Flex Schedule

[2dumb2drive]

Now that flex is offering DEN as a base i have begun to consider them and was wondering if someone could explain the schedule bidding to me. The web site says you bid 14-19 duty days per bid period... so is your salary paid just based on the days you work? If i only bid 14 will i only get 14? If the days per cycle vary then how do they run the rotation, meaning if i bid 14 will it mean a 7 on 7 off? What if i bid 19? Do they get you to your home base by the end of your last duty day? Any guess as to which ship they would start me in at DEN, current 135 lr-jet captain if that makes a difference. Any other comments about qol would be appreciated.

 

[Wiggums]

Whoa, back up there. The bidding is mostly to make you feel good. You get paid for the days the PBS assigns you. Figure 15-16 days per month. The aircraft assignment is in whatever they need, your base does not affect it.

Did you apply to Netjets? It's likely soon that you could also be based in Denver and you could work 7 on and 7 off. I would look at both and make sure you go to the one that will make you happiest.

 

[Guitar Guy]

To add to what Wiggums said about the possibility of basing in DEN, a new ammendment to our contract is supposed to be put out for review on 10/1. If that happens, a vote count would be conducted on 11/20.

 

[Ultra Grump]

Did you apply to Netjets? It's likely soon that you could also be based in Denver and you could work 7 on and 7 off.

I certainly wouldn't come here expecting that to happen though. If it does, great. But if not, be prepared to be in one of the 5 domiciles til at least 2010.

 

[Wiggums]

I would apply to both. Hopefully before you have to sign a contract at Flex you will know if the changes to the NetJets contract are going to happen. No contract at NetJets so you could always go the other way if you wanted.

 

[rsm]

Flex has never hired a Net Jets person! Wonder why?? And they Net Jets are applying and interviewing. Net Jets have hired several Flex Guys. Whats going on??

 

[doh]

Flex has never hired a Net Jets person! Wonder why?? And they Net Jets are applying and interviewing. Net Jets have hired several Flex Guys. Whats going on??

I thought we had hired a couple of NJ folks. Que?

 

[hammer2]

I thought we had hired a couple of NJ folks. Que?

When?????????????

 

[NETFLIER]

to answer the original question:

flexjet schedule is what they tell you it is. If they want to wake you up in a rest period they can. If your hungry they feed you, but they give you the food they order. If they want to freeze your pay, they will. If they say schedule is based on the PBS, and then say it isnt based on the PBS, then thats the way it is.

without a contract and anything in written, it is what they say it is.

 

[dashtrasher]

to answer the original question:

flexjet schedule is what they tell you it is. If they want to wake you up in a rest period they can. If your hungry they feed you, but they give you the food they order. If they want to freeze your pay, they will. If they say schedule is based on the PBS, and then say it isnt based on the PBS, then thats the way it is.

without a contract and anything in written, it is what they say it is.

With that being said by Netflyer in the 18 months that I have been with Flex I have had 3 pay raises, have yet to awaken by crew scheduling while in rest.
Now the PBS is another story I don't believe that we are a large enough pilot group to make PBS effective, but when I have needed time off I have never had a problem with scheduling getting it. In fact my bid is 4 day rotations with weekends off and I have gotten that all summer long and now into October I still have it.

Happy here, not planning on going anywhere else, should be upgrading within 6 months.

 

[GSXR600]

With that being said by Netflyer in the 18 months that I have been with Flex I have had 3 pay raises, have yet to awaken by crew scheduling while in rest.
Now the PBS is another story I don't believe that we are a large enough pilot group to make PBS effective, but when I have needed time off I have never had a problem with scheduling getting it. In fact my bid is 4 day rotations with weekends off and I have gotten that all summer long and now into October I still have it.

Happy here, not planning on going anywhere else, should be upgrading within 6 months.

AMEN BROTHA!!!!!!!

 

[doylehargraves]

have yet to awaken by crew scheduling while in rest.

have never had a problem with scheduling getting it.

4 day rotations with weekends off and I have gotten that all summer long and now into October I still have it.

You can kiss all that goodbye when you upgrade. Enjoy it while it lasts...

 

[Wiggums]

Happy here, not planning on going anywhere else, should be upgrading within 6 months.

Too bad you will make less then a netjets FO.

 

[dashtrasher]

Too bad you will make less then a netjets FO.

Don't see how as I'll upgrade within six months and at NJ it would be another 4yrs.

Have a friend on the X started six months after me and I am well ahead of him in pay this year.

Oh yes another reason I happy to be here, I get to see all the NJ pilots sitting airport standby.

 

[Wiggums]

Don't see how as I'll upgrade within six months and at NJ it would be another 4yrs.

No, you don't get it. Soon a first year FO at netjets will make $69,188 (216 days/yr). That is more then your captain pay.

Don't forget free health care, much better 401k, holiday pay, much higher overtime pay.

 

[slaabpilot]

Sound like you need to get you a$$ out of my company if you don't like Flex that much. It's Ba$tards like you that bring everyone down. I'd rather fly with a NJ person than you any day Wiggums!

 

[skydan5]

Sound like you need to get you a$$ out of my company if you don't like Flex that much. It's Ba$tards like you that bring everyone down. I'd rather fly with a NJ person than you any day Wiggums!

You won't have to. He left Flexjet several months ago.

 

[Wiggums]

I shouldn't have blown that guy up, but someone had just explained to me the new NetJets contract proposal and I was irritated for a few reasons, one of is that no doubt the Flex pilots will get some kind of token raise but will fall further behind NetJets. I did work at a Flex for awhile and I had a different experience then many posters here. I was constantly being called out early and getting home late. You work hard at FlexJet (look at their staffing level compared to NJ) for a little less money and way less benefits. If you ask for changes you will be told either "go to NJ" or "don't worry what NJ is doing". Meanwhile Bombardier is giving the house away to companies like XO Jet instead of growing Flex. They restrict the amount of aircraft Flex gets in favor of outside customers as their primary business is selling aircraft, not operating them.

Most of the guys I flew with a Flex were great and I hope things work out for them.