I don't know exactly what you were looking at but using myself as an example, TA2 would have paid me $143 an hour as 7th year Captain in 2010. Right now, airlinepilotpay.com is advertising $147 for a 12th year Captain at Continental. Also, talking with some of my new hire buddies at Continental, they said they don't have a duty period guarantee, duty rigs, or trip rigs for domestic flying. Taking those work rules into consideration, I would add another 4-6% to our pay rates (because of the "soft" pay) to get equivalent rates at Continental.
I would take Airtran's TA2 small narrowbody total compensation vs. Continental's small narrowbody compensation anyday. Am I missing something?
Prior to the age 65 rule coming into effect I thought Continental might have been a decent place to work due to quick seniority progression but I would now bet Airtran's FO's will make Captain quicker than Continental FO's. We still got 65 airplanes on order (non of which are replacement airplanes) over the next 4 or 5 years and a probable order for the 737 replacement whenever it comes out.
I respect what you are saying. However, what do you think a 7 year CA at CAL will be making in 2010? Chances are, that by that time CAL may have a new and much improved CBA.
Just a few more questions. What would you have made in 2007 at day of signing? What would your year 2 through year 6 captains have made at signing date, again, in 2007? I believe CAL's year 2-6 captains make anywhere from 131 to about 140 per hour. Let's keep in mind that we are making comparisons to a
concessionary contract and not one negotiated while the company is making profits! I'm not certain about the soft pay and work rules involved in your proposed contract. But if memory serves me well, I do believe that was a big point of contention among your group.
Secondly, what about pay for the guy you depend on the most, and spend a great deal of your time next to, your FO? Yes, perhaps your proposed pay scales might have been higher than the CAL SNB FO rates. But, lets keep in mind that 73 guys at CAL also fly the 800s and the 900s which pay higher, thus, making W2s better at the end of the year. Again, comparisons to a concessionary contract.
But if you want to look further, lets look at Frontier and Alaska. Your proposed FO rates didn't form parity with those payscales either. Again, these companies are also operating under concessionary contracts! Not only that, but they haven't performed as well finacially, as AAI as of late. I will respectfully submit, that your group should be striving more to at least come close to SWA and not these companies operating under concessions.
Please know that my observations and opinions are just that. I am in no way, shape, or form attacking you or your pilot group. I'm merely expressing my opinions on a subject that I think in the end could impact many of us. A tide raises all boats.