Other regional airlines know about Comair's situation! I left Comair almost a year ago now for another regional carrier, and aside from the paycut, I really have not much to complain about. I've sat reserve for only two months, I enjoy the crews I am working with and my overall QOL for my seniority is not bad. The crews and instructors I've worked with have been very respectful to me about coming from Comair and are all aware of the situation that's going on there. I can honsetly say I've had more fun at work and on overnights than I ever had at Comair. It absolutely sucks what's happening to Comair, but I couldn't take the constant uncertainty, BS and moving backwards on the seniority list anymore, so I bailed! If I would have had the option to take a buyout, I'd take the money and run!

 

I think this statement is without merit.

 

Are you really a 9 year FO? Do you see an upgrade in your future? What are your goals with Comair? Are you achieving them? How is it working out?

I'm not trying to be an a**, but really... Consider those questions, because future employers will ask you each one of them. The one that will have them more curious is "knowing what we know, why did you choose to put up with the lashings for that long?" "We've heard so many people took a buyout, so did you ever consider one after you got downgraded?" "No.. Well why not?"

I guess if you have a good explanation for that then you are fine. And I'm sure there isn't a good reason to stick around, but I just don't see how anyone could say that reason is a silver lining.

 

+1

to a T my experience since I left.

 

I get where you are coming from, but this just seems silly. I will venture a guess that there isn't a hiring board out there that would view a candidate's decision to not take a buyout negatively.

I don't intend to impugn your decision to take the buyout, but how has it worked out for you? I never had the opportunity to take a buyout and probably would not have. I had many chances to leave early, but I never did. I left when the time was right; I chose to use Comair as long as I needed them.

 

As far as the hiring boards go, it may not matter as much to a part 121 carrier, but if someone has any interest in going to a corporate job, it most certainly will.

Taking the buyout worked great. It gave me the ability to pay the bills while I looked for a new job. I made the jump to another company and have already made up for making the jump.

Congrats for making the jump when times were good. I thought about it and for whatever reason I didn't do it. In hindsight I would have been better off with that than staying like I did and getting a buyout.

 

My situation is entirely different from a furloughed guy, a 30-year captain, or a 4th year guy with no family or house.

I'll stay until the good jobs start hiring, not because I think Comair is a good bet. For a guy in my situation, Colgan or SKW are not good jobs. Better than unemployment, but not good jobs. Ask me again when I get a furlough letter.

I'll stand by my earlier post - To say an interviewer would think someone has poor judgment for being at Comair 10 years is not valid.

 

I never said that being at Comair for 10 years was poor judgement. But sitting around after being downgraded, and later furloughed with 10 years seniority will raise some questions.

As you said, everyone's situation is different and everyone will have their reasons for staying, or their reasons for leaving. It sounds like you are more than ready to answer the types of questions that are coming up in interviews, so you have nothing to worry about. Was just putting it out there.

I wouldn't go to Colgan, or any company like that either, but there are good companies hiring. There are National and Major airlines now hiring. The economy is also very fragile right now and if I had the choice (my opinion only) I would rather be furloughed at the bottom of a good company building longevity than furloughed from a regional in the condition that Comair is in.

 

Totally agree.

 

You don't build longevity while on furlough.

This is a huge, industry wide misconception. Longevity is based on years of service.

If you were on first year pay and then were furloughed for Five years..... You return to work once recalled and pick up where you left off on first year pay.... waiting for second year pay.

Regardless, I agree. Furloughed from a good company is better than dead man walking at Comair.