AirTran first year pay

[Fly4$]

Excuse me for my ignorance, but I have not flown 121 and was hired by AirTran. I know all the posted pay rates and other benefits, but I just wonder what I can expect as take home pay for the first few years. (Hi and low end of the spectrum and how much QOL do I have to sacrifice)

I guess I have some budgetting to do living on a third of what I am used to.

 

[ATLboeing]

First year pay (as of now) is 43/hr which made my small check about 1100.00. That's living in Florida with no state income tax and I selected the Bronze family EPO. It was the cheapest family plan, but in my area I found no problem locating good doctors for the kids. I was able to credit around 95-100 hrs per month and still manage at least 15 days off, all commutable. With that credit the larger check usually ran around 2700 - 2900.00. (It has the overtime & perdiem)

Second year goes up to 56/hr and makes the small check around 1575.00 and the larger around 3200 - 3500.00. Also the health insurance drops quite a bit after the first year.

If you live in Atlanta the lines are better as far as pay. With the late starts/early finishes on the commutable lines it seems harder to get the pay credit up higher. I think its a little easier to bump your credit up in base without giving up QOL.

I came from a six digit income, so I'm trying to make the loss less painful and so far my overall schedules haven't been so bad. You can have a great schedule and easily get 78 - 83 hrs, or utilize SAP I/II, the tradeboard, and opentime to increase those numbers and only lose a day or two.

Compared to my last job, the QOL here isn't so bad.
Hopefully some good improvements will come with the next contract.

It's all what you make of it anyway. We all knew what we were getting into with this industry, so in my opinion, go for the good schedule with less credit and start your own business with your days off. I'm about to start 3rd yr pay and that's what I plan on doing. Never know when this job might be gone. (Make sure you sign up for Mutual Aid! It's only 12 bucks for FO's)

Some other guys will have different stories. This is just my side. Hope it helps. Welcome aboard.

 

[c9skytrain]

I'll second what ATLboeing says. I figure not living in ATL costs me about 10 hrs. a month paywise (not being able to pickup day trips, etc), but ATL has issues. If your spouse has medical, use theirs. I use company Dental and vision (good deals), but Tricare for medical.
The whole gig to surviving in this airline gig, IMO, is to keep the original spouse and live like an FO no matter what seat you sit, in case of economy down-turns.

 

[Fly4$]

Thanks for the excellent info. Sounds like were are going through the same thing financially. ATLBoeing, your very right, we know what we are getting into (I think). I come from the military and I realize it will take some time to get back to reasonable pay and QOL. I (still) feel very motivated though. Seems to be a buch of good guys at AirTran. Let's hope they keep growing so i will make it to the left seat one day.

By the way, what is mutual aid?

Thanks again

 

[Secret Squirrel]

It is a pretty good program. It is a type of disability program to bring up short term disability to a normal check until long term disability kicks in. FO's pay $12 a paycheck and CA give $24. The fund pays you tax free money (because it is considered a gift from all the pilots who contribute to you). It is administered by some pilots at airtran.

 

[BoeingBaller]

Yeah start your own business so you can work all the time and have no life. Its great!!!!

 

[Clyde Frog]

I'll second what ATLboeing says. I figure not living in ATL costs me about 10 hrs. a month paywise (not being able to pickup day trips, etc),

You guys are still in mediation (how many years now?) and you're still looking to pick up time? That's your leverage man, use it. This is common sense stuff.

With a mentality like that, good luck seeing any gains in the future.

 

[ATLboeing]

I don't pick up extra trips. I'll trade out a crummy 4 day for a better 4 day, etc.
The trips with early reports (for those who live in base) are typically of higher value. Also you have the ability to drop a multi-day trip to pick up day turns and be home at night. That's where not living in base can cost you, which I believe is what he was probably talking about. It's not being a whore, just changing your trips. The tradboard allows you to trade your 3 day for someone else's 4 day, pilot to pilot.

 

[ATLboeing]

Yeah start your own business so you can work all the time and have no life. Its great!!!!

Then don't do it, jacka$$. You're the very reason I don't post on this site often. Too many like you sitting out there who can't let someone post a simple question, get his answers and let it be. You just have to type away with your smartass remarks.
I'm 37 yrs old, so I don't mind a little hard work now so I can play later. I have a friend at UAL who started a business with his wife. They now own 3 of these and it's something they enjoy doing together and can pass along to their kids. At any time he can walk away from flying and never look back.
Now please tell me, with all your infinite wisdom, what's so bad about that?
I truly hope you have a pristine airline career. One that doesn't include a furlough, displacement, bankruptcy, merger, strike, or God forbid another terrorist attack. How about this, you live your life, I'll live mine. Good luck.

 

[Clyde Frog]

I don't pick up extra trips. I'll trade out a crummy 4 day for a better 4 day, etc.

Nothin' wrong with that. It's the opentime whores I have a problem with.