Life Style At FedEx vs Pax

[MTNHI]

I was looking for some straightforward and serious answers concerning the lifestyle at FedEx vs. a PAX airline. Now I know things are dependant upon seniority and what you want and can bid. Where you want to live. Commute or no commute. But without any answers influenced by “hard core punch drinkers” what exactly makes FedEx pilots happy. I know for example SWA pilots make great money for there work, crews and other employees are great to work with. F/A’s share or show plastic surgery stories ect… CAL for example has a variety of new airplanes coming on-line, new international destinations first class benefits when seats are available for non-reving. Older F/A’s making bitter coffee. But what exactly is the heart of the happiness of FedEx pilots. Some pilots will say they would not due the cargo route for many reasons. No passengers or F/A’s for a social environment. No fancy terminal. No glory. The whole night thing, which at CAL you will have some just with the red-eyes and international flights alone. But again, what is the heart of the happiness. I just hope it is not all money driven. FedEx pilots are blessed to be in an over all positive position concerning pay. But like I said, aside from some of the money reasons, which I do realize is a big part of any job or line of work, which creates hopefully a great lifestyle. How is the environment there, at work on-line, on the over nights or over days? I ask this because I have never heard of an unhappy FedEx pilot. Just looking for: why? How do some of you feel when you get back home from the night to day transition? Or if you bid some of the around the globe trips where from what I understand you keep moving east bound for the most part?

Just looking for a little more insight concerning some of the behind the scene and life style there!

Thanks!

 

[Dumb Pilot]

Like one of their Check Airman told me when he gave a CRM class to us as a guest! "It is not a fancy gig, but it is reliable. It is comforting to know that your company is not going to shut down"

Peace of mind = Happiness

They are not living Day by Day, E-mail to E-mail, Bankruptcy filing to 1013 filing like the majority of us. That alone makes the cargo ramp look like Vegas.

 

[CaptainMark]

For me...i live in base...fly less than 300 hrs a year and am paid for about 1000 credit hours....long layovers...24-60-90..etc....never missed a x-mas....fly mostly days....quick upgrades...one or 2 legs a day....now i say this because i am a not commuter and do not bid hubturning lines...i do not like night hubturns and do not fly them...if u fly them all the time u can get burned out but it is a great thing for commuters..live where u want and let the comany buy u tickets to work...great job security....and great retirement...and u can fly international if u want....a380s coming...the list goes on...just my opinion....max pay and least work...that was does it for me at FDX...

 

[Purpledog]

I commute, fly hub turns, live away from Mem. Night hub turns suck. I fly one short leg in and one short leg out. I feel like a$$ the day I get home. That said, we have the most time off anywhere. I work Mon night thru Fri morn twice a month and with our vacation system I can usually eliminate 2 months of the year. Time off makes me happy, the rest is details. I can't stand FA's, airport terminals, the TSA etc...and there is no glory in this profession anymore. This is a good gig for me. Oh yeah, cargo actually makes money.

 

[PurpleTail]

I can't stand FA's, airport terminals, the TSA etc...and there is no glory in this profession anymore. This is a good gig for me. Oh yeah, cargo actually makes money.

Ditto. PLUS, there is endless variety at FedEx becasue we cover the globe (opposed to codesharing at a pax airline). Time off is very important, vacation is very important, job stability is extremely important.

Just in the last two years I have been able to go and see places I would have never been...Sydney, Perth, Hong Kong, Toyko, Shanghai, Delhi (Taj Mahl), Kazakhstan, Paris, Frankfurt, Dubai, Johannesburg. Some people don't like international flying but if I'm going to be away from home I want to maximize my income with Int'l override and perdiem, every little bit helps when you have a family.

FedEx is just a very relaxed, laid back, low stress job. Show up, get your paperwork, check the load and weather, preflight and when they are done loading you go.

 

[pipe]

I flew at multiple big pax carriers before FX - here's my list:

#1 - Working in an industry that makes economic sense (this is a completely different industry that just happens to involve airplanes)

#2 - Fewer pax terminals. From my experience, even the sharpest individuals seem to turn into raving idiots when they walk into an airport.

#3 - Night flying ain't so bad. Positive rate, gear up, vector to destination, quiet radios, etc...

#4 - No TSA. It's nice to go for long periods of time without being treated like a complete idiot - by a complete idiot.

#5 - See #1.

PIPE

 

[LEROY]

#6 - FREE fresh-popped popcorn (with cheese and garlic flavoring, I might add)
#7 - FREE coffee ANYWHERE in the FedEx system...PERIOD.
#8 - Hazelnut, French Vanilla, or Traditional Creamer for said free coffee at most locations.
#9 - Boxes don't B!TCH at you (but my friend at SWA says they don't smile either)
#10 - A decent wage, yet one which needs to be (and will be) updated to reflect the company's incredible money-generating propensity...

