Hard to say without knowing what city you're commuting to. Are you talking about NYC where you'd have to commute and then cover three airports at Delta? What's the relative seniority at that base? Delta and Spirit both have fairly bleak seniority outlooks, but generally, I'd say Delta.

All the other stuff you said here, it's just totally wrong. I'm not upset or anything. I don't have a horse in this race. But you'll find out when you're in the 121 world that each company is different and has its own pilot culture. I do believe they're more similar than people like to think, but they are definitely still different (Delta doesn't "cosplay," they have a lot of ex-military guys who have influenced the culture there).

Can you post this in the Delta forums? I just made a fresh batch of popcorn.

That’s basically what I’m looking for, so why so many jumping ship?[/QUOTE]

I can’t speak for everyone’s reason for bailing NK for a legacy, but I can give you mine and assume it’s fairly similar to others.

I was on property for about 4 months when Covid kicked off. I was very envious of my friends at legacies. I knew that once the whole thing moved on there would still be AA, UA, DL. I could not say in confidence that there would be a NK anymore. I have two young kids, so career job security was a big one in my decision making. I have over 2000 below me at one of the largest airlines on the planet with 33 years left and massive retirements. So unless there’s another crazy black swan event here shortly, I will very hopefully always be able to support my family because I never see AA being dissolved. Especially now with our new LTD it gives me great ease of mind, which was my #1 factor.

I also fell into the “ego” trap of wanting to move to the legacy over LCC. Most people get into this dreaming of flying for XYZ legacy, few dream of flying yellow AB to Vegas. Hindsight that was a poor reason. I do the exact same thing at AA just with worse work rules now.

Career earnings and the potential of doing WB flying someday. You will make more in your career at a legacy, but also work more.

The F9 B6 deals was what really pushed me. I had no desire to work for F9, and B6 would have been a pita because of where I live. So whichever way that scenario went it wouldn’t have been good for myself and my family. Had NK said we are staying NK I still very well may have been there. Still the best company I have ever worked for.

I believe you’re catching a lot of heat on this forum because of your “sky god” attitude. You’re telling people that their 15,000 hours of 121 isn’t worth crap, while your 5,000 hours is gold. How tf do you know that? You’ve never done 121. Sure it’s not hand flying at night with a radial rmi down to mins in ice while on fire, but it has its own set of unique challenges. I bet you right now if you were thrown into the left seat with multiple mel’s, bad weather requiring multiple alternates, a pax disturbance, you are tight on your commute, and a FA who was just reassigned to your flight going into a day off you would not be able to get that flight LEGALLY off the gate.

So if you want to fly brand new airplanes with great crews with great qol and good pay, then NK is the place for you. But maybe cool the sky god attitude a bit before you get there. Go in excited to learn what 121 is about and add those skills to your already unique aviation skills.

good luck

Lol, you don’t know what you don’t know bud

Also seems lots of current spirit pilots are waiting for a call, I got zip 121 time have only apps out for a couple months, got interview invites from a few of the smaller ones including spirit, waiting on the big 3, ether way I ain’t sweating it, even with my current position life’s pretty good, home almost every night and I’m friends with everyone from the line guys to the owner.

Swing that purse harder daddy lol

For you and your 5k hours playing god of the skies, upgrade time will be 6 months max, if not right after IOE.

All the best

I’d like to agree with my compatriots here that Spirit is not right for you, and I’d like to suggest that Delta is also not the right fit for you either. Based off a cursory review I would have to say…Mesa? GoJet? Those might be more your speed

121 will hire everyone right now. But I really hope NK will pass on you. I have 4k+ ACMI, 4k+ 91k, 8k+ 121. You sound like an @$$ to work with regardless off the regulation #.

This was a good reply, thank you

Do you really think spirit would go bye bye or just get get merged into another airline like virgin and other have?

If I was targeting Detroit or Chicago area?

Thanks

I think DTW is a fairly junior base for Delta. I'd go there. Also, make sure you take a look at the frequency of flights from your home airport to any base you think you'd be considering.