Don't count on your piddly 401-k plans financing anything other than dog food. Stay on a payroll as long as you can, whether its for the airline or anyone else.
The country is broke, friends, and the time will come that taxes will be raised greatly to finance the government. That's in addition to the possibility that private IRA's and 401k plan assets may be seized. Do a little research. All that money you socked away tax free until retirement, will most likely be taxed at a higher rate when you are ready to start withdrawals, not at a lower tax rate as many were led to believe. Tax rates have to go up, and they will. Who's going to pay for this entitlement culture of everyone and his cousin on the government dole that is increasing exponentially each year... the workers paying payroll taxes, the people that saved and start withdrawals, that's who.
Plus rampant inflation will make your daily living expenses higher than today, not lower. We face the greatest financial meltdown in history, and it is unavoidable. The government just loves you avoiding taxes today to build them a pile of cash you will pay them higher taxes on in the future when you need to tap it.
If you are younger and healthy, buy the largest whole life insurance policy you can afford. Add to it as your financial situation improves. Use it as your own private tax free retirement nest egg... borrow from the built up cash value of the policy late in life, (you don't have to repay it, it just reduces the death benefit) = tax fee withdrawals, death protection during your career, and a nest egg for you and your heirs, passing tax free, no complicated tax rule required, just your privately financed retirement.
The 401k is a con job. Best advice... stay on a payroll, the American dream of a leisurely retirement is dead and long gone. Crunch the numbers, do the research!