 

[HoursHore]

No "Airline" show waiting to board the aircraft.

Lots of time off.

Great Vacation system.

Flying at night is actually pretty nice, its flying in the early morning that sucks.

Lots of variety. MD-11 crossing the globe to ICT PM day out and backs.

 

[boost]

You forget about the lemon lime Gatorade on tap in the AOC. Once I saw that I knew I was in the right place.

 

[FedEx1]

Same for me...

No drunk pax, no emotional flight attendants, no TSA pat downs. I don't get stopped 10 times on my way to the gate by people wanting to know where baggage claim is, etc.

The coffee may be free and endless, but it sucks. And trust me, they don't clean the potable water tanks on the MD-11's....

Oh, free movies during the hub turn!

 

[MTNHI]

WHAT?? I would of thought for sure you guys would of been brewing some Starbucks action!! And the Gatorade is not Orange and or Purple mist?

 

[CaptainMark]

enough can't be said about the vacation policy....a 7 day vacation can easily turn into a month off with slides and expansions etc...vacation is one of the biggest attractions here...

 

[Bavarian Chef]

Same for me...

No drunk pax, no emotional flight attendants, no TSA pat downs. I don't get stopped 10 times on my way to the gate by people wanting to know where baggage claim is, etc.

The coffee may be free and endless, but it sucks. And trust me, they don't clean the potable water tanks on the MD-11's....

Oh, free movies during the hub turn!

Dude, you got it wrong. It's "emotional pax" and "drunk flight attendants."

I have quite a few friends who work at FedEx (all ex-military) and the impression I get is that it's all about the money. There isn't much to enjoy about the nite flying and day sleep layovers -- BUT (dodging bricks from FedExer's, trust me, NO FLAME INTENDED) those dudes have been there less than 5 or so, guessing int'l and seniority make it worth it. One dude I worked with my last few years active duty always looked tired and beat down. He was a 4 year FO on the 72. But by all accounts, he was a wealthy 4 yr FO.

I wasn't sure I would like the pax hauling myself, but then on those days when a little kid comes up and wants to check out the cockpit (and then his hot, divorced momma sits in your lap for a picture) everything seems right in the world...

Still, hauling people ain't what it used to be, right?

 

[turn&pull]

Sounds like a great Job.

Every job has its pros and cons and I have always thought that the pros would win at Fedex.

 

[Haywood]

I think one of the best things about FedEx is that there is all types of flying. Day, night, domestic and international. Fly what you want, everybody is different. Commuting, well that is a personal choice. I do it, for now at least. I really don't care for it, but I don't care to live in Memphis at this point in my life. It is about job satisfaction, not the money. Although the money is nice.

 

[Miyagi]

And the company loves and appreciates us. Just look at how quickly they agreed to a new CBA! Oh wait, we don't have a new contract but it should be coming "SOON!"

 

[Purpledog]

I have quite a few friends who work at FedEx (all ex-military) and the impression I get is that it's all about the money.

All about the time off. I could care less about the money unless they try to take it away. Sure I'd like to make more but not my priority. Now, if they 'F' with vacation, days off, or the ability to retire at 55 with a pension, then they'll have a fight on their hands. It's a job, not an adventure.

 

[Lake Alice]

You can't overlook the long term effects of the job either. You will age at a rate much faster than with a traditional schedule and the effects will not be known until much later in life.

That being said I too would love the job.

Money vs potential health problems?

 

[big_al]

if you like flying pax because you enjoy the looks and walking through the terminals then you might want to find another profession

 

[FCPhotography]

A drag queen can get the same attention and they are more respected.

 

[FCPhotography]

And they make more money.

 

[Purpledog]

You will age at a rate much faster than with a traditional schedule and the effects will not be known until much later in life.

Most likely. However, the guy doing six legs all day will probably be in the same boat. That is the reason I'm for the age 55 retirement. Get out while you still have your health and haven't hit the years where the damage will be exponential. I just got back from 4 nights of hub turning and I don't feel a day over 80.

 

[TheBaron]

Trip trades and drops...

My thoughts have changed recently on this and are subject to change again in the future, but this week, I've decided the best thing about FedEx is the ability to drop as many trips as you want and make your own dang schedule. I once thought working hard and retiring at 55 sounded great...now I think, why the hell do I want to hang out at the beach with my wife when I'm 55?! She'll be an old woman! My new philosophy is to fly enough to pay the bills and have some fun with my wife and kids while I'm young enough to enjoy it and them. When I'm 55 and the kids are in college (and my wife is becoming that old woman) I'll work as much as I need to and put away extra money for retirement. So what if I have to work till I'm 65 or 70. The ability to fly whatever schedule you want to build for yourself is the BEST thing about FedEx.

 

[Purpledog]

I once thought working hard and retiring at 55 sounded great...

Who said anything about working hard?

