You should consider where both companies will or won't be in 10 or 20 years.

Posted here.

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/2189387-post2105.html

Your advice is pretty good, and welcome. Truth be told, I do like what I do, I do like the schedule, and our pay is coming up. I fly airplanes that are all owned by AA, for a company owned by AA. I don't think it's going anywhere for a while.

I can see a certain appeal to the ACMI lifestyle, in particular the aircraft and crazy destinations. I've done enough 135 freight that I know how to operate independently and get things done within the confines of my responsibilities and abilities.

I'm also, like you, single, but no kids. Truth is, I'd rather not stay that way, and that alone will probably influence my decision more than anything else.

In most ways, yes. Like I said though, I can see the appeal and feel like I have a pretty good grasp of the downsides.

True also. I'm probably not off the street Delta or United material quite frankly. I'd take JB in a heartbeat though.

That's honestly the biggest concern I'd have about Kalitta.

I wish we had a "like" button on here. This response was perfect.

I think I've been around the forums enough to grasp that, but at the same time I do like hearing the various counterpoints while running everything through my personal BS filter.

I have been talking with a former coworker that works there and his perspective has been universally positive, so it's nice to come on here and get a little balance.

I am leaning towards staying pax though.

Im not forcing my opinion on anyone. Im a realist and been involved in aviation for a very long time. When someone says they're going to "flow" in five years it tells me how unrealistic someone is about this profession.

I tell everyone get a job offer and then decide if its a right fit.

I did ACMI for 15 yrs and then made the switch to a major. For QOL you cannot beat a major. It is unbelievable how different it is to have control over your schedule and be able to move trips around and not be gone so much at a time.
The flip side is the trips aren't as much fun and either are the crews and generally they aren't as good as pilots.
But for money and QOL for me it's been with a major.

I'm at a Frac now but I agree about the crews being more fun, and the layovers : ) K4 rocked !!!

I agree! K4 has lots of good layovers. The dreaded 3 day layover in Honolulu on Waikiki Beach is one of them! And that unbearable Shangri-La Hotel in Hong Kong is another!!

Or anyplace in Riga : )