Why would anyone come here now? Serious Q
#61
If you get turned down by UA, WN, DL, AA, FDX, UPS, and JBLU then yes choose NK over your regional. It just makes more sense now than it ever has to wait it out a little longer at your regional to try to get on with one of those carriers, before coming to NK. They all have better pay and better seniority progression and are hiring like crazy.
The rates are nice and I’m definitely missing out on the short term, but the regional model is imploding on itself. No one should want to be there once it goes belly up. If it does survive by some miracle, concessionary rates will be negotiated in the recession.
I get the whole “just wait it out for a legacy job”, but the reality is, the ones being hired from the left seat have 300-500 hours TPIC. If it’s right seat to right seat, their total time is high and have an impressive resume. I have a friend who’s a CA at a regional with around 200 TPIC, has done a one on one MTC at UA and still hasn’t been called for a formal interview.
On the other hand, my friend had 2 people in her leave NK right after their type ride for a legacy. Idk what the sauce is, but staying at a regional isn’t the answer. I do, however, encourage people to do what is right for them in their current situation. NK is not the airline for everyone, but it sure beats a regional by a loooong mile.
#63
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,318
I’ve been told by no less than 4 people who have been here for about a year to two years saying a lot have been contacted and offered a job. I’m willing to bet a lot more people have gotten offers while not everyone accepted them. A long time friend got called a week after he received his type. He turned them down as he plans to stay at spirit. More people are willing to stay at spirit than people at the regional. Legacies right now are taking pretty much anyone who is eligible and competitive. But when hiring slows which I believe it has compared to the immediate post Covid wave, they’ll take someone with time in an a320 at a competitor over a regional fo (there’s many other factors obvious. It’s the same reason if you want to go to delta don’t go to endeavor go to envoy. If you want to go to American don’t go to a WO. The legacies take more pilots from competitors than they do their own regional carrier.
As for the pay you can add in the fact that it’s easy to credit more than mmg and pick up double pay. My previous carrier it was common for a first year to to finish with 150hrs on the year. That’s 0 career progression in my mind. Soft pay is just as important. While you cant count on it to pay your bills the reality is first year it’s pretty easy to finish at the same yearly pay or close to it and year two you’re already making up that difference. If we see a pay increase in the next 3-6 months that just be icing on the cake.
As for the pay you can add in the fact that it’s easy to credit more than mmg and pick up double pay. My previous carrier it was common for a first year to to finish with 150hrs on the year. That’s 0 career progression in my mind. Soft pay is just as important. While you cant count on it to pay your bills the reality is first year it’s pretty easy to finish at the same yearly pay or close to it and year two you’re already making up that difference. If we see a pay increase in the next 3-6 months that just be icing on the cake.
#64
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2015
Posts: 394
Having just come from a regional, it’s not what it seems. FOs that want to fly, aren’t flying. Which means no progression.
The rates are nice and I’m definitely missing out on the short term, but the regional model is imploding on itself. No one should want to be there once it goes belly up. If it does survive by some miracle, concessionary rates will be negotiated in the recession.
I get the whole “just wait it out for a legacy job”, but the reality is, the ones being hired from the left seat have 300-500 hours TPIC. If it’s right seat to right seat, their total time is high and have an impressive resume. I have a friend who’s a CA at a regional with around 200 TPIC, has done a one on one MTC at UA and still hasn’t been called for a formal interview.
On the other hand, my friend had 2 people in her leave NK right after their type ride for a legacy. Idk what the sauce is, but staying at a regional isn’t the answer. I do, however, encourage people to do what is right for them in their current situation. NK is not the airline for everyone, but it sure beats a regional by a loooong mile.
The rates are nice and I’m definitely missing out on the short term, but the regional model is imploding on itself. No one should want to be there once it goes belly up. If it does survive by some miracle, concessionary rates will be negotiated in the recession.
I get the whole “just wait it out for a legacy job”, but the reality is, the ones being hired from the left seat have 300-500 hours TPIC. If it’s right seat to right seat, their total time is high and have an impressive resume. I have a friend who’s a CA at a regional with around 200 TPIC, has done a one on one MTC at UA and still hasn’t been called for a formal interview.
On the other hand, my friend had 2 people in her leave NK right after their type ride for a legacy. Idk what the sauce is, but staying at a regional isn’t the answer. I do, however, encourage people to do what is right for them in their current situation. NK is not the airline for everyone, but it sure beats a regional by a loooong mile.
#66
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2019
Position: baller, shot caller
Posts: 1,025
#67
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2022
Posts: 393
It’s not fishy, always keep your options open. Accepted a position at spirit and kept pursuing jet blue. Got offered an interview a week before my class date and eventually turned down the invite. I have active applications out with other carriers that I’m keeping updated too. Doesn’t mean I’d turn around and accept an interview invite right away. I know several people who have active applications out who originally planned to leave asap but now plan to stay.
#68
#69
For some people it isn’t just what’s best for them personally. Sometimes spouses have careers too that are geographically dependent. Same for local family ties. Max money isn’t necessarily the answer. Sometimes sufficient for the goals is quite enough.
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