Hey everyone. I'm an IT guy currently working as a part-time CFI and building hours until I can make aviation my second career.

I've been doing some research on LCCs and Frontier interests me because personally I've had good experiences flying as a regular passenger (I know right?!) and also because there's a base not too far from me.

Background / Path to F9

For those of you flying for Frontier now (or who have in the past) what did your path look like? Where were you working before you got the gig, and how long did it take from hitting minimums to actually getting hired? Did you come straight from a regional, a Part 135 outfit, a corporate? Curious what backgrounds they seem to favor or if it's really just about the hours.

This is probably my biggest question. I'm not a 22-year-old wrapping up an ATP-CTP fresh out of college. Do they hire "fresh older guys" like me (someone who hits the minimums later in life) and is new to the airline world but has an allegedly fully developed brain? Or are the minimums basically just a floor and they really want people with significant turbine/airline time on top of that? Anyone know if age has ever felt like an unspoken factor in the process?

How do you feel about the equipment? I know F9 is all-Airbus but how's the A320 family to work with day-to-day? And what are the actual perks like travel benefits, crashpads, scheduling flexibility for someone junior? Anything that surprised you in a good way once you got in the door?

Compared to other carriers you know about or have friends at, where does Frontier fall short? I've read some things about scheduling, contract issues, and quality of life, but I'd rather hear it from pilots actually living it than from a random forum post from three years ago. What would you tell a guy like me who's comparing F9 against other LCCs or plotting a go at a legacy post regional stint?

I know these questions come up a lot but I'm specifically trying to understand if this is a realistic and smart move for someone switching careers mid-life rather than someone who's been building hours since they were a teenager.

Thanks Bigly.