Lotsof Blue

I'm currently with a big fractional and have a job offer in hand for next month. Seriously contemplating Spirit. 50 something, middle seniority, and made 180k last year. Have home basing, can bid scheds/vaca of my choice, but tired of life on the road at the frac.

Wondering what others think, would it be worth the hit in pay for a few years for better QOL? I'm looking at around a $150k hit (or more) until upgrade. Any scuttle butt on upgrade times?

I've seen as low as 2.5(ish) years currently, anyone want to guess; would that time frame remain, stagnate, or improve?

I turn 65 in less than 10yrs and with a three year or less UG, the money is a wash. Longer than that and the numbers don't work as well.

Thanks from a newb to the forum.

ForTheWin

It entirely depends on a new aircraft order. With one, upgrades will continue in current pace; without, movement will grind to a screeching halt in the not-too-distant future.

That said, all signs point to another order soon. So you should be good. But this is aviation and something about the best laid plans...
Who knows, I'd say the growth is certain to come; but it may (most likely) be in the form of merger. And it could even be both merger and new aircraft order.

Voltron12

I have also gathered that there are 4 days off between pairings which for me would be life changing to say the least. To have that time off would allow me time to be with family and friends and not feel rushed to get back into the grove. If and when everything settles I plan to be there for a very long time. I have a lot of years left "20 plus". I will gather all my research but overall I think it will be a massive improvement in all areas.

FlyingOkra

Macjet

If you're QS there are a lot of us here. I don't know of any FX here but that's not to say that there aren't any.

If you read the investor presentations and SEC filing all signs point towards sustained growth. They claim our business model works in something like 500+ markets and we currently serve 65+/-.

God help us all if Southwest buys us.

Packrat

Lotsof Blue,

Check your PMs

FNGFO

There’s a goodly number of FX here or in the pipeline. And those that come seem to be pretty happy with the decision.

Macjet

Good for them. I didn't know we had so many but that's good to hear.

a2cbus

Keep in mind it’s more of a 4 days off between “sequences”. I’m working two sets of 6 days (2 day followed by a 4 day, and a 3 day followed by a 3 day). Both had about 14-16 hours off between. Open time in my base and seat has been scarce this month to trade out of it.

Next month my line has two 6 day squences (one 4 day-2 day and one 3 day-3 day), one 3 day pairing, and a 4 day pairing that is two days at the end of the month carrying over to two days in May. Total 13 days off, 75 hours credit, one solid weekend off and two partial weekends off (Sundays). I bid in the 65th percentile in my seat and base. I was bidding to have that one specific weekend off.

Most lines in my base had one or two weekends off. Only 3 lines had three weekends off, and none and all weekends off. I mention this because you mentioned time with family and friends. If your family and friends are like mine, events happen on the weekends. I dread having a month where there is two weekends I need off. Yes, there are more with partial weekends off.

In my opinion with 10 years left you may want to stay put. Once you upgrade, flexibility as far as trading trips may decrease as you aren’t moving up the list as fast.

YMMV. Good luck to you!

Lotsof Blue

Thanks for the input, everyone! It looks like Spirit has a bright future and is a great place to work. At my age and seniority, tough call at this point.