 

[Networ-King]

You can't overlook the long term effects of the job either. You will age at a rate much faster than with a traditional schedule and the effects will not be known until much later in life.

That being said I too would love the job.

Money vs potential health problems?

So the guys and gals flying all nighters at Jetblue, AmericaWest/Usair, Airtran, Delta......don't feel the effects of that schedule? yeah ok there alice!!!!! I live in base and bid res and fly about 10 to 15 hours a month. SHOULD those hours be at night...well so be it. Beats the heck out of flying night transcons 60 to 90 hours a month at Jetblue. Beats the 850 hours averaged by SWA pilots a year up and down, up and down, Beats the living heck out of Amwests 850 hours a year night flying, and as for delta or airtran.....same crap with stability and low wages of the pax side. Don't get me wrong the grass aint always greener, but this brown grass beats the heck out of the pax brown playing field. All companies have their problems, but if your gonna bash the trash haulers about night flying then bring in the rest of the group..... not just cargo. know what I mean vern??????????

yeah.... working hard? LOL what he said.

 

[propjob27]

FedEX is airline # 5 for me, the previous 4 were passenger carriers. I've tried two commuter airlines, one LCC, and one major, before coming to FedEX.

I HATE to use the "job security" word, but in this case I can't help it. FedEX is in the business of making money. Huge amounts of it. I knock on wood when I say this, but I don't think I'll ever hear the words "furlough" and "concessions" here at FedEX. It's impossible to be 100% sure of this, but I'm alot more confident of FedEX's financial future than I am of any other airline I, or any of my friends, have worked (or are still working) for.

There are some very important other reasons for liking FedEX vs. some other airlines, but I don't think its right to point them out or brag about them right now. We're in contract negotiations. I'm not sure the 'i fly 300 hours per year and get paid for 1000 at xxx pay rate' comments are in good taste right now. But what the f uck do I know.

Even so, just try to be happy, or at least not hate, where you are. If you're one of those guys who is fortunate enough to have the 'Continental Vs FedEX, JetBlue vs FedEX, Southwest vs FedEX', choice, then these threads may be something for you to think about. However, they probably don't apply to the other 99% of airline pilots out there. Screw the grass on the other side, and worry about mowing your own lawn.

 

[Murdawg5]

I think FedEx will be much better after you get (and hold) seniority... An example... Almost 20% of the 72 FO's could hold Captain, but choose not to do so... Why is this? You have to ask yourself, but for me (just approaching 5yrs with the company) I will never be junior again... It's just too tough on your body when the schedules will allow for MUCH more gratifying life choices...
Just my .02 worth...
Take Care,
Murdawg5

 

[JBPA]

I think FedEx will be much better after you get (and hold) seniority... An example... Almost 20% of the 72 FO's could hold Captain, but choose not to do so... Why is this? You have to ask yourself, but for me (just approaching 5yrs with the company) I will never be junior again... It's just too tough on your body when the schedules will allow for MUCH more gratifying life choices...
Just my .02 worth...
Take Care,
Murdawg5

It's nice that you have the option to bid QOL vs. chasing a R/L seat. That's definately another advantage of FEDEX over the pax side (especially LCCs). For instance, unless a spouse works (or mil ret, pile of savings to expend, etc.), most folks at JB upgrade at the first opportunity because our pay curves (or lines) are flat (and low - ridiculously low in the case of the -190). And I bet our junior CA reservists fly an equal amount at night (day sleep/redeyes) as the cargo dudes. Hell, my bud is a yr-2 Mad Dog FO and he flies less at night (and overall a lot less total block) than I do (admittedly, mine is self-inflicted pain). At least his hourly rate is within 3 dollars/hr of my yr-5 CA rate!

 

[Gearup727]

Can you say WIDE BODY! That's where the money is and that's why we all go to work. Next time you're in Memphis take a look at the ramp. It's all wide bodies. Can you say 125K second year pay. Wide body Captain pay is what I want; you can have the fa's and the pax.

 

[Lake Alice]

So the guys and gals flying all nighters at Jetblue, AmericaWest/Usair, Airtran, Delta......don't feel the effects of that schedule? yeah ok there alice!!!!! I live in base and bid res and fly about 10 to 15 hours a month. SHOULD those hours be at night...well so be it. Beats the heck out of flying night transcons 60 to 90 hours a month at Jetblue. Beats the 850 hours averaged by SWA pilots a year up and down, up and down, Beats the living heck out of Amwests 850 hours a year night flying, and as for delta or airtran.....same crap with stability and low wages of the pax side. Don't get me wrong the grass aint always greener, but this brown grass beats the heck out of the pax brown playing field. All companies have their problems, but if your gonna bash the trash haulers about night flying then bring in the rest of the group..... not just cargo. know what I mean vern??????????

yeah.... working hard? LOL what he said.

Are you illiterate or just plain stupid? Re-read what I wrote. Until then, shut your trap!