burrito350

I did apply from AA but haven't heard back from them.

Right now I'm just facing the decision between Spirit and Atlas since the classes are coming up.

What are your thoughts between the two?

When Delta / United comes, I would love to move one day.

PrattFan

I had this same choice about 8-9 years ago, same time frame, April Atlas class or a May NK class. I chose NK and have never regretted it even as a commuter. If you want to be a good first time dad there is no comparison of NK living in base vs Atlas 17 days on the road. Don’t make that mistake, be there for your wife and kid. As for what would get you to DL or UA faster, I don’t think either has a distinct advantage, so see my previous comment.

As an additional anecdote for this choice, my “helper” at Atlas later asked me to help him leave Atlas and come to Spirit. That only solidified my decision as the correct one.

burrito350

I've applied to AA as well. But I've only received cjo's for atlas and spirit so I'm faced with that decision now since classes are starting next month already

symbian simian

Take NK for the family, your wife will not like 17 days gone in a row. Keep applying to DUA, and consider Fedex and UPS too.

JulesWinfield

Spirit is transitioning to more day trips. FLL is the junior FO base. If you can afford the first year, it’s a no brainer.

MCDUmanipulator

if your a new dad you would be incredibly stupid to go to Atlas. How’s your partner feel about you being gone for 20+ days at a time?

if you live in south Florida go to spirit and probably plan on staying. For our Florida pilots the future is bright

Fah2

I have a good friend who is a 747 captain at Atlas, he absolutely loves life there. He is also the exact opposite of you, single/divorced with no ties other than a nice house and boat he likes to come back to. He likes layovers in Germany and Korea and Alaska where he has friends to meet up with and have beers. With their new contract he does pretty well financially and few people in this industry are as happy and content.

But it’s a whole different world. I’ve done big jet long haul flying, it’s an itch some people want to scratch. There’s a lot of sleeping in bunks, shaking off jet lag, exploring far off places solo because the other guys just aren’t feeling it. You will always be on the back side of the clock at some point on every trip, even in broad daylight.

With Spirit you can easily ensure you are never away from wife and new kids more than 2-3 days at a time, and with massive Florida bases and potentially another post merger, it’s unlikely you will have to move or commute.

I think the advice is less about which company is better, but rather how you want to spend 20-30 years of your career.

RonnyK320

All I know is I've flown with a lot of ex Atlas guys here, and I'm not aware of any Spirit pilots that left for Atlas. I think that says it all.

Stayontarget

I left an Atlas type schedule for F9 with a huge paycut for the schedule alone because of a child. If you already live in Florida you will live like a king at Spirit or post Fearit merger. Once you’re here you can find out if you want to continue applying for the Legacy life.

Carl LaFong

Obviously an outlier, but there was an FO based in Vegas a few years back who bailed for Atlas. He was ex-World Airways or Gemini or some such thing and I was told at the time he really missed the ACMI lifestyle. Different strokes.....