If you’re in your 40s with 5 years of seniority, this is purely an emotional choice that you may only break even on and will likely cost you more days away from home due to loss of seniority/PBS in what’s left of your career. If you’re hanging on to some sick time, it’s an even unwiser choice to leave. I know my sick bank combined with my retro check is valued well north of 6 figures. You’re leaving that on the table to make half of what you are now over the next couple of years, a true 2 weeks of vacation due to PBS, and a zeroed out sick bank.

Use your sick time to keep yourself mentally healthy, enjoy your eventual 5 weeks of vacation a year, which combined can result in 4+ months off per year, and come to terms with the fact that maybe you should have gone somewhere else, but that ship has sailed. It’s just a job, no where near as good as we all had hoped. Our product is embarrassing, and it’s hard to come to work, but I think my overall QOL would suffer to start over again. Not worth it to feel better about the times I am at work.

It’s only worth it to avoid the commute.

 

5 weeks of vacation comes after finishing 18 years. That means 19 years at SWA to get 5 weeks. If you have been here 5 years you have another 14 years to go ,to receive the 5 weeks vacation. I think you are giving bad advice

 

Really? I said eventual. So he’s currently enjoying almost 2 months off per year for vacation with line bidding that pays him north of 40TFP without really trying hard. In another 10 years he’ll add another month plus to that… not including sick time. How long does he have to be at DA to enjoy 4+ months off per year? Nothing like waiting til your late 50s to enjoy that time off. I’m no coolie. I’ve thought about bailing, but it’s an emotional decision.

Vacation is just one aspect of the decision. While everyone’s particular situation may vary, my advice was, all things considered, leaving in your 40s with 5 years, and a big sick bank is probably not in your financial or personal QOL best interest. Three or four years ago, yes, probably. But DA and UA are on the back side of their hiring. You’re gonna be throwing gear in a WB for someone 10 years younger than you in 10 years.

 

I’m no master (yet) in figuring out all the ways of the Widget, and only giving a personal observation so don’t attack…however from what I’ve seen of some savvy players, they don’t have just two weeks of vacation and that’s it. Sure that’s the initial PBS award, but then they tactically use APD, IVD, and/or banked PB and some combo there of (I’m still learning it all) that they end up having 3-4 weeks off. Now will a 2nd year FO or CA have July vacation? Probably not. Probably not at SWA either but regardless of the month, with savvy gamesmanship (at both employers) one can create quite a number of weeks off. The values could be different but in hard time off, I think the SWA pilot would be impressed, and vice versa.

Also in regards to income, with the same savvy gamesmanship which I/we had/have at SWA, Widget players have their games. I’ve seen some monthly totals on the 73N and 7ER that can make certain MDW cappies blush or at least give a pat on the back. Will you give up days off? Absolutely. Same as I did at SWA hunting for 140-160 TFP. Like anywhere, just gotta learn the game.

I am definitely not saying one is better than the other. Heck, I can’t even say if I made the right move (let you know in 22 years), but I can say is that there’s potential to do whatever it is you want to do at many different companies. SWA was great for me while there. I miss a lot of the people but I saw a path to do what I really wanted (long haul) and luckily my personal situation allowed me to do it. I encourage anyone thinking about a move to make it as scientific as possible. Be data driven in your approach. I made spreadsheets galore and pro/con lists. It helped me make a very emotional decision, rational. I didn’t leave in anger, I have no axe to grind, I simply left because the data showed I could and thus it took the emotion out of it. Being at SWA will probably be a great and safe career. A career worth having. Probably in this wave of hiring, so can be said of the legacies. One thing is certain, no company is safe from furlough and how deep any could go is a guess so having a comfortable margin between you and the plug should also fit into you equation…says the guy only a few hundred from the plug!

Fly safe, take care of one another, and Stay Frosty my friends!

 

I have no doubt you made the right choice, Frosty. Your posts are very well thought out. Safe travels.

 

that's why I want 6 weeks of vacation as a top out and accrual much quicker.
Name one other profession that you have to wait 19 yrs to get 5 weeks of vacation? Most get 6 weeks very quickly if not immediately.

 

Very much agreed. I’d LOVE to have a sixth week of vacation but unfortunately there’s no push for that.

🔥👇

 

they un-AIPd 7 sections so can we!

 

our contract is evolving, just in reverse!

 

that pretty much sums up everything in seven words.