I've done both and, for a career, living in base for a legacy is hard to beat. If you have to commute, that sucks a lot of the fun out of it. That said, NJ was some of the best flying I ever did. Big airports, little ones and everything in between. Also, I liked being able to give first class service. The airlines are an airborne bus service these days. But for pay, benefits and overall QOL go for the legacy if you don't have to commute.
Sailaway

QOL. That's really it, isn't it? I am looking at NJ again after leaving 10+ years ago. But, anywhere I go from here will be hard to beat being home every night and not working weekends, holidays or any other days I decide to take off. QOL...there you go...

You're a new hire so you weren't around NJA before the recession. Of course people are going to be disgruntled, it was a really really good job before the recession.

I know I'm new, you guys act like nobody else in the industry has suffered. It's comments like that, that make us a pilot group lose credibility and sympathy from other pilots. I promise you, NetJets pilots didn't have it the worst as an industry, and they still don't.

There's no reason to not be upset with the current company climate. But when you're mad at the company, mad at the FO, mad at the line guys, mad at the airline staff you're traveling on, mad at the girl being the front desk of the FBO or hotel, mad at the waitress bringing your beer to the table, it is over the top. I have spent 7 day tours with pilots that I would bet my life savings on, will just go and ***** at United or AA.

Unfortunately I do not live near a JetBlue base. Otherwise this might be an easier decision. I commuted to a regional job 20+ years ago and hated it. And I was single then... Can't imagine doing that with a family. Hats off to the guys that do.

Any JetBlue guys care to weigh in on how commutable lines are?

Anyway, thanks for all the replies in this difficult decision...

hkdguy

Tough call, man. If you were an FO without much hope for an upgrade anytime soon, that'd be one thing. But you make decent money, and I'm assuming you have a pretty good QOL. Nuking your QOL (via commuting) for an incremental increase in overall earning potential would make me nervous.

Seems like both Spirit and SWA have been hiring the fractional pilots I know. That first year pay at Spirit is a real drop but it gets marginally better in time. I heard upgrade time at Spirit is now 4 years. You will be a professional FO if you move to SWA but you can make a lot of money flying the corndog.

I really appreciate everyone's replies.

Bottom line is I have to decide whether my QOL at work trumps my family's financial security in the short run.

Very tough decision...

Thanks again to all.

hkdguy

Long term you're better off at a good airline! Get in the left seat and start counting the money. Buffet isn't going to hold on to NJA forever!! Bank on that one.

I think you accidentally nailed the two keys to the issue. Short term and QOL. It's a short term hit for a long term gain. And it's not just your QOL at work, it's also your family's QOL as well. I can't fathom being away from my family for 7 days stretches every other week. I get antsy after 2 days on the road. I, on average, give JB 10 days of work a month. 20 days at home with the family is huge for you and your family....