Spirit Pay

[ksu_aviator]

How much can you expect to earn your first year at Spirit? I know what the hourly rate is, but what are your chances to make more than just the min guarantee?

 

[johnsonrod]

How much can you expect to earn your first year at Spirit? I know what the hourly rate is, but what are your chances to make more than just the min guarantee?

Check this out if you haven't already:

http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/major-national-lcc/spirit.html

Not surprisingly, I hear first year pay sucks but it does get better after the first year... Spirit is also adding new airplanes and new crew bases. Someone on these boards also said upgrade time is in the 4-5 year range - not bad!

 

[Dart]

First year isn't that great...but it isn't that bad. you can bust your A$$ and if you live in base, you can make a pretty decent living. This is all depending on your spending habits .

4-5 years is more like 3-4 years for Upgrade...Lots of aircraft coming and the list is growing like crazy. Im looking at 2.5 years for captain right now. Maybe, a little sooner, this is all depending on who bypasses. Lots of guys want to upgrade in base. Don't blame them.

Hope this helps. sorry for the typo's..my phone sucks.

 

[ksu_aviator]

Anyone have a number? What $ can I expect? $45k? $60k? $80k?

 

[1.3XVso]

First year isn't that great...but it isn't that bad. you can bust your A$$ and if you live in base, you can make a pretty decent living. This is all depending on your spending habits .

4-5 years is more like 3-4 years for Upgrade...Lots of aircraft coming and the list is growing like crazy. Im looking at 2.5 years for captain right now. Maybe, a little sooner, this is all depending on who bypasses. Lots of guys want to upgrade in base. Don't blame them.

Hope this helps. sorry for the typo's..my phone sucks.

What's your hire date? How are you basing the upgrade? Crew per plane?

 

[jws717]

Expect around 37K if you just do a normal line. If you live in base and like to work hard, up to 50K. Add about an extra $4000 for per diem. Second year you will do 70k-90k.

 

[huncowboy]

Expect around 37K if you just do a normal line. If you live in base and like to work hard, up to 50K. Add about an extra $4000 for per diem. Second year you will do 70k-90k.

That above is pretty accurate. I would say you can do quite a bit more with the pay bump for the 2nd year though. First year won't have a bump. But for 2nd year even with the current rates I have seen guys over $100k. Like $105k. I did it at that rate too. But only after some serious ass busting. Don't live in base? Forget it. May be 70-80k for 2nd year after this pay bump. Also, first year double sucks because of the crappy training pay. I think $1500 a month until end of OE. Ouch...

 

[ksu_aviator]

Ya, I can't afford that first year pay...I'll just have to pass

 

[Caddaddy]

Looks like first month online is going to be profitable for me. Projected credit is at 125 hours. On a 4 day junior man trip now that's paying 45 hours. I do live in base.

 

[johnsonrod]

Ya, I can't afford that first year pay...I'll just have to pass

I'd view that first year ante as a long-term investment in your airline career... But that's just me. Your family situation could be different.

Good luck!

 

[FurloughedAgain]

They sure don't make it easy to get an interview! (At least for us poor corporate schleps who can't bid for time off and jumpseat/nonrev to a job fair)

 

[SAABaroowski]

I am pretty excited if this is all true about 2nd year pay. I live near ACY so I could take advantage . I have been in the airlines for 7 goddamned years and have yet to break $45,000.00 for a single year. It's pathetic

 

[huncowboy]

If you will be able to fly with a certain person by the initials of MM, you will be the go to person for scheduling. And actually, he is not that bad to fly with either. ACY is still junior for the lower half of the FOs. So most guys are trying to get out of their trips and commute home.

 

[SAABaroowski]

I heard of him, haven't flown with him yet. I usually can get along with anyone

 

[OState597]

Ya, I can't afford that first year pay...I'll just have to pass

Hi KSU... Just adding my opinion here, not getting personal nor judgmental with your decision. Because at the end of the day, your business is your business. I understand the frustration of that first year reality. Heck I'm taking a 55% paycut leaving my corporate left seat for a first year Spirit right seat, all after busting my @ss at SkyWest as an FO...so I feel ya

Just keep in mind this:

Aside from FedEx/UPS (which require an act of God to new hire into at this juncture), Delta is the first year winner at $66 all fleet, first year.

