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Golden Handcuffs. I talked to more than one captain who got into debt as they got pay raises and now can't afford to go to first year pay at another company.
I would agree that most regional lifers don't intend to stop there. Usually there is some outside cause for them to stay where they are: violation, accident, DUI, furloughs at the majors, too close to age 60. There are many twenty plus year captains at ASA and some of them are the most bitter people that I have ever flown with. |
The USA Today prints any truth?
:rolleyes: |
Originally Posted by jeff122670
(Post 62612)
has anyone actually got to a regional and liked it and STAYED there to make a career...
it would seem to me if your attitude and work ethic are good, it would be EASY to be a big fish in a little pond..... seems like a lot of people are using the regionals as a stepping stone....anyone think of making it a career?????? just wondering............... |
Regional airline pay is not really as bad as it is made out to be. As someone mentioned in a post earlier, it isn't so much the pay, its the not knowing where your airline could be 2 years from now. My goal is to make it to a major, but as a regional captain pulling in $70, $80, $90K+, when that time comes, and depending on my situation in life at that time, i.e., family, home, etc., I will have to analyze if that is the correct move to make. As a captain, especially with seniority, regional pay is not bad at all, and with seniority, you can bid a good schedule, have good days off, and a good amount of vacation per year. Giving that up just to fly a larger airplane, for a little more money, may or may not be the correct move. It really depends on the person, and your situation in life at that time.
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Originally Posted by Ottopilot
(Post 62633)
A lot of ExpressJet guys have decided to make it a career. Many turned down jobs at Continental to stay at Express. I did not. I would never. Express is fine, but not a career for me. I left $65K + $10K (checkairman) job for a pay cut at Continental. At second year FO pay (in the 767) I can make the same as a nine year CA pay at Express. Sure I don't get all 767, I mostly get 757 for now. I can hold 777 and that is the same pay as 767. I can upgrade next year in the 737 and make $125K. I also have a choice of destinations and aircraft. When I was little and saw airplanes taking off out of SFO, I knew that's what I wanted to do for a living. I didn't watch RJ's- they were heavies. I just landed the 767 yesterday coming back from Frankfurt. If you want to make the regionals your career, there is nothing wrong with that.
Otto, how long have you been at Continental? |
People become lazy, they stop updating their resume because once you get into it it's hard to make a big change like moving to a major, some have family issues others maybe don't have the necessary education and do not want to go sit in a class again. It's in our nature to be lazy.
Plus you got to remember that regional flying has evolved, it's not what it used to be. Companies are flying serious stuff with all the bells and whistles of major airline aircraft and so there deffinately is less of the SJS for major aircraft now at days. If you have half the month off with good pay and good seniority why blow it, especially when the majors start hiring. Southwest/Fedex/UPS are worth the try but others, probably not. You're probably going to have be a United FO for a decade before making the same amount and same QOL as you had as a reg CA. |
Personal choice
Originally Posted by ChrisH
(Post 65409)
.... with seniority, you can bid a good schedule, have good days off, and a good amount of vacation per year. Giving that up just to fly a larger airplane, for a little more money, may or may not be the correct move. It really depends on the person, and your situation in life at that time.
Very true, even if you could upgrade at the same company. A lot of guys retired on the 727 because they hated schools and loved being #1 or #2 for bidding lines of time. However, no one who did upgrade to the 757/767 or the L-1011 ever regretted it, even if they kicked and screamed at the time. |
Originally Posted by CL65driver
(Post 65421)
Otto, how long have you been at Continental?
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Several guys are still at Horizon 25 years in to it. It's not for me but after a while the golden handcuffs make it difficult to leave.
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