Allegiant - Generally

[Ivar Viking]

I am sure this info might be contained in other posts, but I wanted a fresh perspective.

What can any insiders offer regarding QOL, expected base assignments, upgrade time, company-projected growth, and work routine (number of days off on reserve, trip composition, length & quality of overnights), etc.

Anything you could share would be much appreciated.

 

[Mr Wu]

I am sure this info might be contained in other posts, but I wanted a fresh perspective.

What can any insiders offer regarding QOL, expected base assignments, upgrade time, company-projected growth, and work routine (number of days off on reserve, trip composition, length & quality of overnights), etc.

Anything you could share would be much appreciated.

QOL is excellent if you live in base, as good as any other airline if you don't. 70 hour guarantee, most hard lines are around 90hrs. Lineholders have 11 days off min and reserve is 10 days off min. The only overnights are PIA and BLI out of LAS and ABE out of SFB. The BLI overnights will end when it opens as a base ~March 1. Most lines are one out and back with a few 4 leggers. With the upgrades and expansion, everybody gets the base of their choice within ~3 months. I held a line in LAS right out of training. When I hired on in August, they said 12 guys a monthuntil November and 5 in December but that seems to have changed as I believe we are now interviewing for a January class. 4 "new to us" MD88s arriving in December with a bunch more coming next year.

Come on in, the water's warm.

 

[Ivar Viking]

Thanks so much for your thoughts.

BLI base would be perfect. You think it'll go junior or senior once it opens?

How about upgrades?

Peace!

 

[Reelbigfish]

Thanks so much for your thoughts.

BLI base would be perfect. You think it'll go junior or senior once it opens?

How about upgrades?

Peace!

I don't know much about the BLI base, but upgrades in general are currently running at about a year.

 

[CaptainSpaz]

Don't go and take this personally, but I have to disagree on one point. Unless something has changed, Allegiant is NOT the same as any other airline if you commute. Surely ya'll can offer him a bit more unbiased viewpoint than that.

Spaz

 

[Mr Wu]

Enlighten us, pray tell.

 

[CaptainSpaz]

You mentioned a few things that right up front: 10 days off max on reserve, 11 min line, in base most if not all nights. That is not the same as most airlines. The lines are not very commutable. Heck, "Would you move to a base?" was a standard interview question when I interviewed there! All but one person in my class either lived in base or moved right after class. It is what it is: Allegiant wants pilots to live in base and take advantage of that benefit.

Anyway, thats the way I remember it. Tell me if I am wrong.

 

[yzf6]

About everyone I know already lived in their base or moved to it after getting hired. I know I'd rather be at home every night instead of a crashpad.

 

[flyalot]

Yes CaptSpaz, you are correct.
Don't come to AAY thinking you will be a commuter. The schedule is not friendly if you do not live in base. You do not live in a Hotel. You must have a place to stay in base. Once you hold 3 on 4 off, you could commute. You will still need a place to stay when you are working though. No sugar, Just the spice!

 

[Mr Wu]

I may have limited experience from other airlines, but how is this different?

 

[flyalot]

Normally you would commute in to start work mid day. Fly to some place, stay in a hotel. Get up fly some places. Stay another night in a hotel. Fly to BFE and come back to your home base. Jumpseat home. "normal" airline life. Company pays Per Diem while working, ALSO pays for the hotel. You do not need a crashpad nor a car. Little moeny out of pocket.

Allegiant does not work like this!

You will show up for work, fly, be back in base that day/night. You will need to go to a place to sleep.(Crashpad, Home, Hotel) You will only make Per Diem while at work. You will need a car in base. Hope this makes it clear as mud.

 

[chperplt]

As stated above, you will not find a better airline for QOL if you live in domicile.

Our work rules have gotten much better for commuters, but we have a very long way to go before we'll have happy commuters. You will need a crashpad in base and you'll likely to have some weeks that you can't get home for more than a day or two.

We'll don't fly a full schedule on Tuesday's, Wednesday's or Saturday's, which makes building commutable lines very difficult.

As an FO, if you bid RNO, IFP, or Tunica (Harrah's Charter), you'll generally have a much better commutable schedule then at the scheduled bases.

 

[I Hate Freight]

Anything you could share would be much appreciated.

Pay is shameful. I don't think there is a lower paying MD88/90 operation out there. I guess as long as they can get people to work for it......

 

[Desert1]

Shameful?!? This from an ERJ FO...this why I rarely spend (waste) time on this site anymore. A little research before posting might save you some embarrasment and credibility.

Here we go again:

1st year pay: higher than almost every major.

As of 11/09: 10th year capt pay will exceed NWA, UAL, USAir (East), in comparable equipment, among others.

Upgrade: (read capt pay) in 1 year.

I don't know why I even bother...

D1

 

[chperplt]

Pay is shameful. I don't think there is a lower paying MD88/90 operation out there. I guess as long as they can get people to work for it......

Coming from a guy who (if your profile is accurate) is still flying around a toy jet at 7500 hours.... and in the right seat no less.

You're the shameful one here bubba.

I'll take my low 6 figures to be home almost every night. What you spend in a hotel a month, I spend in a hotel each year..

We all know there are fools hiding in the bushes, but then one has to open its mouth and let everyone know he's here.

 

[BuckMurdock1]

What about culture? Is it happy, sad (ie beat-down), indifferent?? In my book, that counts for a lot.
Thanks in advance..

 

[Caveman]

The main negative I've heard from my friends that work there is the application of the scheduling rules is inconsistent. Same scenario, different day, different outcome. The company seems to interpret them on a case by case basis. What was the precedence last week no longer applies....until it applies again. My friends are generally happy and like their QOL (they live in domicile). They are getting frustrated with the scheduling manipulation though.

 

[chperplt]

The main negative I've heard from my friends that work there is the application of the scheduling rules is inconsistent. Same scenario, different day, different outcome. The company seems to interpret them on a case by case basis. What was the precedence last week no longer applies....until it applies again. My friends are generally happy and like their QOL (they live in domicile). They are getting frustrated with the scheduling manipulation though.

This may be the case somewhat, but for the most part the scheduling work rules are followed with the same interpretation that our in house and management agreed to.

 

[climbhappy]

are you guys doing any gold transportation flying out of ACY. we were doing the tunica stuff. 5,6 legs reduced rest, long days...

are ya'll 121 supp or domestic flag...121 supp always brings with it scheduling issues..by its nature things change alot..is that that the issue or did i read the concern incorrectly?

 

[Deadalus]

The minimum days off was mentioned earlier. How many days off do most line holders see? How often are bases opened and closed, ie. is there a history of this? Where is training done? Thanks in advance.