The bigger the jet, the more you make?

[cjs]

As we all know, 747 and 777 drivers earn far more than your typical MD80 guy, who in turn earns far more than an ATR pilot. The common theme seems to be: the bigger the plane, the more you make. Why? More bucks to compensate for more jet lag? Or to entice the higher time guys into airframes where their experience will benefit the most people?

If you had to base pay on the pure difficulty of the flying (less automation, trickier approaches, whatever) and personal sacrifices required (int'l travel, etc) of one airframe versus another, which type of aircraft would pay the most?

What's more odd is that for similar-sized airframes, its the props and older airframes that typically pay around 20% less .. for instance, the MD80/90 vs 737NG, the ATR72 vs CRJ700, the A330 vs 767, Why?

Not trying to start sh!t, just wondering!

 

[higgy]

I think an argument can be made that an aircraft with more seats brings in more revenue with the same amount of copit crew. However a 12 year Southwest Captain makes more than a 12 year UAL 747 captain. there are also companies that pay the same for ALL aircraft. Netjets and UPS to name a few.

 

[sstearns2]

If you did it based on difficulty of flying or the number of approaches per hour or the number of approaches in an uncontrolled, non-radar enviornment, or the amount of crap the captain has to deal with per hour, then the turboprop guys would be the best paid in the business. But like our world the whole thing is about what's best for the people at the top. The people at the top take what they can and the people at the bottom endure what they must.

The revenue argument is hard to nail down. Most of the passengers on a turboprop go on to a mainline flight. The mainline carrier may run the turboprop at a loss, but they more than make up for it when the passengers get on the big jet for the long haul flight. Shouldn't the turboprop pilots get a cut of the revenue they bring to the big jet?

Scott

 

[AWACoff]

You just stated that the turboprop flight lost money. A cut of a loss is a loss. I guess the turboprop pilot should PAY just to fly those people.

Obviously they get a cut of the revenue generated. It's called a paycheck.

 

[727C47]

i worked my hardest in the DC3,blue collar flying,great fun,but there you have it,a777 generates a bit more dough.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

bigger jets, bigger waistlines, bigger paychecks.

 

[MED]

So untrue; a China Airline 747 Captain is making less than a Southwest 737 FO. It's not about how big the airplane you fly, it's about the airline you fly for.

 

[800Dog]

If you did it based on difficulty of flying or the number of approaches per hour or the number of approaches in an uncontrolled, non-radar enviornment, or the amount of crap the captain has to deal with per hour, then the turboprop guys would be the best paid in the business. But like our world the whole thing is about what's best for the people at the top. The people at the top take what they can and the people at the bottom endure what they must.

The revenue argument is hard to nail down. Most of the passengers on a turboprop go on to a mainline flight. The mainline carrier may run the turboprop at a loss, but they more than make up for it when the passengers get on the big jet for the long haul flight. Shouldn't the turboprop pilots get a cut of the revenue they bring to the big jet?

Scott

Lets not forget about the tremendous amount of freight those 747/777 guys are moving. They are paid for the revenue they generate.

 

[blzr]

I got into a funny argument a while back about why the BIG IRON makes MORE money. The 777 guy said because they flew MORE people (after he was gloating about his schedule. 2 round trips to Tokyo a month). Whether his schedule was right or not, don' know. So I threw him some #'s.

If I fly 17 days in a month with an average (LOW) of 4 legs a day with 50 PAX, that would be roughly 3400 pax/ month that I fly.

I don't know how many pax a 777 holds, but lets say 600 just to make it fair. He flew (or said he flew) 4 legs a month not including the deadheads. That would be 2400 pax a month.

Who really flies more pax? Just a thought. needless to say our lunch ended abruptly.

 

[800Dog]

I got into a funny argument a while back about why the BIG IRON makes MORE money. The 777 guy said because they flew MORE people (after he was gloating about his schedule. 2 round trips to Tokyo a month). Whether his schedule was right or not, don' know. So I threw him some #'s.

If I fly 17 days in a month with an average (LOW) of 4 legs a day with 50 PAX, that would be roughly 3400 pax/ month that I fly.

I don't know how many pax a 777 holds, but lets say 600 just to make it fair. He flew (or said he flew) 4 legs a month not including the deadheads. That would be 2400 pax a month.

Who really flies more pax? Just a thought. needless to say our lunch ended abruptly.

PXs are one source of revenue. How much freight do you move with your 50 seat rj? Many 777 flights at Delta make more revenue moving cargo than people.

 

[skyaddict]

I don't have my copy of 'Flying the Line' handy (sitting in some box someplace now after about 5 moves!) anymore but wasn't there some sort of ALPA formula that used passenger seats and speed as a rough guideline for negotiating, and remains a sort of grand-daddy principle? (I have no clue how the BA and AF Concorde folks made out flying so fast but with so few pax vs a heavy, but imagine it must have been very senior and hence, well paid.) For want of something better, I guess it was a way to divy out the spoils when bigger, faster airplanes came out. In the corporate world it still mostly applies too, but in the frac world it seems to have mostly been eliminated in favor of straight seat/seniority pay.

 

[Jetjockey]

It's not the size of the plane that determines pay, it's the skill of your negotiating committee!

 

[FDJ2]

Why?

Because at the end of the day, discounting efficiencies, weight, speed and range, you get what you negotiate.

 

[blzr]

PXs are one source of revenue. How much freight do you move with your 50 seat rj? Many 777 flights at Delta make more revenue moving cargo than people.

I know. I'm not knockin' the Heave guys, but I had to vioce my opinion because I felt like I was being slighted and put down infront of other pilots. That is why I framed my argument around PAX. Ha the other gentleman been smart, and not so hot headed, he could have explained that freight, plus the fact that we are flying THEIR Pax is why I have a job in the first place. I still thought it was funny how #'s can be so misleading.

 

[~~~^~~~]

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Pay = Productivity​