Go Back  Airline Pilot Central Forums > Airline Pilot Forums > Regional
How's your Quality of life? >

How's your Quality of life?

Notices
Regional Regional Airlines

How's your Quality of life?

Old 09-21-2015, 05:54 PM
  #11  
Does NOT get weekends off
 
snippercr's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: ERJ - 145
Posts: 1,631
Default

Originally Posted by CBreezy View Post
One last thing. I've seen my parents and friends more times since becoming an airline pilot than I ever did in my previous career. I've seen more of the world than I ever saw with a 9-5. I've gone to visit family for dinner in one state and had drinks with a friend the next night in another. My wife travels a lot as well and I often go visit her or bid for overnights in cities where she will be.
I remember when I interviewed at Eagle they asked "You know you only get 11 days off a month, are you going to be okay with that?"
My response "I only get 4 days off a month at my current job - I work Monday thru Saturday and often work on Sunday" I have WAY more free time than my flight instructing days or even days as a college student.

Travel is a HUGE benefit. My wife has on more than one occasion threatened (jokingly) to leave me if I ever quit or got a job without travel benefits. Unless of course, it makes enough to PAY for First class tickets to London or Tokyo. Which I have done 3 times in one year (2 to London to connect to other cities and once to Tokyo).
snippercr is offline  
Old 09-21-2015, 06:03 PM
  #12  
Gets Weekends Off
 
prex8390's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,145
Default

Originally Posted by snippercr View Post
I remember when I interviewed at Eagle they asked "You know you only get 11 days off a month, are you going to be okay with that?"
My response "I only get 4 days off a month at my current job - I work Monday thru Saturday and often work on Sunday" I have WAY more free time than my flight instructing days or even days as a college student.

Travel is a HUGE benefit. My wife has on more than one occasion threatened (jokingly) to leave me if I ever quit or got a job without travel benefits. Unless of course, it makes enough to PAY for First class tickets to London or Tokyo. Which I have done 3 times in one year (2 to London to connect to other cities and once to Tokyo).
yeah those benefits are real great when you are on the other side of the country and your family is number 20 for 3 open seats because its not peak season and they cut 40% of the daily flights
prex8390 is offline  
Old 09-21-2015, 06:10 PM
  #13  
Happy at PDT
 
Lvlng4Spd's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jan 2014
Position: EMB-145 CA
Posts: 983
Default

Originally Posted by prex8390 View Post
yeah those benefits are real great when you are on the other side of the country and your family is number 20 for 3 open seats because its not peak season and they cut 40% of the daily flights
Hence the draw of good travel benefits and boarding priority. My wife or my parents for that matter have never been #20 for anything. My wife travels like an employee does...makes it simple.
Lvlng4Spd is offline  
Old 09-21-2015, 06:52 PM
  #14  
Qbicle seat warmer
 
ASpilot2be's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Oct 2005
Position: SAAB FO
Posts: 1,177
Default

Fantastic! Thanks for asking. I am home every night, making OK money. Around $40k on first year pay. Currently I am sitting about number 8 on the list, and next month I basically have a 9-5 job. I show up at 8:30 and I am done by five with six hours of flying. The schedule for most months is four days on, and three days off. But then again we arent your typical regional.
ASpilot2be is offline  
Old 09-21-2015, 07:24 PM
  #15  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Luv2Rotate's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,498
Default

I can't complain. Left the regionals and went to fly 91, with a well known company, great money w/pension but more importantly home just about everyday with the family. I am very lucky.
Luv2Rotate is offline  
Old 09-21-2015, 07:27 PM
  #16  
Does NOT get weekends off
 
snippercr's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: ERJ - 145
Posts: 1,631
Default

Originally Posted by prex8390 View Post
yeah those benefits are real great when you are on the other side of the country and your family is number 20 for 3 open seats because its not peak season and they cut 40% of the daily flights
Funny never had that issue. Had a few close calls and a few times I had to do some creative routing. Proper planning, back up plans and flexibility. If you don't like that, buy a GD ticket.
snippercr is offline  
Old 09-22-2015, 04:13 AM
  #17  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,939
Default

Originally Posted by knobcrk View Post
I would bet that those guys that got in because they thought it was cool, the system weeded them out or they took themselves out pretty quick. The rest of us are trying to make a living. The nice view or feeling that you're not really working because you're doing what you love, does not pay the bills.
As an Fo, I never once had trouble paying the bills even with a student loan. I didn't live on Ramen, I didn't struggle to buy groceries and I traveled quite a bit. As a Captain, I'll make over $75k this year. Do I think FO pay should be higher? Of course. Was it doable? Absolutely.
CBreezy is online now  
Old 09-22-2015, 04:26 AM
  #18  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Sep 2013
Posts: 840
Default

I would suggest that if you do pursue an airline career (regional to start, hopefully winding up at a major) make an effort to find a second line of work as a back-up. It will save you during downturns or any unexpected hiccups along the way. There are a smattering of doctors, dentists and other professionals as well as business owners who also fly for a living. In the end, you have to be as fulfilled as you possibly can with your career choice or else you risk a life of regret. Lots of people making tons of money sitting behind a desk or doing something else more lucrative but hating going to work every morning. Granted, many of us have to make certain choices due to circumstances (family, health, finances etc).
CaptYoda is offline  
Old 09-22-2015, 05:08 AM
  #19  
Dumb Pilot
 
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Position: Broke
Posts: 784
Default

Originally Posted by CBreezy View Post
As an Fo, I never once had trouble paying the bills even with a student loan. I didn't live on Ramen, I didn't struggle to buy groceries and I traveled quite a bit. As a Captain, I'll make over $75k this year. Do I think FO pay should be higher? Of course. Was it doable? Absolutely.
75k as a captain? You must be kidding. That is close to what I make as an FO, and that is not enough.

When are you people going to realize that just because you love you job of flying they should still pay you.

You are one medical or one mistake away from never flying again and you are risking it all for $30/hour.

Regional jobs are no longer stepping stone jobs. The majors have turned them into careers, and you should approach it that way. We are all one economic disaster from furlough, downgrade, or bankruptcy.
Is offline is offline  
Old 09-22-2015, 05:19 AM
  #20  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Feb 2015
Posts: 127
Default

Originally Posted by Is offline View Post
75k as a captain? You must be kidding. That is close to what I make as an FO, and that is not enough.

When are you people going to realize that just because you love you job of flying they should still pay you.

You are one medical or one mistake away from never flying again and you are risking it all for $30/hour.

Regional jobs are no longer stepping stone jobs. The majors have turned them into careers, and you should approach it that way. We are all one economic disaster from furlough, downgrade, or bankruptcy.
75k isn't enough? Seriously? the only way 25k over the national average income isn't enough is if your are buying everything on credit. You've got to change your lifestyle dude. Live within your means. Save money so when you do lose your job it's no big deal man. You won't maybe lose your job you WILL lose it. Start preparing dude!
IFLYPLANEZBRO is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
airforcedude
Military
11
02-20-2011 06:19 AM
Gunpig
Cargo
0
05-06-2010 05:16 AM
MajorKong
Cargo
1
12-20-2007 05:48 AM
vagabond
Pilot Health
6
10-21-2007 12:07 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices