't get any better!

If you can get a better quality of life out of it and a decent wage, then more power to you.

Just don't forget us little people in aviation when you are sitting in your big office on the 20th floor and the Mercedes parked in the garage!

I used to work in a corporate job before I got into driving jets for a living. You'll find people are generally a lot more formal in the corporate world, which frankly, has its advantages.

I was in the corporate world, as well, and looking forward to the return!

Also, it's the 25th floor and BMW. Please. Do I look like trash? ;)

I read your message on about day 2 of 4 and it ran through my head the next couple of days as I flew over the west coast, thinking of what I would miss. Then, last night, after my last leg and my goodbye to the jet, I was pretty down. I'll admit, there were tears. I almost posted a reply about how unsure I felt about my decision, but I am glad that I didn't. I feel much better now after some rest.

I had 3 sunny days and one day that started in icing and snow in KDEN but ended in LAX sun. Fun captain, despite being a bit pervy, good FAs. Great jets. A misty eyed final landing. I thought... why isn't it always like this! I almost wish my last trip had been bad, just to make it easier. But, then again, my last trip was good in ways I could never recreate on purpose (lucked into a transition trip, lucked into good crews, lucked into good weather and good aircraft).

It was also good because I didn't feel that overriding tension that is part of every day. When will I upgrade? Will I make the majors? Are they going to JM me when I get back? Are they going to displace me (funny story below)? Am I going to make it home tonight? Am I going to make it back to work in two days? What is my schedule next month? Will I be able to drop that drip that overlaps my friend's wedding? How am I going to pay rent? Hell, I bought the crew dinner my last night because I knew I could pay for it now.

So, funny story, my last day - they sent out an announcement. Had I stayed, I would have been displaced. Thanks for helping me know I made the right choice, airline!

That's funny about the displacement email. A month after I left my airline I got a call from crew scheduling asking me if I wanted to work a trip? hahaha... Was a great feeling telling them "Um no thanks!"