I have been on furlough from SWISS International Air Lines for 3 1/2 years. I unexpectedly got my recall letter yesterday after not having ever expected to really hear from them again.

This is not a slam dunk at all as to whether or not I will return there. There are a number of reasons I might not, but I have a little while to decide and at least this gives me some options.

I am still walking around speechless!!!

But at least this time I get to decide if I want them, not them getting to decide if they want me. I would be back in Europe flying out of ZRH to places like CDG, FCO, LCY, MAD, BCN, TLS, LYS, AMS, FRA again!! Yay!

All you AWAC dudes and dudettes MIGHT MAYBE POSSIBLY get to move up one. Maybe. Not sure yet.

Congrats, what will fly for them if you go back?

Congrats, man.

Congrats man...its a tough (good) decision to make. Well, maybe not that hard...

Left there almost 11 years ago and never looked back!

What are you going to fly? The Avro RJ?

It's a great feeling to have options. Good luck in whatever you choose.

SWISS did not exist 11 years ago. Were you with Crossair or Swissair?

Yeah, the Avro is the one on offer at the moment.

I have a couple of irons in the fire here in the US too. If one of them pans out that is what I will take. But so far no interview yet.

SWISS has been cut into two parts, with the former Swissair pilots doing all they can to differentiate the Avro guys and keep them at a lower level of pay and keep them out of the Airbus fleet. This is one of the reasons I can see not going back.

One reason to return is that I would immediately earn 50% more than I earn now and would get some QOL back. But upgrade is uncertain there and nobody knows how they will ultimately integrate the two sides, i.e. if the Avro guys will ever be allowed to go to the Airbus fleet.

We'll see. But the wheels are in motion for this to happen. The next few weeks will tell. At least I have options now.

Is 50 percent pay anywhere near enough to live in Switzerland? Switzerland is an awesome place where I would love to live or at least travel to again many more times, but it is also about the most expensive country I've visited. I looked into at least one of the EMB-145 contracts based in Switzerland and I honestly can't figure out how anyone could live on that little money over there. I'd heard that the airline jobs there were truly awesome pre 9/11, but that the pay and benefits took a huge cut since. Good luck whatever you decide.

50% MORE than I earn now.

Also, Switzerland is not much more expensive than Washington DC, where I am currently trying to live.

"What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;"...or not so sweet

Swiss International is the result of SwissAir going bankrupt and Crossair taking over the business side. Yeah, I was Crossair. It's nice to have options and I would take it and continue to build decent time, but be looking to get out at the first good opportunity.

Two things:

The former Swissair pilots will continue to want to differentiate you and;

Upgrade is uncertain because there is no real seniority there.

"If you're not born in Switzerland, you'll never be Swiss." Heard that a time or two.

Good luck!