Welcome aboard. It’s a good place with good folks. Except for that guy in the ___ domicile. 😜

Very refreshing to see someone who knows there's more to life than money. Airline pilots wouldn't have the reputation of having multiple divorces.

"I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy you love," --The Beatles

Congrats BB, its got to feel good to have made the decision. Stick with it and don't ever look back.

The beauty of SW is that you can have both, especially once you get a little seniority and put some effort into manipulating your schedule.........


This month, I broke my long standing rule of never working over vacation, well kinda.

After being home a month of my 2 months off, I picked up a 3 day premium trip in the 4 days in between my vacation overlap, breaking my all time TFP record FWIW. It doesn't happen often, but it's nice when it works out.

From reading these posts, it sounds as if you would have a much better QOL at Southwest. Your job appears very stressful, and not that enjoyable. The money looks great for now, but who knows if that will last. It's so much more than money that's important, especially since you don't know for sure how it will shake out in the end. You are really young, you have decades left in this career. You keep talking like you're an old guy, with not much time left to fly! It is much less stressful to be someone with a seniority number, with schedule flexibility and choices.

Commuting is tough at most airlines (except for FedEx). But it sounds reasonable at SW, they seem to make it as palatable as possible. The reality is, if it was too onerous, you always have the choice to move to base. I know, the wife, the kids are planted...but it really is not the end of the world to move. If you can be home much more often, make a higher salary, just consider it is an option, don't write it off.

Congratulations, I hope it ends up being one of the best decisions you have ever made.

It's been interesting reading this thread. I'm a former longtime corporate guy myself, on line at SWA now for all of two months. My training partner was corporate, as well, and I think he summed it up best:

No matter how good corporate may seem, now matter how shiny the equipment and how nice the crew meals and hotels and rental cars and all the other accouterments that come from being a kept man may seem, it all comes down to one thing: you're always gonna be someone's beyotch.

It ain't all wine and roses here, especially this first year, but I can see what the future holds, and I like it. I also like looking back and seeing a hundred-and-fifty or so folks who inhabit, more or less, the same tax bracket as I do. It's better for the soul.

Best of luck, BB818. Good to have you aboard.

I’ve been out of Part 91 corporate for 4.5 years now. There are a lot of things that I miss. Clean FBO bathrooms, courtesy cars, no crowded terminals. Sometimes choosing my own hotels.

At the end of the day though, I like the airline job better. A few ways I’ve explained it to my coworkers who have never flown corporate...

“Imagine being on reserve for your entire career with no work rules.”

“Airline flying is 99% flying and 1% bull poop. Corporate flying is 99% bull poop and 1% flying”

“When I flew corporate I always felt as though I was wasting the days of my life. I would fly one leg to a hotel in Toluca, sit there for a week, and fly one leg home. While I was there, I was just passing time. Not productive to my company (just babysitting the airplane). Not productive to my family.”

The cherry on top though is the flexibility to manipulate my schedule month by month. After 4 years at this airline I have weekends and holidays off. I don’t miss a single one of my child’s school events or games. I can fly more if I want to make more. Or just fly my line.

Is it perfect? No. I complain a ton. It’s a hobby. But I am also willing to compare and contrast this company truthfully against the corporation and the other airlines I’ve worked for. It measures up well.

You’re making the right decision.






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It's been really interesting to follow this post. When I got out of the military I had a couple of offers from some very high end flight departments. Money was at the level you are talking about, equipment was fantastic, etc..etc.. But, as one person said in this forum, I was always going to be someone else's beyotch...". So I went with the airlines.

It'll suck for a year or so for you compared to your old gig and there'll be a financial hit early. No way around that. But long term, they just aren't comparable. Although, like you, I'd have made more money out the gate with the corporate job; the QOL and flexibility of schedule I've had as an airline pilot is just beyond compare.

In the end, it was the best decision I could have made and I'm glad I'm flying in the airline world vs the corporate world. I hope you end up feeling the same way. Happy holidays and good luck!

Thank you all for your input. This thread has helped me tremendously.