Years into my career at my first airline, my command upgrade was due. Then the airline froze upgrades after events that no one there could control. I had to make the choice a lot of first officers face at some point: wait, or move.
I moved. I joined a new airline in a new region and flew the Boeing 777 in the Middle East. In 2018 I joined my current airline as a direct-entry captain. It worked out for me, but moving isn't always the right answer. Here's how I'd think it through today.
Get facts first, not crew-room rumours
Crew rooms are full of upgrade predictions. Most of them are guesses. Before you decide anything, find out:
- The realistic timeline. Where are you on the seniority list, and how many command vacancies does the fleet plan actually create? Ask people who know: crewing or training management, your pilot association or union, and published seniority lists where they exist.
- Why it's slow. A temporary freeze is very different from a long seniority queue. A freeze can lift. A queue usually doesn't move faster.
- What's changing. Fleet growth or cuts, retirements, new bases and hiring plans all change the picture.
What you give up when you move
- Seniority. At most airlines your seniority doesn't come with you. You start near the bottom of the new list, and that affects your roster, base, leave and future upgrade order.
- Familiarity. New procedures, routes, people and culture. You'll be learning again, under check.
- Stability at home. A new region can mean relocation, new schools, and a partner putting their own work on hold.
- Money you might owe. Read your contract for notice periods, training bonds and repayment clauses before you apply anywhere.
What you might gain
- An earlier command, if you can apply as a direct-entry captain and you meet the minimums.
- A different fleet, region or lifestyle. For me, the move brought years on the 777, flying long-haul.
- Control. When my upgrade froze, I decided not to keep waiting on events I couldn't control.
Direct-entry captain jobs: read the minimums carefully
Direct-entry captain (DEC) jobs exist, but not everywhere. Many airlines with seniority-based systems only fill captain seats from within. Where DEC jobs are advertised, the minimums are substantial.
For example, a >Riyadh Air advert for a direct-entry A321 captain (viewed October 2026) asked for at least 5,000 hours on multi-crew, multi-engine aircraft, including 1,500 hours of recent command time on Airbus aircraft, plus ICAO English Level 5 or higher. Requirements change, so always check the airline's own careers page.
Notice the catch. Most DEC adverts ask for command time you already have. If your upgrade is frozen, you may not qualify as a DEC anywhere yet. Then the realistic choice is a right-seat move to an airline with a clearer path to command. Know which one you're actually choosing.
It's also worth reading what other pilots say. In one >PPRuNe discussion about getting command before moving abroad, an experienced poster argues that DEC training can be tough because the training department doesn't know you yet. That's one pilot's opinion, not data, but it's a good reason to prepare properly for both the selection and the training.
Seven questions to answer on paper
Write your answers down before you talk to anyone. It stops the loudest voice in the crew room from deciding for you.
- If I stay, what is my honest best-case and worst-case date for command?
- If I move, what do I lose in seniority, and how long would it take to rebuild?
- Do I meet the published minimums for the jobs I want, today?
- What does my family need, and what will a move cost them?
- What does my contract say about notice, bonds and training costs?
- Could I pass that airline's selection now? If not, how long do I need to prepare?
- If the move went wrong, what's my fallback?
If your answers to 3 and 6 are "no" and "a long time", that isn't a reason to give up. It tells you where to start.
My bottom line
There's no universal right answer. Waiting can be the smart choice if the timeline is real and the airline is good to you. Moving can be the smart choice if the timeline is out of your hands. Either way, decide on facts. And if you do move, don't underestimate the selection. After years at one airline, a new airline's technical interview can be a shock. Prepare for it like a checkride.
