No risk, no reward. Heck, trade TSLA like a sharks tooth.

I know I wouldn’t be the first to take the cut and I agree with quote above. Doesn’t make it any easier. Grateful to have 1st world problems. Thanks again for the comments.

if you have thoughts about it or asking about it
I hate to say but you have not done your homework

when you get the job offer you should ask this question again
I believe you will not ask though

15 years work at UAL will bring you one million on your retirement
20 years work 1.5 million
25 years work 2.2 million

Thats B and C fund of 16% and 401k of your own max annually

105k year one W2
158k
195k
228k
248k
255k
265k
275k

Is that good enough ?
Numbers are random and achievable BTW
Just to give you a hint

Min pay guarantee on reserve is 73/month. Line holder is 70. Is 876 and 840 per year just to start. You can multiply by the rates published elsewhere on this site. Multiply by 1.16 to get an idea of total compensation including B-fund.

If you’re a hustler skies the limit, especially if you live in base. Narrow body, in base in the summer, 150 hours/month is not hard to do.

There is an entire thread called end of year salary survey you can spend some time on should answer your question. The ultimate answer will be up to you though. If you live in domicile and play the game (premium, Sr man, VDO etc.) you can do well above min guarantee. As a general rule take the hourly rate and x1000 and that’s your yearly pay.

Also remember that it’s called an economic cycle for a reason so when the music eventually stops the flying will slow. It will happen, we just don’t know when. Pilots companywide will be flying the low end of the credit range and those that really hustle will be fighting over scraps. Junior pilots with high credit months will be something that’s talked about in the past tense.

High credit is something to enjoy but not something to expect when making financial plans for your family.

We have lots of guys in the bottom 1/3 of the seniority list that have not seen anything other than great times at UA. Half of them are veterans of the “lost decade” and know the score. The other half not so much.

Budget min guarantee and don't' sweat the rest.

Something along these lines was going to be my next post. Airlines cycle up and down, when and how deep is anyone’s guess. Supporting a family with a stable job is not something to take lightly.

Starting over at the bottom of the list, commuting, reserve, not being home for weekends or holidays, no summer vacations for the foreseeable future, possible furloughs, etc etc.

This career has some serious downsides to consider too. Especially for an older established person.

I did it....don't regret it one bit.

Short term loss, long term gain.

By year 3 I'll be making more than at any of the corporate gigs I was at, plus the 16% B fund...it's a no-brainer.

This is the easiest flying job I've ever had. Haven't had to change a crapper yet, or load/unload bags, clean a cabin, etc.

Show up on time, do your job, go home. Don't call me and I'll show up on time for my next trip...unless I want some premium pay, then call me all you want and pay me double what the trip is worth.

The beauty of the airline is the diversity of flying, as well as the fact that you can work as much or as little as you want. There's something for everybody, and you can change back and forth as you see fit.

When my buddy who had been here for 10 years showed me his pay stub (and he wasn't working hard that month) I knew I had to get out of corporate aviation and on the gravy train ASAFP.

Good luck to you.

I can't wait for the next downturn.
Right now I'm hustling (hitting 90-100 credit hrs/mo as a commuter) but banking a ton of coin. As soon as things slow down, I'll be dropping trips and taking a lot of vacations. Make hay while the sun shines and definitely make sure to save for a rainy day.