P
pave driver
The real issue with pay at my legacy and all 3 for that matter is we work far more for far less than decades ago. This issue needs to be fixed. But many don't do their homework and just take the first available offer. More collaboration needs to occur. For example, my friends at Delta and United were surprised I can drop a trip every month for personal reasons. I have done so almost every month. Look at the whole picture and choose wisely. I believe most can go where they want with great effort - prep and career enhancing positions and work (i.e. safety, training jobs). Many choose not to for various reasons and as such we all have different things we must uniquely contend with.
I will agree things are improving rapidly for the better at the big 3 and according to my squadron buds at the other carriers at United, Delta, Southwest, and my experience at a legacy, work rules are critical and should be improved and will be as these new contracts are negotiated. I've had friends tell me they feel as if they're on reserve every time they fly in and out of ATL and receive ACARS extensions quite often on the 88 and 90.
The one big thing to look at when choosing to go to a legacy is retirements because seniority is everything. Also, older pilots tend to work more weekends with grown families. This greatly improves a young pilot's chances of being home for their families. A contract with holiday pay has a similar effect for the young pilots with families. Can you drop trips and pick up another one? Other information is good to know as well. For example, a large amount of training causes buying trips from pilots and they get paid to not work. Retirements cause a lot of training events. Once the trip is bought can you fly another trip over the same footprint and make double pay? Yes I can! This is just one in many examples to research and target your choice job as well as retirements and future fleet plans as best as you can. What percentage of widebodies are there and what is the the minimum time to that position? Can you "create" a 8,9,10 day vacation every month if you'd so desire without working 12 in a row? 12 in a row (regardless of credit) is not my cup of tea. 3 on, 4 off and weekends/holidays off is right up my alley! To each their own of course. This job for many gets very old real fast. Can you go back to the right seat in the same equipment, move to other equipment? Are there contractual seat locks to upgrade?
Talk with and research until you have a clear picture. For example, I had no desire to spend 5-10 years in the right seat of a mad dog working 4-day trips Fri-Mon, in and out of ATL (puke) for Delta. I didn't care for stagnation, the 737 nor many leg trips only commutable on either end of a 4-day trip for Southwest.
Now to the OP point...sorry for the diatribe - some may benefit?
The overall annual compensation will be roughly the same as these contracts are built upon each other for similar aircraft at the big 3 so ensure you choose wisely. Good luck to all hopefuls researching for your final destination because, you will ultimately marry it!
I will agree things are improving rapidly for the better at the big 3 and according to my squadron buds at the other carriers at United, Delta, Southwest, and my experience at a legacy, work rules are critical and should be improved and will be as these new contracts are negotiated. I've had friends tell me they feel as if they're on reserve every time they fly in and out of ATL and receive ACARS extensions quite often on the 88 and 90.
The one big thing to look at when choosing to go to a legacy is retirements because seniority is everything. Also, older pilots tend to work more weekends with grown families. This greatly improves a young pilot's chances of being home for their families. A contract with holiday pay has a similar effect for the young pilots with families. Can you drop trips and pick up another one? Other information is good to know as well. For example, a large amount of training causes buying trips from pilots and they get paid to not work. Retirements cause a lot of training events. Once the trip is bought can you fly another trip over the same footprint and make double pay? Yes I can! This is just one in many examples to research and target your choice job as well as retirements and future fleet plans as best as you can. What percentage of widebodies are there and what is the the minimum time to that position? Can you "create" a 8,9,10 day vacation every month if you'd so desire without working 12 in a row? 12 in a row (regardless of credit) is not my cup of tea. 3 on, 4 off and weekends/holidays off is right up my alley! To each their own of course. This job for many gets very old real fast. Can you go back to the right seat in the same equipment, move to other equipment? Are there contractual seat locks to upgrade?
Talk with and research until you have a clear picture. For example, I had no desire to spend 5-10 years in the right seat of a mad dog working 4-day trips Fri-Mon, in and out of ATL (puke) for Delta. I didn't care for stagnation, the 737 nor many leg trips only commutable on either end of a 4-day trip for Southwest.
Now to the OP point...sorry for the diatribe - some may benefit?
The overall annual compensation will be roughly the same as these contracts are built upon each other for similar aircraft at the big 3 so ensure you choose wisely. Good luck to all hopefuls researching for your final destination because, you will ultimately marry it!
