MtoL

I initially regretted leaving a LCC to a bigger airline, but I don't any more. Your airline has great work rules, but that's not to say legacies don't.

Got every Christmas off at my "Big" since my second year. Sure it took some creativity, but my family didn't know or care. I was home for Christmas.


Again, you're making the assumption that the "biggs" have no work rules at all. QOL is important to most people. I have similar QOL here as at the LCC.

At a larger airline, it's easier to find something that suits you- Get hired onto a NB, and do that for a while. Then you can pick a few paths. Do I want to remain a 737/A320 FO and do all the senior trips? Do I want to upgrade? Maybe I'll see what this WB thing is about?

The point is, you have more options. There are a great many pilots who go to WB flying and stay there until they can hold a great NB schedule, or better yet, WB CA. Likewise there are people who've moved from being senior on a widebody to a narrowbody. Their QOL (and W2's) are eye-watering. Both seats.

I'm not knocking LCCs. I flew for one. They're great airlines and you can definitely make awesome money, but you can't deny the broader opportunities and options a legacy will ultimately provide.

Edpilot23

Not sure what you are talking about here but the QOL you get at a legacy flying narrow body is absolutely amazing in a year or two.
I left B6 for UAL in 2018, I bid at 25% holding all weekends off and average 3 to 4 layovers at home (PBI) with 15-18 days off a month.
I’m at home way more nights than any of my dear friends at NK who are FLL base.
I can hold junior cap at many bases and WB FO pretty much at any base.
If you come to UAL and stay as narrow body FO right now you will have a QOL no LCC or ULCC can offer.

303flyboy

“If you come to UAL and stay as narrow body FO right now you will have a QOL no LCC or ULCC can offer.” 😏

rightside02

Left B6 for UA in 2017 , it was tough for me as I had 5 years in , but had 31 years to go at UA .

there were a lot of variables in my decision to leave , I am commuting to either airline, I enjoy UA A LOT more than I enjoyed my time at JetBlue , both are great in their own ways but I am happier where I am now , even tho we are under a melt down at UA it doesn’t compare to the daily sh*t storm of bad irops Jetblue often endured.

Either one will provide a great career .

I would ask do you live in a base for anyone , if not . I would consider Fedex/UPS if had the chance to do it over again.

dualinput

Spirit has been selling this QOL myth that it’s somehow better than a legacy for a while now. I work here I know. It’s how they recruit and how guys justify staying. Don’t get me wrong, I like working here but let’s not pretend it’s better than a legacy in just about any way. QOL maybe close to equal some things better some worse. Compensation much worse.

Guys that think ULCC is amazingly better QOL than a legacy or good cargo have never worked at one. Yes it’s leaps and bounds better than the regional/crap cargo/corporate from which they came. It’s supposed to be!

Most don’t have college degree so that they can move on.

WHACKMASTER

My Lotus on any damn day I want ;-)

DeadStick

6 years ago I gave up 3 years of ULCC seniority to go to a legacy. I’m very happy where I am, and would’ve likely been very happy had I stayed.

I do enjoy going to work more so with the legacy. Better support, higher expectations, and frankly happier coworkers and passengers. Also a greater degree of pride and satisfaction in the service you’re providing. I also find the legacy network and flying to be more varied and interesting.

QOL-wise it’s pretty much a wash. Of course your real QOL has much more to do with your family, friends, significant other, leisure hobbies, etc.

If you think your life will change much going from a ULCC to a legacy consider the Hedonic treadmill: “The hedonic treadmill, also known as hedonic adaptation, is the observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes.[1] According to this theory, as a person makes more money, expectations and desires rise in tandem, which results in no permanent gain in happiness.” If you love your ULCC job, you’ll love the legacy job as well. If you’re unhappy at your ULCC, you’ll probably also be unhappy at the legacy.

Best of luck in whichever path you choose.

303flyboy

Very very well put friend ^

Aero1900

That's probably very true.

rickair7777

Good insight, almost any major job is going to be a good gig.

Deciding factors should be would the move get you something quantifiable which would aid in achieving your personal goals...

Do you NEED the extra money, perhaps to start a business you've dreamed of? More money for it's own sake just means you'll play the same video games on your day off, on the same console or PC that you could already afford anyway. The you'll go pick up your kids in a maserati instead of a beemer.

Bases. Living where you want (need) to is huge.

Do you want to live somewhere remote or far away? Maybe widebody schedules are more conducive?

Do you love foriegn travel? Maybe international overnights would be your thing, although that's probably better accomplished by max vacation and days off that long-haul flying.