which is the smarter choice? to anyone who wants to answer

[lightoutandarmed]

... if you were to be given an option. a 747-400 FO position (huge pay)
or a 737-200 captainship (smaller pay)

which would be the smarter choice?
i've got no command time whatsoever and i'm 33.career wise which is the right thing to do?
suggestions or opinions very welcome
thanks

[Plastic Bug]

Well,

A: You have 27 years to go

and

B: Do you want money or responsibility?

Me? I'd take the money and run laughing to the bank.

Remember, ya got 27 years to go...

PB

[18-Wheeler]

Definitely go for the command. They're hard to get these days, so if one is offered grab it as soon as you can.
Think long term.

[777AV8R]

Command experience always wins. No matter if you are just starting out or looking for an upgrade, the bottom line to an employer is command time. There are numerous examples of colleagues who have opt for the F/O, heavy equipment higher money route...and..at the end of the day, when the company has gone bankrupt...they have been standing in line wishing they too, had taken the Captain position on the 737.

Nothing beats having to make the decisions. If you do your job correctly, the pay that you lost earlier, will be made up in extra pay from command on the heavier equipment later.

All the best in your future endeavours.

[Sopwith Pup]

Any of the previous answers could be correct.
A consideration I would have is, which is the better airline?
The airline with 747-400s must be a fairly large established company and will most probably be around in years to come. (and hopefully promotions).
The other airline runs 737-200s which are just about ready for the junk yard, so what is this airline's future? Are they running on a shoe string, do they have plans to buy more modern aircraft? (no offence meant to 737-200 pilots).
I would factor those points into any decision making along with money making and the cudos (spelling?) of a fourth stripe.
Good luck.:)

[lightoutandarmed]

thanks to all the replies!
yes it is a difficult choice...
the airline with the -400 is a much bigger airline, more routes, with all the modern facitlities and the ones with the 73's is much smaller

on the one hand i know that jet pic is gold
on the other hand i do want to see the world

also, im single, no kids, no mrs...
so some guys say to go for the -400 position

i've got a few more weeks to think it over

thanks again

[Airbusser]

I would go as well for the 747-400 FO position!! Good pay, big airline, grate type rating, ....

You are still in the beginning of your carreer so plenty of time left to do the LHS upgrade!

In the meanwhile build on your bankaccount, build on your flyinghours, see the world!!!!

Good luck with whatever choice you will make............

[BlueEagle]

Points to ponder, the flying hours in the B744 F/O job don't count for much in the long run, only towards total flight time, not really a factor. On the other hand Command time is gold under any circumstances and particularly when you next need to look around, a redundant B744 F/O will spend a lot longer on the heap than a current captain. Don't fool yourself, in this day and age you could be redundant within a couple of years of joining ANY UK company.

An old skipper, sadly now passed on, told me a long time ago that a command on anything was better than an F/O on anything.

He was right, you have no dilemma, go for the command.

[ww1]

sounds like the -400's a better choice, looking at it from the basis of job security. plus, 27 years to go is a lot of opportunity to queue up for that left seat. no wife? no kids? see the world!
but then again, i can tell you that there's NOTHING better than being the boss of your own big airliner!
so here it is - start practicing for your eventual pic time: YOU DECIDE!!

[snooky]

Always go for the money.
As the saying goes, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, and money ultimately talks.
In general, those who give up money to get a command earlier tend to be a pain in the neck, and the way aviation is set to expand in the next decade, you'll be changing seat on your big jet soon enough anyway.

[BlueEagle]

As you have probably realised you are getting differing advice based on each individual posters experiences and, I think, based on their age and position at the moment.

Snooky says that those who go for the command are,"usually a pain in the neck", well a very sweeping statement that means that at least 50% of the people Snooky flies with are a pain in the neck!;) Don't pin too much on future expansion of aviation either, it doesn't always happen on your doorstep and there are far too many variable that can effect it.

Picture this scenario, an interview panel looking for jet qualified F/Os, (very rare they look for captains), in front of you an F/O with a stack of longhaul experience and an ex captain with hundreds of short haul sectors all in command, who would you choose, the guy who is a proven F/O or the guy who is a proven captain and may well fit into the companies future plans?

Better to get your command course out of the way now than wait eight to ten years when you will be that much older.

[Son Of Piltdown]

There are other considerations:-

1. Which is the better employer?

Terms and conditions are very important and need to be considered.

2. Have you flown long haul before?

Without the experience you will not know how you own body reacts to jet lag vs the early/late routine of short haul.

3. Do you have a low boredom threshold?

Sitting up all night in a B747 can seem to some folk like having a frontal lobotomy.

4. Do you have a family?

They need to be consulted about lifestyle changes.

5. How hungry are you for a command?

The novelty does wear off for some people; you might then be stuck with a duff airline.

Finally. with 27 years to go you have plenty of time to go so you can try different things. However, if the B747 job is with a moajor then the opportunity may not come your way again.

Best of luck,

SOP

[Shadowpurser]

I have the answer!

Forget em both!!!

Apply to be cabin crew - You won't be rich, you won't be in total command, all the chicks won't fancy you, you won't drive flash cars, and you'll struggle to get a mortgage.

BUT! You get first dibs and the two f's (food and females)

(thinks.....)

Oh my god!!!!! WHAT HAVE I DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

Good luck - and for what it's worth and from someone who's been an employer themselves - what Blueeagle says about the interviewers looking for candidates makes a lot of sense. If I was an employer CAPTAIN on a CV looks a lot better. You can also put it in front of your name on your application to your next job!!! You don't have to be the best - just stand out from the rest. (Believe me it works!!!);)

[mcdhu]

If it helps, I went for command at the earliest opportunity (nearly 30 years ago) and never regretted it. There is also the argument, when it comes to others reading your CV, that all you get after 10 years as an FO- is a good FO. Go for command!
Cheers
mcdhu

[LJDRVR]

I'm no expert on long haul, but do this: Go put a chair inside your closet and turn out the light. Now turn on the vacuum cleaner and sit there for 11 hours. Fun huh? Your choice is simple. If you like the money and travel, go for the 747-400 position. If you are truly in love with flying, (lots of takeoffs and landings) go for the 737 position. Also consider this: What does your resume look like in two years if either carrier furloughs you? Much better off with the command time brother.

Cheers!

DAN

[BenThere]

The nice thing about being the Captain is you don't have to fly with one.