767pilot

So you've never been in a UPS 757?

767pilot

How big is your ego that you only get a sense of accomplishment and pride from carrying people? If you don't feel good at Brown after your work week, you can always go down to the greyhound station and service a few wino's to get your self respect back. Seriously though, you don't think we feel like we accomplish anything at the end of a week of synchronizing world commerce? Even of you don't, you will feel wayyyyyy accomplished and proud every second monday after the first year.

767pilot

way off. Luckily we have enough applicants that he can stay right where he is and it won't matter to you or I at all

Slice

I've carried thousands of passengers safely over my career. I feel now like I did then. They were safe because the most important person on board got there safe, me! To me that's satisfying enough.

I've had more time off at UPS than any other job I've ever had, especially days off consecutively. 26 coming right off of new hire IOE, no sick, no vacation time. It helps offset some of the tougher schedules that come along every so often. I did have to work xmas last year which sucked because I only got 4 dives logged in PR. I needed 5 to get the advanced open water card.

DAL4EVER

I left Comair seven years ago and never looked back. As has been previously stated, even with a 50% paycut, my pay is $104/hour. I average 15-22 days off a month, get a decent DC for my retirement and am flying the planes (757/767) I always dreamed of flying for the airline I always dreamed of flying (Delta). I was furloughed for five years but I always knew I would come back to Delta. Friends of mine who are stuck at other regionals are hoping to get their dreamshot while still hoping their airline is around in three years. Top end pay is still good by any normal average although the paycuts have definitely hurt in this area. All in all, you fly with great people, have great layovers usually at nice hotels (better than nearly anywhere I stayed with at Comair including the old Montreal hotel), the equipment is very well maintained and you see the entire country.

All in all, I'm living the proverbial dream every time I go to work.

Purple Nugget

I'll try to take a stab at your question...

I left a nice captain job at a regional (AX) and am now in my 3rd year at FDX. I know, FDX is not a cargo gig and that's a different question, but as far as the major aspect, here is what I have to offer...

It is, as others have stated, night & day different.

Positives:
- You are treated as a professional, not a kid in a temp job.
- The company follows your contract. In fact, almost to a fault. (They will pull you off a trip if you are even thought to exceed your contract duty limits, themselves much lower than FAR limits.) You will not have to argue for any of your contract rights.
- "Legal to start, legal to finish" Let's just say, scheduling has never even heard of that before.
- Hotels are much, much nicer. Think Westin/Hyatt, not LaQuinta, Best Western.
- Maintenance personnel at EVERY airport. Defer-over-the-phone, again, they never heard of it before.
- Deferrals in general are rare.
- Days off, about 5 more per month.
- Schedules, week on, week off for me, compared to 4 on, 2 off, 6 on 2 off before.
- Better aircraft upkeep. Last week's 40 year old 727 looked better than a 1 year old RJ.
- You are the junior guy again. You may think in terms of seniority of course, but you are also the most inexperienced crewmember in that operation. Pluses are, everyone knows how to fly. No more 250-hour guys clapping because they just logged their first actual time. Negatives though are the FOM/GOM/Contract/SOPs are all new and different.

Negatives:
- The "fun" factor for me has faded a bit. Don't get me wrong, I do NOT want to go back, but the regionals were a younger crowd. 30-40 year old Capts, 20-30 year old FOs and 19-60 year old F/As. Here it is 50-60 year old Capts, so it's not like flying with your buddies, more like flying with your dad.
- There are a lot of guys straight from career military flying. While all have great war stories, it's a different gig for them. ORD ground controllers scare them, for example.
- You're not the boss anymore. You're not flying with your favorite Capt. anymore.
- You're on the bottom of the seniority list again. Last to bid, last to get vacation, reserve all over again.

Of course, this is just my experience, yours and everyone else's will vary.
Do some financial planning on your own. Take a hard look at the airline profiles section of this website. If you leave today. By 60-65, will you be better off? At most major airlines, the answer is usually yes.

Keep in mind other things besides the pay chart. For example, at AX, 1/2 of 1% was matched for a retirement plan. Here, the "B" plan alone, puts 7% of my pay in a retirement plan for me. (In addition to my take home pay, ie, I never see it!) Also, they still have an old-fashion pension plan (A-plan,) wether that one will be there is another question, but the B-plan alone adds hidden income potential than what is offered at a regional.

Legacy carriers are hurting, but will get eventually get better. In 5 years time, the geezers will start to retire again, and furloughs will be back, but in the end it's a personal decision. I absolutely loved my last job. The people I worked with were top-notch, I lived in domicile so quality of life was good, and I had fun when I was at work. The pay and management were dismal, however. But there is no way in hell I will ever go back!

Young Jack

My only advice is that you build at least 1000hrs of pic time at your regional. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER leave a regional for a major with less than a 1000hrs. When you get to a major and they furlough, if you do not have 1000hrs youre DOA. 1000 hrs is your career insurance policy. I went from a regional to a major, pax to cargo. I miss the pax, dont miss the pay, I like the job security and that I dont have to go through security. Please get a thousand before you do anything.

CanyonBlue

Beyond better pay and treatment how about..

No scheduled reduced overnights...ever!

CB

acl65pilot

I agree, get the 1000. I know many guys that were let go from airlines after 9/11. The ones that had 1000 PICT were at FDX, UPS and SWA within months. The others had crappy job after crappy job until recall.

FWIW I was also in the top 300 at my company when I left. Three days, with weekends off and credit that was close to 100 hrs every month. Here I fly less, am home more and as my counterparts have said, I will make more here in six months than I made as a LCA has my previous airline. In short it was a great move and one that I do not regret.
It is difficult to go from a small pond to the ocean. If you have the mindset of being king of the hill and take that with you to your Major job, you will get schooled and quite quickly.
This flying environment is awesome. I did not necessarily like the 88 flying but the 737 and above is a totally different quality of life. Great hotels, with good ground time. Great pilots, and a ton of time at home. No one can complain about that.

DAL4EVER

I always sought motivation in the old Beavis and Butthead quote:

"If you have to ask, you'll never know".

Sage advice.