Southwest Airlines pilot looking to move to Europ
 

I've done tons of research and digging around but could use some fresh info and tips.
Current status:
Dual citizen USA/E.U.
10000+ hours, 2700 Turb PIC on turboprops.
Typed on 1900, SF340, B737 (classic/NG)
FO at Southwest, may be upgrading in a year.
Interested in moving back to Europe, Italy specifically, and would like to know what it's like flying there, and what the job market is looking like.
I am speak French and Italian but don't speak German.
I know I will most prob need to get FAA converted to JAA.

Thanks for the input!

For the 737: Ryanair are probably your biggest bet, massive expansion with Italy being key to it, Norwegian are also expanding in Rome I believe, depends on where in Italy you want to be exactly. You'll only need English for those two.

You will regret leaving Southwest Airlines for a seat, any seat in Ryanair, period.

Do not do it.

I don't work for neither Ryanair nor Norwegian. But from my point of view it doesn't make any sense to leave Southwest for those carriers. Even if you might have a chance at getting in as a DEC you would be looking at 110-120K € max before tax. I assume that you already make more than that and pay less taxes in the US. So if you can upgrade in Southwest in a year you would only have half your salary here in Europe. Is it worth it?
And from your Ryanair salary you have to pay your medical, uniform, parking at the airport, hotac for simulators and much more! Even the water on board!
And remember that getting an EASA license needs a lot of studies for the written test!
All the best!

Coming back home always makes sense, especially after so many years in the USA.

Stay where you are. The jobs in Europe are rotten.

If that's where you want to be, I say go for it.
But I would only try to go over as a DEC.
Also, the conversion is kind of a PITA.
You gotta do the EASA 14 written tests.

So you're probably making $160k/year and shortly up to $200k/year.
Good luck finding any job in Europe that pays that much.
You'll be lucky if you start with half of that.
Don't forget the cost of living in europa-land.
You may be better off moving to Europe and commuting.

Never, in the field of human history, has one post summed up the situation so well.

Give him a medal.

You don't really mean that, do you? I agree that Ryanair is very far from being the best employer out there and I too would not wish to join them but I would never suggest that a transatlantic commute would be a better option. Maybe (!) if one is super senior in a US major on a long haul fleet doing two trips per month or so then such a commute could work longer term. However, commuting is never fun and money is not everything contrary to popular belief in America.

Get upgraded first and look at DEC after a year or two unless going to a legacy airline where getting on the seniority list is number one priority.

Many pilots in Europe would kill to work for a good employer like Southwest. Anti union, pilot hating Ryanair might be a shock to the system.

No offence...but are you crazy? Stay where you are!

Previously employment I've personally flown with a Captain who lived in Italy and works in the USA.
Present employer has Captains living in Hong Kong, Phillipines, Europe and commuting into their base.
And money doesn't buy you happiness but crying in a Mercedes sure as hell beats crying on a pedal bike.

Seriously...stay where you are ....unless you parachute into a flag carrier job in the LHS.

For starters, Europe is spelled with an extra 'e" at the end. ;)

The most stupid idea I had heard in the last 10 years!

How is it a stupid idea?
If the guy/gal is fed up with the USA it's not stupid.
I am fed up with the UK and seriously considering the Middle East. Some would say this is a stupid idea but some say it's a great idea.

My friend works at Easy based in Italy Milan, he loves it. Work is hard but he loves Italy, great food weather and the property he has he would never get here in the uk, access to the slopes for skiing in winter mountain biking in summer and an awesome view.

Banks for the input!
Anyone in Italy have some info related to getting based there? I hear it takes s decade... I'd like Milan basing.

As a Captain or F/O?
Being transferred to MXP on the right seat in easyJet doesnt take much time, or can even be obtained straight away if you are lucky with the timing.
Current waiting time for Captains is anything between 5/7 years.
All subject to change, of course (see Air Berlin or Alitalia...).

head in clouds.

Lets see how many European B-737 pilots would change places with you.
My guess that I'd be 100% of them.

If you need a break from ten legs a day, and never leave Texas.
Then maybe it's time to move on.
But pick somewhere better than where your currently at.

The barista at my local coffee shop asked me if her new hire boyfriend should leave Southwest for Fed-Ex.
I have the utmost respect for the whole Southwest organization.
But my advice was, YES.
That way you could be based in Germany and fly all over Europe and still earn top American wages.