Followed by United at $61

And then you have American, USAirways (still separate in hiring) at $40 an hour, along with Spirit at about $40 an hour. I say "about" because it'll get a slight bump in August. Point being...none of them are great, but that's probation for you. And you'll clear 100k second year at ALL of the above. Given Spirits' growth forecast, upgrade potential, quick choice of base relatively early, get your Airbus type blah blah blah...it's a not a bad move if you can dig deep and make it work. I guess I wouldn't say NO to one airline and wait for the next for a difference of $17, (Southwest starts at $57, and their doors are closed due to AirTran integration pilot training).

Best of luck to you to you in your search...truly mean that.
(Go Pokes!)

 

[Flyer1015]

Hi KSU... Just adding my opinion here, not getting personal nor judgmental with your decision. Because at the end of the day, your business is your business. I understand the frustration of that first year reality. Heck I'm taking a 55% paycut leaving my corporate left seat for a first year Spirit right seat, all after busting my @ss at SkyWest as an FO...so I feel ya

Just keep in mind this:

Aside from FedEx/UPS (which require an act of God to new hire into at this juncture), Delta is the first year winner at $66 all fleet, first year.

Followed by United at $61

And then you have American, USAirways (still separate in hiring) at $40 an hour, along with Spirit at about $40 an hour. I say "about" because it'll get a slight bump in August. Point being...none of them are great, but that's probation for you. And you'll clear 100k second year at ALL of the above. Given Spirits' growth forecast, upgrade potential, quick choice of base relatively early, get your Airbus type blah blah blah...it's a not a bad move if you can dig deep and make it work. I guess I wouldn't say NO to one airline and wait for the next for a difference of $17, (Southwest starts at $57, and their doors are closed due to AirTran integration pilot training).

Best of luck to you to you in your search...truly mean that.
(Go Pokes!)

Actually, no. They sold out first year pay to $38.50/hr for duration of contract, DOS to DOS+4.

 

[OState597]

I guess I missed that bit. Appreciate the update. I stand by my point however...first year sucks everywhere respectively. I'm not letting 12 months get in the way of 30 years. (Your career timeline may vary).

 

[ksu_aviator]

Hi KSU... Just adding my opinion here, not getting personal nor judgmental with your decision. Because at the end of the day, your business is your business. I understand the frustration of that first year reality. Heck I'm taking a 55% paycut leaving my corporate left seat for a first year Spirit right seat, all after busting my @ss at SkyWest as an FO...so I feel ya

Just keep in mind this:

Aside from FedEx/UPS (which require an act of God to new hire into at this juncture), Delta is the first year winner at $66 all fleet, first year.

Followed by United at $61

And then you have American, USAirways (still separate in hiring) at $40 an hour, along with Spirit at about $40 an hour. I say "about" because it'll get a slight bump in August. Point being...none of them are great, but that's probation for you. And you'll clear 100k second year at ALL of the above. Given Spirits' growth forecast, upgrade potential, quick choice of base relatively early, get your Airbus type blah blah blah...it's a not a bad move if you can dig deep and make it work. I guess I wouldn't say NO to one airline and wait for the next for a difference of $17, (Southwest starts at $57, and their doors are closed due to AirTran integration pilot training).

Best of luck to you to you in your search...truly mean that.
(Go Pokes!)

I'd lose my house if I worked for $40. $60 I can survive on, but $40 is killer.

 

[johnsonrod]

Why should you still be interested? More orders and growth....

You want to go where the growth is....

Spirit Airlines orders 20 Airbus A321s

By Bruce Drum on June 20, 2013 | Leave a Comment

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com...96889_fMTdjX#!i=1277624591&k=SNRx44h&lb=1&s=A
Spirit Airlines (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) has placed a firm order for 20 Airbus A321 aircraft and additionally has opted to convert 10 of its existing A320 orders to the larger A321. All of these aircraft are current engine option (ceo) models. Spirit?s A321ceos will accommodate increasing passenger numbers in the airline?s network in the U.S., Caribbean and Latin America. All of the A321ceo aircraft will be fitted with fuel-saving Sharklets and will seat 219 passengers in a single-class layout.

The announcement was made today during the Paris Air Show.

The new Spirit A321s will also be the first North America-based aircraft to feature the Space-Flex cabin option. This rear lavatory and galley combination optimizes use of the available space at the very back of the aircraft. The configuration also allows for the first lavatory in the single-aisle market to be accessible to people with reduced mobility.

With this order announced today, Spirit?s firm orders total: 7 A319s, 98 A320s (including 45 A320 new engine option aircraft) and 30 A321s. The airline currently operates a fleet of some 50 A320 Family aircraft.

 

[donvag]

Ya, I can't afford that first year pay...I'll just have to pass

short term thinking. It's not much better anywhere else. I'm sorry to break it to you but you are going to have to adjust your expenses for a year.