This is My Screen Name
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Appreciate it, will hit you up if necessary.
Reality check
- Thread starter This is My Screen Name
- Start date
Appreciate it, will hit you up if necessary.
This is My Screen Name
Well-Known Member
In semi related news...
In general it doesn't make sense to make a lateral move, so I'd like run my thoughts through ya'll filters as I've only been around 121 aviation for 2 years as my previous 4 years in aviation was pt 91 helicopters - don't have the airplane hours that ULCC and LCC are looking for yet. Open to any thoughts or points of view I may not have considered.
Currently with an AA WO, 2 years seniority, approx 3 - 4 more years to flow, pay at lower end of market, weak contract in my opinion, "good stuff" supposedly coming for months now, low morale among ranks, forced upgrade to Captain where you'll actually take a pay hit on reserve vs good FO schedule, I'm generally unhappy with choice but not totally dissatisfied (it is a regional after all... can't expect much...)
Interviewing with a DL WO, start over on seniority, guaranteed interview - will need to finish degree (was planning to anyhow), much better pay rates, contract appears much better, aware that the grass isn't always greener but money fixes a lot of problems, IF something were to happen and the music stopped would be a better place to be stuck at in my opinion.
So in my mind its
- I stay in place, take a break with my upcoming military orders and maybe the "good stuff" that is supposedly coming will actually come...
- Start over with much better pay but with upcoming military orders it kind of takes the sting out of being at the bottom of ladder when I return...
Thoughts ?
In general it doesn't make sense to make a lateral move, so I'd like run my thoughts through ya'll filters as I've only been around 121 aviation for 2 years as my previous 4 years in aviation was pt 91 helicopters - don't have the airplane hours that ULCC and LCC are looking for yet. Open to any thoughts or points of view I may not have considered.
Currently with an AA WO, 2 years seniority, approx 3 - 4 more years to flow, pay at lower end of market, weak contract in my opinion, "good stuff" supposedly coming for months now, low morale among ranks, forced upgrade to Captain where you'll actually take a pay hit on reserve vs good FO schedule, I'm generally unhappy with choice but not totally dissatisfied (it is a regional after all... can't expect much...)
Interviewing with a DL WO, start over on seniority, guaranteed interview - will need to finish degree (was planning to anyhow), much better pay rates, contract appears much better, aware that the grass isn't always greener but money fixes a lot of problems, IF something were to happen and the music stopped would be a better place to be stuck at in my opinion.
So in my mind its
- I stay in place, take a break with my upcoming military orders and maybe the "good stuff" that is supposedly coming will actually come...
- Start over with much better pay but with upcoming military orders it kind of takes the sting out of being at the bottom of ladder when I return...
Thoughts ?
How long would you be away on orders? Starting over would basically kick upgrade back another 2-3 years.
We all think it's better everywhere else, and sometimes we may be correct. If you absolutely can't live on the money you're making now, maybe think about the move. Otherwise embrace the suck and upgrade asap
We all think it's better everywhere else, and sometimes we may be correct. If you absolutely can't live on the money you're making now, maybe think about the move. Otherwise embrace the suck and upgrade asap
This is My Screen Name
Well-Known Member
Eligible and awarded upgrade but can't take the upgrade due to not being able to finish before military orders start. Upgrade will actually be a pay cut after you factor in only MMG and a crash pad.
Military orders are 20 months total.
Yea, it seems silly to even consider if you think that by the time I get back from orders I'll only have like 1 year before I flow(best case scenario). However, after working somewhere a while and seeing how they do business vs how other companies do business I'm not exactly sure I want to stay.
Military orders are 20 months total.
Yea, it seems silly to even consider if you think that by the time I get back from orders I'll only have like 1 year before I flow(best case scenario). However, after working somewhere a while and seeing how they do business vs how other companies do business I'm not exactly sure I want to stay.
milleR
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure I understand the logic behind jumping ship. You don't like where you're at, but you're going away on orders for almost 2 years, will come back with that accrued seniority and upgrade waiting, maybe a year or two to flow to AA and you're done. Why give that up and punch reset on your entire timeline? Regionals are a means to an end, just because you don't like the way your current shop operates isn't a good enough reason to reset your career clock imo.
F
Flying Saluki
Guest
So your "greener pastures" is another regional? That changes everything.
Go to the interview, be honest if asked. But the regionals are so desperate for pilots that it's probably more of a question of "when can you start?" rather than "why should we hire you?"
That said, a regional is a regional is a regional. They're pretty much all the same. Right now, regional A might pay slightly more than regional B, and regional B might have some better work rules than regional C, but tomorrow that will change. The place to be today is the place that everyone will be looking to escape from tomorrow. Go with the one that has an overall solid reputation in the industry, and which offers you a base in a place you want to live.
Another factor to consider is the time away from flying, combined with starting at a new company. It's one thing to come back from a year or two away and re-learn everything. It's another to learn a whole new everything after not doing it for a couple years, not to mention being on new-hire/probationary status while you're doing it. And what if the new company stops hiring or does layoffs while you're gone? Doesn't sound like a formula for happiness and success to me.
If it were me, I'd stick it out where you are, and see what's what when you come back after the orders.
BigZ
Well-Known Member
I'd stick where you are. Work with the company to see if the upgrade schedule can be moved closer to finish before the military orders.
This is My Screen Name
Well-Known Member
I asked to be put in an earlier class and was told no.
This is My Screen Name
Well-Known Member
That last thought has definitely crossed my mind.
Good point about relearning old vs relearning new.
yes, the absurdity of trading one set of fleas for another has crossed my mind. Did I say how I unhappy I was ?
This is My Screen Name
Well-Known Member
Duly noted.
If I wasn't clear though, when I say how "they" do business I'm including mainline into that equation (they give the marching orders and we are slowly mirroring their practices).
The only logic is hopefully trading unhappy with happy.
This is My Screen Name
Well-Known Member
For the record, I know several others with less seniority making the same or similar leap and a couple of friends with similar seniority also considering the move for similar reasons.
milleR
Well-Known Member
Ah, gotcha. Well that changes things then. If AA isn't where you want to hang your hat then yeah, moving on would make sense. Though I have to imagine getting on with a different carrier is easier if you're already at a mainline.
Autothrust Blue
”…trusting ze process…”
Flow > “guaranteed interview” at SouthernJettes; hands down, no questions asked.
SlumTodd_Millionaire
Most Hated Member
Man, this is just an epically bad idea. Wait for the flow, man.
They're not in your shoes. You're basically getting a year and a half break from the company, and eating up flow time. When you upgrade upon return you may be able to hold a line and make more money.
Autothrust Blue
”…trusting ze process…”
Yeah. (1) Thank you for your service, and (2) Oh, the humanity!
This is My Screen Name
Well-Known Member
That is definitely a huge consideration that has been thought upon.
This is My Screen Name
Well-Known Member
One of the guys I know that recently interviewed and put in their notice has Sep 4 class date, so 1 month from interview to class.
This is My Screen Name
Well-Known Member
Unless the flow leads to a place you don't want to be... that is how much I'm not liking my job. Spent too many years in prior career being unhappy, I'm not going to do that again.
In any event its not like I'll be deciding today and its not like I'm jumping ship at the first sign of trouble. Lastly, riding out the storm is not off the table - as previously stated the irony of trading fleas is not lost on me.
Appreciate the thoughts very much.