No Jumpseat at Virgin America?

[Beetle007]

Pay rates at Spirit are the same as VA...if VA is not a dollar or so better an hour. FO pay is better at VA.

I think we will have to wait and see what the work rules and trip rig protections are like at VA. Hourly pay rates only mean so much. My friend at Spirit got paid for 190 hrs a couple months ago because of such protections/pay.

Does VA have pay protection for trips that are dropped?
Do they pay block or better?
Do they pay 150% for open time pick up?
Do they pay 200% for junior assignment?
What is VA's daily guarantee?
Is VA going to have some type of PBS that maximizes pilot utilization?


I could probably list a hundred things that matter more than hourly pay.

 

[cruxx@9]

190 hours at Spirit? Good luck with that on a regular basis....then of course there are the pilots scheduling always "works with".

Anyway, I understand what you are saying. Only pointing out that the pay is really not that low hourly wise. It is going to take VA some time to devolop pay structrure. They've been operating for what....2 weeks? Again...time will tell.

 

[Beetle007]

Yeah..190hrs is not the norm. That was the most I have ever heard. But, the fact that it "can" be done is a good example of the importance of contract language vs. hourly pay.

I think the average pilot credits between 100 and 140. Mostly because of conflicts that result in a trip being dropped with pay. Or, picking up one open time trip (maybe even a turn) at 150% or 200% pay.

You can also bid option one and get more pay for working the same hours. For example, if I have a 74 hour line (flying 74 hours) and I drop a 20 hour trip and pick up a 20 hour trip (Only at 100% pay), I can still get paid for 84 hours (flying 74 hours). If they really need pilots you can get 200% pay for that same 20 hour trip. You start the month with 74 hours of flying and 104 hours of pay. It is all about understanding the contract.

There have been times when I have been able to get my commute leg from open time (e.g., "deadhead" to where I commute from - Then fly to FLL). One leg for 6 hrs of pay (4 hours guarantee at 150%).

 

[cruxx@9]

I think we have gotten a little off base here with the jumpseat thread. I agree with you that there is more to pay than hourly rates, but only if you can get to it. However, this I think we should either start a new thread or get back on subject.

BTW did you hear Carlson mention that the new planes will be ordered with only one jumpseat. I hope that isn't true. They say it is to save weight and fuel. Also our fearless leader, Ben, has stated that "it isn't his job to get other pilots to work." NICE eh.

 

[gooseman13]

The official guideline is that only revenue guests fly in first class.

A practical response to whether you would get denied in a situation where there were first class seats and coach was full:

There are 8 first class seats and 141 coach seats, and day of departure upgrades are sold at the airport. Almost no chance that a full flight wouldn't have people paying the nominal upgrade fee to not sit in a middle seat in coach.
No matter the guideline, I really don't see jumpseaters getting bumped with empty seats in first and/or jumpseats in the cockpit.

If you do run into any issues when jumpseating, just try to find a second person to ask or try to speak to the captain...many GSTs aren't familiar with the rules and procedures of jumpseating at this point.

 

[vixin]

Umm AA717 I dont fly a lear anymore. I fly a 737 for a certain company out of Dallas.

 

[bluejuice787]

Umm AA717 I dont fly a lear anymore. I fly a 737 for a certain company out of Dallas.

Sure you do...

 

[vixin]

AAaaaa you got me....Just like you fly blue I guess.

 

[Flyiguy]

Umm AA717 I dont fly a lear anymore. I fly a 737 for a certain company out of Dallas.

Your Mommy must be very proud of her son (pft).

 

[vixin]

Not for me. Besides loser the first year pay at swa more then makes up for the cost of a type rating compared to 1st year pay anywhere else. What an idiot pft...get a new one. Or is that the best your little brain could come up with? Like we havent all seen that before. Lets look at the VA payscale to SWA and see if the type doesnt pay for itself. How about the pay while in training lets look at that also?

 

[Flyiguy]

Not for me. Besides loser the first year pay at swa more then makes up for the cost of a type rating compared to 1st year pay anywhere else. What an idiot pft...get a new one. Or is that the best your little brain could come up with? Like we havent all seen that before. Lets look at the VA payscale to SWA and see if the type doesnt pay for itself. How about the pay while in training lets look at that also?

Never said I worked for Va.
I enjoy watching you spew all your hostility. Such an angry little boy.

 

[vixin]

Not angry at all little girl. How is blue?

 

[Ralph Cramden]

Umm AA717 I dont fly a lear anymore. I fly a 737 for a certain company out of Dallas.

Would that be the Dallas company that doesn't even have a first class to offer? Or the other one?

Don't worry about not getting on if the only seat open is in first. I haven't seen an empty FC seat on any flight yet. BTW, you will love our main cabin. Welcome aboard, set up your playlist, plug in your laptop charger and tap the screen to order a snack or a soda.

No need to call resv, just show up at the gate, fill out the form and do the CASS check. If there is an open seat we can give out you are on. Even took a UAL guy to SFO last week and welcomed him aboard.

We are all just trying to get to work and home regardless of the politics some like to play.

 

[vixin]

No thanks Ralph I dont commute, but thanks for the offer. The product sounds great. Its just to bad they couldnt afford to pay you guys what you are worth. Not to mention it is to bad the anitrust laws didnt prevent RB from starting his little illegal airline in the first place. He must have greased the right palms thats for sure.

 

[Ralph Cramden]

Well Vixin, if you ever need a ride you and any other pilots will be welcome. You are lucky to live in base so enjoy the home time and the easy drive in to work. Not everyone is so lucky.

As great as the IFE is, my personal fav is the ability to keep my toys charged. We think the road warriors will like being able to polish their proposals all the way across the country without running out of juice.

The pay will get better or they will begin to lose drivers. Simple supply & demand economics will work that out. I agree with you it is low, but remember not all of us are 30 years old. I would prefer to work for an established carrier but couldn't afford first year pay and no medical for my family like CAL offers. SWA and CAL are great places but aren't looking for guys like me (old, high time) and their recruiting shows it. I would have preferred my old carrier to stay in business but can't live in the past.

Illegal airline? This place went through the DOT ringer like no other company before it ever has. The finances were reworked to strictly comply with the 25% rule, and the 25% Branson owns is in a blind trust. It complies with the letter of the law and was reviewed and fought over by the legal arms of CAL, DAL, AAL, UAL and others. Rest assured we work under the same FARs and RLA rules as you do and are having no trouble finding high time experienced pilots.

Will this place be a good place to work for? Time will tell. So far so good. A few mis steps but each one debated openly and resolved. Will we seek a collective bargaining agreement? Who knows, stay tuned.