Any major airline or cargo pilots here?

[TheCougar]

I’m looking for anyone who flies for the majors (and SWA) or UPS/FedEx, and also lives out west (UT, CO, ID, WY, MT). I’m retiring from the USAF in 18 months and I have to go get a real job. Most of my friends fly for SWA, Delta, American, or UPS/FedEx, and I’m considering it as well. I really would like to be in the mountains, preferably ID, WY, or MT. I’m torn between commuting or being based out of SLC or DEN, as far as the short call limit will allow. Please PM me if this fits your description, as I would like to ask about your experiences, quality of life, and lessons learned. I’m about to be able to pick what I do and where I live for the first time in 20 years, and I would like to get it right on the first try. Thanks.

 

[Jon Boy]

Two of my hunting partners fly commercially. Both live in MT. One flys for spirit and commutes to vegas (2 leg commute) the other flys for frontier and commutes to DEN. You couldn't get them to live any where else so I think I can say for them that commuting is worth it. You're first year will suck on reserve, and you'll likely have to have some sort of crash pad. The one that flies for spirit is on long call reserve as a captain now so hes pretty much home all of the time. Not sure if they have that for FO's, Can't say I remember if frontier does that, ill ask. I have a slough of other friends that fly but dont live in the west or fly for majors. Ask away and ill refer your questions on. I've gotten educated on pretty much all things dealing with airlines over the last 10 years trying to match schedules and time off with all of my buds.

 

[jcg]

SWA pilot here. Currently living on the front range, although planning my escape to Wyoming soon. Been flying for the airlines for the past 15 years. Been based in PHX, SLC, and DEN. Born and raised hunting and fishing in the West. PM me I can help ya out. Always more than happy to help out a Vet.

 

[TheCougar]

Two of my hunting partners fly commercially. Both live in MT. One flys for spirit and commutes to vegas (2 leg commute) the other flys for frontier and commutes to DEN. You couldn't get them to live any where else so I think I can say for them that commuting is worth it. You're first year will suck on reserve, and you'll likely have to have some sort of crash pad. The one that flies for spirit is on long call reserve as a captain now so hes pretty much home all of the time. Not sure if they have that for FO's, Can't say I remember if frontier does that, ill ask. I have a slough of other friends that fly but dont live in the west or fly for majors. Ask away and ill refer your questions on. I've gotten educated on pretty much all things dealing with airlines over the last 10 years trying to match schedules and time off with all of my buds.

I’ve told my wife I’ll be pretty much deployed the first year. We may sit put in DFW since it’s centralized and I’ll be able to commute easily until I can hold a line. I know nothing of Frontier or Spirit or Alaskan - I haven’t looked into them yet. I only know one guy that flies for Alaskan. Where do they live in MT that they can commute easily?

 

[Jon Boy]

One lives in bzn and the other billings. They both have coworkers who live out in the sticks a few hours from either airport but feel it's worth while to make a couple hour drive to the airport a few times a month.

Once you have the seniority to hold a line it's fairly easy to build the schedule you want as long as you dont care what flights you fly ie red eyes. So if you're alright with flying 10 days straight you can usually get the rest of the month off. If you want to have weekends off every week youd obviously want to live closer to a major airport.

With the new programs for line bidding that airlines are moving to now you can just plug in what schedule you want and it will give you options. The more lucrative your time off your bid is the shittier the flights you fly are, but that's the trade off. This is all very general and I'm sure theres tons of differences airline to airline.

With all of the new contracts that have come up with most airlines, it's a damn good time to be an airline pilot. If I could do it over again that's the route I would take, and work as many days in a row to maximize time off and live where ever I wanted to live.

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