I’m currently a NetJets pilot evaluating whether it makes sense to pursue a move to a legacy carrier. I’m based in Dallas, so American and Southwest would be the most practical options.



I’m almost 38, married with a young child. My wife works full time, and extended stretches away from home (7+ days) can be challenging for our family. I’ve been at NetJets for just under two years and overall have had a very positive experience. I could realistically see myself staying long term.



That said, I’m trying to better understand the long-term career and quality-of-life implications of moving to a legacy sooner rather than later.



I’m hoping to hear from pilots who have recently made the transition from NetJets to a legacy.



Specifically, I’d appreciate insight on:



- What motivated your decision to leave NetJets

- Whether you’re satisfied with the move in hindsight

- How your work/life balance looked in the first few years

- The biggest pros and cons compared to NetJets

- Practical differences in pay and benefits

- Your total / turbine / PIC time at hire

- Anything you wish you had known before making the switch

Thanks in Advance!

 

I didn't personally work at Netjets, but have friends who did, and have flown with quite a few who worked there or Flexjet, so I think I can at least offer some helpful feedback based on what they've told me:

- Most left due to being away from home a lot, long work blocks, long duty times, etc. Most also wanted schedule flexibility, like the ability to sit home on reserve and work less, or to pick up day turns, etc.
- Work / life balance will initially be worse depending on situation. If you live in base on reserve it could actually be pretty good depending on the season and how much flying is happening.
- Most of the folks liked schedule / pay / retirement DC benefit much better at a legacy.
- Most definitely thought that Netjets medical was better but that the entire package at a legacy outweighed the excellent medical at Netjets by a lot.
- Your schedule control will be worse for your first few years, but your overall days worked will likely be better than Netjets.
- For pay/benefits, there is a defined floor at any of the major airlines that you will make no matter what, and that will likely be much better than Netjets after you get off probation. The soft pay @ Netjets depending on fleet and flying can make the difference between great pay and mediocre pay.

Hopefully that helps.

 

If you want to do it, there is zero sense in waiting

 

To the OP….

I’m assuming you referring, to yourself, to the 7 day stretch. Pretty much stable schedule with some minor wrinkles.

Consider how the change will effect your wife and child. How long have you lived at your current location? Family friends? Support network?
Have you broached the subject with your wife? If not already… What is your ranking on the food chain for upgrading to PIC? What will your situation be after your upgrade? Fleet, pay and schedule?

True… AA and WN are TX based. However you may be sitting reserve in a location that may result in a miserable commute yielding 1 or 2 days with the family versus…. What… 7 or 8 days at home? That may be more disruptive to your family situation too?

Whatever the choice you make… enjoy the ride… Beats working for a living.

 

I would argue there is no better job in the world than living in a large legacy hub that is likely to never go away. The flexibility it allows is unmatched. Bigger planes, smaller planes, 1 day turns or 5 day internationals. Want to sit reserve and not work during slow months, want to make a little extra, picking up trips is easy and readily available.

While you missed the biggest part of the retirement wave, that would ensure super seniority for a career, there is still plenty of the wave left to ensure you make it to DFW very quickly and are able to stay there likely for your career.

 

I left NJA in 2017 and never looked back. Best decision I have made in my aviation career. I know NJA has gotten better, but there are countless and endless reasons to leave that place. I hated it there and have been very happy with my decision to leave, but that is obviously my path and journey. I make considerably more money (not even counting DC 401K), have more time off, have way less stress, stay in better hotels, and have better and longer overnights on average than my buddies, who I still keep in touch with there. I left NJA and was able to ride a greatly timed wave at my airline, so mileage will always vary in that regard, but the outlook of going to any major airline has never been better.

If you are tired of the constant rollbacks on rest, 25 changes a day, and non-stop metal movement, you will be so freaking happy you left if you make that decision.

Basing is a contentious topic when it comes to NJA, and airlines, and I will make arguments that certain commutes are actually easier, and still give you more time off a month than working at NJA, being home-based. I was OAK-based with NJA, and more often than not, it was at least a 2-leg commute out to the jet, which also usually included some amount of a car ride to another airport. Coming home, it was working all day and another 2+leg commute home with a last-minute booked ticket.

This will vary greatly by airline/base/fleet/seat, but you should be able to hold commutable trips eventually and if you live somewhere where you can do a 1 leg commute, especially on company metal, I promise you that you will have less stress, more time off per month and make more money at any legacy, over NJA. If you don't care about the middle seat and love the idea of home basing and flexibility for the rest of your career, NJA holds the advantage there but I promise you, nobody that commutes at a 121 major, is wanting to go to NJA to be home based.

 

Being at a legacy myself and seeing the progression. Your life will be so much better day 1. Home through training if you get a Dallas carrier. Short call reserve you’ll work but barely. And short call maybe two day trips occasionally the 3 day or 4 day. And in a year from the time of hire, Dallas base is obtainable quickly. You won’t look back and say you made a bad decision at all.

good luck

 

Industry perspective...

Plenty of NJA pilots at legacies, including some older ones who got into the fracs when regionals sucked and majors weren't hiring.

Not aware of any (under age 65) legacy pilots who have gone to fracs.

That's in general. The specifics of your personal situation also matter, especially geography with home basing. But Dallas? Yeah, getch yer apps out. Maybe UAL too.

 

I left NJA in late 2022 and it was the best decision I ever made.

Similar situation to you. At the time I had a young kid at home (a second on the way), live in a big Legacy base, spouse who worked full time and like you I would've been happy to hang my hat at NJA!

But boy am I glad I left!

See above for answers to your q's

 

I have never flown for a fractional, so take this with a grain of salt.

But I have flown with many, many FOs who came from Netjets and none have regretted it, most wish they did it earlier.

The first year or so at a legacy might be hard because you'll most likely be commuting to reserve, but once you are able to get based in Dallas, it will become the best job in the world (even on reserve!).

Also, the best time to get hired at a legacy was yesterday, the second best time is today. So just do it.