$50 application fee. What!!??

[FL420]

Not just regionals

When I was furloughed a few years ago, Frontier was charging $35 for interviews. It strains the budget when you're on UIC with a family.

 

[Resocha]

Is it common with regionals or even major airlines to charge a $50 application fee? This would never fly in any other industry. Does anyone else find this absolutely appauling that you would be required to pay $50 just to be able to interview. What is it even for anyway? Can I at least expect a nice lunch?

Would this be a sign of things to come if I ended up working for this company?

Meanwhile, as this thread has continued, 300 people have applied to and interviewed for the job you want.

 

[hoover]

Not exactly correct. If that were REALLY true then how come they still get thousands of applications? That's what they'd like you to believe, so they can justify it. Of course, it's bullshoot! In some states, it's even illegal. From my own experiences, I would say about 50% of US airlines "charge" anything between $35 to $100 a pop. Makes for a great Christmas party in HR or a nice little bonus. It's merely another hoop to jump through.
Funny how this "rule" does not apply to other industries or indeed, to carriers outside of the US. Most places it would be ILLEGAL to have to pay for an interview and/or job.

They get thousands of applications because there are thousands of eager young space cadets with a commercial license and a few hundred hours who want to fly a regional jet. You've seen the hiring requirements. It doesn't take much to meet the minimum qualifications. After you have spent tens of thousands of dollars on your ratings, what's another $35?

As has been said many times, pilots are their own worst enemies. You'll stand in line behind 50 other guys for a shot at the crappy paying regional job, then complain that the other guys are "lowering the bar" by doing the same thing.

Low wages, PFT, and applications fees will only go away when airlines cannot fill their new hire classes. They may be filling them with 250 hour wonderkids, but as long as they can fill them, things will not change.

 

[pilotyip]

Hoover that is exactly how it works, PFT is gone, look at Pinnacle is now offering a hiring bonus, rooms and a stipend while in training. Wages will have too raise, because they can not lower the hiring minimums any more. Economics is working on the lower end raising the bar, because the those airlines can not fill their classes

 

[Going2Baja]

In some states it's actually against the law to ask for a payment to apply. I'm in Cali and when I put in my spplication it said since I was a Cali resident I didn't have to pay. Most airlines will also waive the fee if you explain hardship - go figure - isn't all regional pay "hardship?"

Baja.

 

[WhiteCloud]

Pinnacle is now offering a hiring bonus, rooms and a stipend while in training.

All of which are very reasonable expectations of an employee who is going to work for a company. What's the hiring bonus?.....couple hundred bucks?....$35/night room?.....$50/day stipend?.......sad.

 

[El-Rushbo]

We are very pleased that you have expressed an interest in a pilot position with FedEx Express.
This profile form will be your initial step in the process of being considered for a pilot position. You must complete this form in its entirety. We will then evaluate your profile, and, if you are selected as a candidate for interview, more information will be sent to you, including an application for your signature.
An initial $50.00 fee will be required to process this profile. You will be prompted to submit this payment via credit card (American Express, MasterCard, Visa) after entering data in the profile.

N'uff said.

 

[pilotyip]

White cloud, Yes it is not much, but it is better than is was a year ago at Pinnacle, that is how the market works, if they still can not fill their classes the hiring bonus may go up. I have seen the bonus posted at between $1000 and $500 depending upon how bad they need pilots.

 

[John2375]

You mo-fo's need to quit whining about giving up a few bucks to get ahead in this industry.. You have to pay for some training at some time, and you have to pay for some applications - suck it up and deal yo!
Every college I applied to required application fees - if I were still sitting on my high horse about it I'd be in year 13 of waiting to be accepted by a place that didn't require an application fee.
Pay the $50. Get the job. End of story. Oh yeah, and STFU.

PS yes I'm cranky today

 

[WhiteCloud]

White cloud, Yes it is not much, but it is better than is was a year ago at Pinnacle, that is how the market works, if they still can not fill their classes the hiring bonus may go up. I have seen the bonus posted at between $1000 and $500 depending upon how bad they need pilots.

Well at least it's working the way it should. An application/interview fee from a potential employer says a lot about how the company looks at their employees. We're sure in a dysfunctional industry.

 

[taloft]

I didn't cough up $50 to apply at Mesa and am glad I didn't. Similarly, I'm not buying a type rating just to work at Southwest. If a company can't afford to interview/train me, then I will find one that will. If you value yourself and demonstrate it, you'll find work that values you as well.

 

[Resocha]

I didn't cough up $50 to apply at Mesa and am glad I didn't. Similarly, I'm not buying a type rating just to work at Southwest. If a company can't afford to interview/train me, then I will find one that will. If you value yourself and demonstrate it, you'll find work that values you as well.

I'm with ya, mate, on the Southwest issue. You must really want to work there to pay for training. It's a good company, but not for me.

 

[hoover]

SWA is not PFT. They simply require their new hires to have a 737 type. It is a requirement for the job, just like having an ATP and 1000 PIC. If you don't want to pay for the type then get yourself a job as a 737 pilot somewhere, upgrade, build the 1000 hours, and then apply.

 

[Resocha]

SWA is not PFT. They simply require their new hires to have a 737 type. It is a requirement for the job, just like having an ATP and 1000 PIC. If you don't want to pay for the type then get yourself a job as a 737 pilot somewhere, upgrade, build the 1000 hours, and then apply.

As just about 3 airlines operating 737s is hiring these days, you pretty much have to pay for it yourself if you want to work at SWA. Not making judgments, or criticisms, it's just my perspective.

 

[pilotyip]

You have to have an ATP also, is paying for that also part of the PFT conspiracy?

 

[WhiteCloud]

Or to make the point even better you need to pay for your Private pilots licence too. Having a program based on hiring 737 qualified pilots saves SWA a lot of money. Starting someone without a type would take a lot more time. Nope.....I don't work at SW and have never applied. I understand and agree with their policy though.

 

[pilotyip]

Taloft, boy I guess you will show SWA who is boss, if they want to hire you they will have to change their ways. In fact I bet you won't even interview for a flying job unless they buy you a ticket to come to the interview. Stand tall, you are a man of iron will who not stoop to the levels of ordinary pilots looking for jobs. Your values will make your job search a lot more dificult, best of luck.

 

[Inconceivable]

Originally Posted by pilotyip
Now back in 1994 I believe there was a supposed airline starting up in CLT. They had $100 application fee, no airplanes, no certificate and only one guy in the office collecting applications. Remember in 1994 jobs were harder to get than right now and pay for training was in it hay day. However this guy was guilty of fraud and went to jail after collecting over $25,000 in application fees.

Oh Kit Darby, will you ever learn?

 

[T2Pilot]

Originally Posted by pilotyip
Now back in 1994 I believe there was a supposed airline starting up in CLT. They had $100 application fee, no airplanes, no certificate and only one guy in the office collecting applications. Remember in 1994 jobs were harder to get than right now and pay for training was in it hay day. However this guy was guilty of fraud and went to jail after collecting over $25,000 in application fees.

Oh Kit Darby, will you ever learn?

Nice!