I know that it depends on what company/airline you are with, but I was just wondering, in general, how does a job with an airline compare to a corporate job? I would appreciate any insights into comparisons of pay, QOL, schedules, etc. Thanks

Day and Night, apples and oranges, to be as general as possible. Something similar though is that you do fly a plane in both jobs.

I am furloughed from American (former TWA), and I have been flying for a pure Part 91 corporate flight department. My recall is coming in a few months to American, but I will bypass. My pay at American will be be at the nine year scale, but it would still be a pay cut if I went back. I love what I am doing now, and I don't plan on ever going back to the airlines. However, I will hold on to my seniority number as long as possible just in case. For me it all boils down to the particular company that you are with. Mine is great. My quality of life is much better than the airlines, but keep in mind that I was always a "commuter", and I never lived at one of my hubs. Now I drive ten minutes to work, and I fly about ten to fourteen days per month. Some months much less. Here's the big difference in my opinion: schedule. If you are the type of person that wants a schedule then corporate might be hard for you. If you don't mind having your schedule change from time to time then you will probably like it. For me corporate has been great. Good luck.

As stated before, it's really apples and oranges...

In the corporate world, I like the QOL, the way I'm treated, and the atmosphere (interation with passengers, good hotels, expense account). I miss larger equipment, a wide variety of destinations, travel benefits, and a large employee group.

I'll never make the money at this job that I would at a fractional or an airline (won't really even come close). But when you compare my pay (salary) to airline pilot on a per flight hour basis (IE: Salary divided by hours flown), I top any airline pilot that I know.

I've turned down two airline opportunities to stay in the corporate world.

I would choose a kick ass corporate job over a major 121 carrier. If I'm at a regional, and CO, DL, or NW offer me a job, but I had the chance to fly the Deutche Bank, Zurich or Citigroup corporate jet, I'll go with the corporate job. Bus or Limo driver, personal choice.......

UPS and Fedex, I would think about it.

Congrats elcid. This is huge! Driving 10 minutes to go to work. Schedules at a corporate flight department can be awesome, looks like elcid found that. I am also ex-TWA but found work at a great airline. Nothing is for certain but I am hopeful that there is better job security with the package carriers. I would much rather fly corporate though than any pax carrier. I would seriously consider NetJets too, with their new contract and as many as 100 new pilot bases.


Good Luck

Boy, you're not kidding. If it wasn't for that 7 days away part (tough for families with small kids), that NetJets TA just looks out of this world!

Speaking from experience, it is a huge plus living 10 minutes from work.

Best of Luck Luckydawg. Glad to see that you are where you want to be. I agree, the freight guys seem to be the place to be as far as airlines go.

PARKING 50 feet from the airplane is a nice perk too.

At the airlines by the time I got off the plane, dropped off my bag in the crew-room, waited for the bus to the parking lot, got to my car and drove home it was over an hour!!!

Now i'm walking in my door 25 minutes after touchdown.