Originally Posted by
Thumb War
Thanks for the reply Kenny, I appreciate that there are many variables.
So let’s say someone mid career, a kid or two, and (maybe I assume incorrectly) at the moment an E3 has no realistic prospect of joining a major so would top out with Spirit or the likes.
I would think that if you’re young and uncommitted it’s definitely the way to go. Also if you haven’t got much seniority and the family is keen. Mid career and on a decent, though deteriorating wicket, it’s trickier.
The temptation for me is that the hits to our contract and QoL in Aus are coming harder and faster. In a few years it’ll be too late - opportunity is knocking.
The main issue and there are guys here that would have a better idea of things, is that none of the legacy carriers here are going the E3 route. That may change but not at the moment. So the LCC are the best option and the pay is limited at the beginning because that’s the way it is here. But the offset is that you won’t pay for an endorsement here, the taxes will be far less and the cost of living, for the most part, is significantly less. Commands or upgrade as it’s known here are coming thick and fast. At United, we have command slots going unfilled. Think about that, guys are passing up USD$300k jobs (at 1 year with the company) because they’re doing well enough as FO’s. There are other reasons but that’s a long conversation.
Now, going by what my mates that are CA’s at LCC’s tell me, they are making more than enough and they’re happy. So, it’s not all bad, if you don’t get to the majors. Personally, the financial reward at United, Delta or American is simply due in large part, to the extent they’re affected by any and all geopolitical situations that may or may not happen, at any time around the world. It doesn’t take much for things to go to sh!t and thousands get furloughed for a year or more. It’s happened before and at some stage, will likely happen again.
Let me put it like this. I have an Aussie mate, mid 40’s, ex CX skipper who quit and up-stakes to the US within days of getting his GC via the lottery. No kids but he is as happy a pilot as I’ve ever seen. And we are not the easiest bunch to keep happy.