Here are links to some musings from previous times we've taken a ride on this merry-go-round in 2007 and 2010 (although this topic has been discussed numerous other times, and bears searching and reading for anyone who is actually asking themselves this question). Although the industry is notably different now vs in 2007, in my opinion we're still ultimately left with the same basic fact that both of these previous discussions point out:
Any long-term financial advantage of the guy who leaves as soon as his commitment is up and goes directly to a career at a major airline is completely wiped out by a furlough or bankruptcy at that major.
It is a gamble either way, but only one of the two choices results in having a "guaranteed" $35K+/year being deposited in your bank account.
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...ould-i-go.html
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/ma...-airlines.html
As someone who is just joining the check-of-month club, now looking back on things in their entirety, I am in the camp that says, if your family and lifestyle can swing the aforementioned "hybrid option" with a reserve gig as a parachute against airline industry unrest, that's the best way. As I've posted before, that isn't a path that works for everyone:
Quote:
I was told by a friend who flies F-15s for the ANG <paraphrasing>:
"You've got your airline job, your Guard job, and your family. Pick two that you want to do well, because you don't have enough time for all three."