Flying in the majors is a goal of mine. I would love to fly large complex aircraft and get paid very well to do so with plenty of time off. I have heard though that there are a lot of negatives as well (furloughs, corporate greed, bankruptcy, job-insecurity). How many here have had good expeiences vs. negative experiences?

It was my goal too. Life is not perfect. I'm flying at a major and take a 767 to Amsterdam tonight. I can put up with the other little stuff. I get paid to do what I like. I won't do anything else.

In a related question, those of you have done the regional route and made it to a major. Is QOL that much better at a major? I am sure it was back in the day, but currently it seems the gap is closing between the two. If you were to do it over, would it make more sense to stick with a 'solid' regional and collect your 80-90k and get 18-20 days off per month?

If you work for an airline with good work rules, it's much better. Even at airlines where the rules have been gutted, I've heard that the wide-body trips are still good.

I don't know what a senior RJ schedule looks like, but I typically fly a 4 day trip with 4-6 legs total, worth 21-24 hours pay. Layovers are typically 14-20 hours. If you fly to Europe, a three day trip has 2 legs, a 24 hour layover, and is worth 17-20 hours pay.

I was a senior Captain and checkairman at Expressjet (number 14 in KEWR and under 50 in the company out of 3000 pilots), and I can tell you the major is much better. I left $90K for new hire at a major. The quality of life is better and I'll get my pay back soon and more. Less legs, more days off, more productive flying, better destinations, etc.

9 year CA pay at Express = 2 year FO (widebody) pay at CAL.
New hires (some) are getting 767 & 777 in EWR. I'm taking a 767 tonight to Europe. To each their own, I'll take the major any day.

RT,

Tell Hermack he's a big PE loser for me. Enjoy AMS and I hope you get a Business First seat for the deadhead.

I'll tell you what. The worst day in the cockpit still beats the best day sitting behind a boaring stationary desk.

The only problem is, a solid regional or major today, might not be one tomorrow. So you'll never know if you made the right choice until you retire.

18-20 days off a month???Please step away from the crack pipe my friend..

Well for sept we have 8 lines with 19 days off, 11 lines with 18 days off. They are either 3 day trips or day trips. Nothing with 20 this month, but it happens. 92 lines total. So, 20% of the lines have at least 18 days off.