Jdub2 liked this post

 

That's exactly what you want your airline to do when you're 55 with kids in college. Not.

I've met a couple extreme outliers... regional almost-lifers who gave up single-digit seniority and 5 weeks vacay to start over at the majors right before the regionals doubled their pay across the board. But other than that, not many have regrets.

 

The adult in me really respects your reply to this guy - genuinely. The APCer in me has getting strong "121Noob" vibes. Ask for advice, you get it, but it's overwhelming not what you believe, so it's wrong and you begin preaching back. Begins with "help me with my perspective" ends with "undeniably true" "mark my words". Meh... not much patience for it.

 

You are not too old, not even by a long shot. I left the regional world in my early 40's and made my final jump to WN shortly after that. I can tell you that even at a place like WN with slow retirements and a single fleet, there hasn't been a single day that I have wished to be back at the regional level. Sure, you can make a very nice career as a regional CA, and I am not trying to belittle it in any sort, but being at one of the big 4 is night and day a better experience.

You wouldn't have a hard time at any of them at your age.

 

Yep

He asked for advice. And his reply to that advice was "I know better that you!"

In the end he his letting his view that some people will have it better than him block the knowledge that HE will be better off at a legacy than HE would be at a regional. The latter is all that matters. The guys that are consantly ****ed off that someone else had it better are not fun to fly with. He needs to find another career.

 

You’re 33 and you think it’s too late???

and I thought I was a troll…

 

Please do everyone a favor and stay where you are.

 

I did 260 my second year and will do over 300 year 3.

 

That's great. But if you're 60 and pulling down $400K+ where's the tipping point? Friend's son is pulling down $400K+ as an under 30 regional Captain. He's bailing as fast as he can. But the math is different for an under 5x guy vs an over 6x guy. The statement was made that leaves never a reason to stay at a regional and not go to a major airline. That's just not true. As an example you're last two years pay + first year pay would be about $500,000 less than if a guy was pulling down $400K the last 3 years (I don't recall when the crazy pay rates hit the regionals). If you make $500K a year it will take a minimum of 5 years to make up the shortfall. Yes, no one knows when the regional pay bubble will burst as it won't stay that way forever. But a 62 yr old you, 3 years ago, might have been better staying as a regional Captain.

 

I take your point, but the pilot in question here isn't 62. He has 30+ years left in his career, so even in his worst case scenario (hired at 38, upgrade at 50) he will have 15 years in the left seat of a legacy with pretty good seniority, not to mention the stability of being at a "too big to fail" company. Legacy FOs can get close to that regional CA pay, and legacy captains blow regional pay out of the water.