OP, stay at F9 and upgrade ASAP. I think you guys and NK or JBA will probably be tying up eventually so lock in that captain seat when you can.

One thing that you’re underestimating is how much nicer of a work environment is on the Airbus vs. the 73. I’ve been on the B737 fifteen years now and when I think about being on it for over 30 years total I kinda wanna hang myself.

Stay at F9, enjoy the MUCH nicer cockpit, much quicker upgrade and realize that MCO is very senior at SWA especially in the left seat. Your career advancement in that domicile will be SLOOOOOOOW.

Or go to Mesa. You'll be senior as fucc really fast.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/9058Z...UUPl/giphy.gif

Bingo to your bingo.......

The captains list does not move much in MCO.

For every retirement, there is always another senior carpetbagger pre positioning for retirement moving down here from BWI or MDW to take their place.

Been like this since MCO opened 20 years ago, and I don't see it changing, unless the wave of locusts invading FL vote in a state income tax.

A close friend of mine upgraded in HOU 5 years ago, and commuted from MCO until last year, which was the first opportunity to get back into MCO. He is sitting less than 10 from the bottom, and always sweating holding on to that.

My 15 year plan... Have a house in Florida, (check) and then go buy another house outside of BWI or MDW or name a Junior Captain base that's not in California... use it as a crash pad when I can't hold MCO lol.

Interesting situation. I'm debating a similar move myself and would love some input and opinions. Currently at HAL for almost 4 years. It's a great company, I just really don't like living in Hawaii (high cost of living, island fever, bad schools, etc), especially being so far from family who live on the east coast. We are for sure moving to the mainland so I will be commuting to Hawaii going forward. I can pretty much get the schedule I want. Debating if its worth it to leave for SWA or another airline and not have to commute so far. Possibly even move to base depending on where I would get picked up and what bases they have. It is worth starting over somewhere else? Ideally we would end up on the east coast, but going west coast for now to make the commute not as horrendous.

If you're moving to the mainland, that commute (to me) would be enough to jump ship. And if that's the case, the sooner the better (obviously). If you want East Coast, you could probably hold BWI fairly quickly.

Not even a close discussion, that commute would wear anyone out physically and emotionally. All the majors are hiring and almost all of them make NYC their junior base. Living on the east coast is not the west coast, but seniority climb is spectacular as it's eternally junior. Europe flying at any of the majors from the East Coast is the easiest flying, most remunerated flying in the US airline system.

How many years do you have left? Where in the HAL master seniority list do you stack up and where on the East Coast does your family live that you’d like to be closer to?

I’d second that. Would love to be doing that kind of flying.