Go/No go Decision

[J74]

Dear collegues,
I’m a little confused and I don’t have a clear picture as It is during these type of choice/decision.
I’m flying as FO, approaching 40y, and i have the chance to be upgrated in worst case scenario in the next 2 years. The downsize matter is the salary as FO which is low at present.
In the other hand I have the choice to start in a National Company( no upgrade chance) as FO and to get a salary x 3 times my actual salary and definitely helping me Financially.

Question is, if I decide to go, I would be able then to find another Company in 2 years for the upgrade?

Both are good Companies....
And focusing on my decisión and subject of the Thread, Should I stay or Should I go?

Thanks for any kind of help and suggestion You may have for me and for people in my situation.

[wonderbusdriver]

So now you are at a "good" company as FO with low pay and will probably be able to upgrade to CP within max 2 years?
What will the pay increase - how much of your current FO-salary - be and what will you be flying?
How does the salary increase over time?

Going to the "National Company" as forever-FO would get you 3 times your current FO-salary??
How does that increase over time?

Would you have to move?
Would you want to move?
Does either company have a pension-scheme. etc.?

Why and where to would you want to leave either company in 2 years?

It all depends on your priorities (make a detailled list of those):

Lifestyle - Money - regardless of rank - or do you absolutely want fly as a CP?

[gnarlberg]

i would rather take the big national legacy carrier than the PIC...

[J74]

Wonderbusdriver thanks for reply,
But both Companies are unfortunately not for long term or life choice...so I’m not looking further ahead...just 2-3 years ahead.
Mainly I’m interested to change for better salary but then again after 2 years contract and passed the 40y I will have to search for a Company where can I get my upgrade, otherwise stay in my actual Company with low salary and cross finger to have an upgrade in 2 years max from now( hopefully, otherwise I just wasted time and money).
This is my indecision and don’t know to choose correctly.

[J74]

Gnarlberg thanks,
And what after the 2years contract in this National Company, would be easy to find then a Company where can i get the upgrade having passed the 40y old?
That’s the question in my mind!

[dboy]

I dont know how long you have been flying as a FO, but at one point you have to shift to the left seat. You dont wanna stay FO for the rest of your life. I would go for the upgrade, get 1000h pic and start looking somewhere else. You might have more interesting opportunities.

[J74]

Thank You Dboy,
Flying almost 5 years now, and This is what I was thinking but hope is worth to “sacrifice” myself for these 2 years and then have the upgrade chance.

[rifruffian]

Take the very short term view and enrol for the best money on offer today.......

[Sodastream]

Question is, if I decide to go, would (sic) I be able then to find another Company in 2 years for the upgrade?

Highly unlikely. Every DEC command job will require previous command experience. If you want to be a captain, stay where you are.

I would re-read wonderbusdriver's post. There are a lot more important things to have in this job than just the number of stripes on your shoulder.

[CaptainProp]

If national airline offers unlimited contract then go for that. If not, always go for left seat as long as its on an Airbus / Boeing / large cabin bizjet.

Just remember one thing, there are very few good jobs left in Europe, where you would get a job as DEC, so when planning to "then move somewhere else" plan for that to be in Asia, or with a few exceptions perhaps in the ME. Unless of course you are ok with the €5500 and 7 days off per month that seems to be the new "standard package" in Europe.

CP

[J74]

I see all your point of view are valid, and as I can see you are divided in what to choose as it is my mind!! lol...

[J74]

Is a taugh decision, cause as Raski mentioned, what if..... of course I will then regret!
But again, if I'm going (is not renewable forever, just 2 times max, as i'm a foreigner for them) then maybe it will be harder with my age to find a company on 2 years able to give me an upgrade as new joiners.
I can think about Blue Air, Ryan air as last resort where to upgrade after, but nobody knows the picture of the next 2 years!
I'm not in a hurry ot be a Captain because the stripes...just because the age in the near future and having flown for just 5 years..

[wonderbusdriver]

With an outlook of 2-3 years at either company and your age - stay and work hard on the upgrade and fly those hours as CP asap.
If you are looking to better your "market value" and thus higher pay in the long term you need command time.

As stated below, only in hindsight will you know, what decision was/would have been the "right" one.

Good Luck!

[thetimesreader84]

Whatever decision you make, you’ll knever truly know if it’s the “right” one.

All you can do is make the best decision you can at that time, based on what you know; pay, lifestyle, progression.

Best of luck.

[macdo]

IMHO get yourself into the best airline by whatever standard you judge 'best' to be, Money, location, upgrade prospects are all a personal choice. There are plenty of very happy pro FO's on BA long-haul fleets.

[RAT 5]

It's all about family life style. You've 25 years ahead of you, unless you're fortunate financially. Don't neglect the company's pension fund. There are 3 important things in airline careers, especially if you've family. Life style, life style, life style.
There could be a balance between life style & standard of living, but that is a component of life style, but not the dominant one. IMHO.
Command maks plu more flexible, especially if you fancy an overseas contractors' career. The pay is high enough in places to negotiate a 2/3 or 3/4 contract roster. This is where a compromise between life style & standard of living might come in. But you need a command first.

[a350pilots]

May you specify the two airline choices?
This would make the decision and discussion easier here ...