PAX vs Freight

[Big Beer Belly]

If money and stability are one's motivators, by all means they should try to get on with FDX, UPS etc.


YKW

That is one of the funniest things I've ever read on this board!

I'm sure most would rather have a career of multiple bankruptcies and furloughs, low pay, and crappy working conditions! LOL!!

Some enjoy cleaning the airplane between flights, others prefer the delight of asking the #1 for permission to take a potty break. Still others enjoy choking down an endless stream of Big Macs and burritos and shy away from the scariness of international destinations and being away from momma overnight. Many passenger pilots also tell me they delight in minimum wage TSA "wand wavers" sniffing their breath first thing in the morning and others just relish the simplicity their golden years will be without all the stress of managing a large retirement portfolio. Many are gamblers at heart and eagerly anticipate what awaits them as their carrier merges with several others or what the aftermath of another terrorist attack might bring.

Lots to consider when making a career choice but I guess I'm old-fashioned in choosing money and stability.

BBB

 

[Boeing747Driver]

Freight Doesn't Bitch.
I spent 2 years a Polar between USAIRWAYS 1 and USAIRWAYS 2.
Some things really stink about freight, but I feel the positives out-weight the negatives in freight.
Passenger gets less and less enjoyable as my career goes on.

 

[AC560]

I'm sure most would rather have a career of multiple bankruptcies and furloughs, low pay, and crappy working conditions! LOL!!

Beats being chased by machete wielding gangs ;>

 

[propjob27]

I've flown for five airlines. 4 pax, 1 freight.

Here's my take:

I enjoyed my JOB flying pax more several reasons:

• Right side of the airport (I like being able to grab a Starschmucks Sandwich, BigMac, etc...)
• I actually enjoyed talking with, ie flirting with the FA's. I was fortunate enough to work for pax airlines that were actually decent in the FA hiring department, and I've been single my whole life and a had a good time with it. Those guys that say the FA's are bitc hes and 'boxes don't bitch' are probably guys that don't have an ounce of personality, and never got laid by an FA. If you occasionally got to bang them, it made the layovers WAAYY more enjoyable than just going to dinner and a bar with some 40+ year old captain and talking about work bulls h it.
• The hours. Yes, the international flying on the pax side totally throws this perk out the window, you may as well be flying freight. So do the 0400 wakeups for the 0500 van ride on the morning departures, I never enjoyed that. But in general, the short 737 type flying on the pax side was easier on my body.
• Nicer equipment. Pax airplanes, in general, are far cleaner, and newer than Cargo planes.

I enjoy my LIFE more flying freight:

• The pay. My checks on the 1st and 15th of the month as a widebody FO are:

-more than an 7 year captain at AirTran.
-the same as a 4 year captain at Frontier.
-more than a 6 year captain at Spirit.
-more than a 12 year 777 FO at CAL.
-more than a 12 year 777 FO at United, and the same as a 10 year 737 Captain
-the same as 9 year 777 FO at American.
-more than a 7 year FO at Southwest.
​

(disclaimer: The above statements are based on hourly rate vs hourly rate, via Airlinepilotpay.net At my company, I used our hourly rate of 128/hr, which is easily attainable as an FO with just over 1 year of senority. The statements are also based a guy who likes to work the bare minimum. Ie, simply flying your line, never working on a day off etc. Comparing one guy who just flys his line vs another guy who flys his line + days off would obviously change things. I understand that some of these companies may have work rule perks which could skew things one way or the other.)​

• The number of hours flown/days worked. I'm going to work far less, and flying less than the people at these other airlines and still getting paid as listed above.

• I've never once heard the words "furlough" and "concession" and "loss"

Conclusion?

There's two kinds of people. Live to work, or work to live? There are those of us who define ourselves by our occupations. Not just some pilots, but some doctors, some lawyers, some investment bankers, some cops, some firefigheters etc. And many of them are quite successful. For that type of person, having a fun, or important, or glamours job may be the most important thing in his life.

I am not that type of person. I am a "work to live" type of person. My job is far from the most important thing in my life. Flying freight affords me the luxry of enjoying my life outside of work (and having more of it) far more than flying pax did.

 

[Big Beer Belly]

Beats being chased by machete wielding gangs ;>

I was thinking of taking up an exercise program anyway ... I simply figured that was as good a time as any to start training!

BBB

 

[SWA/FO]

You forgot to mention, that the PAX folks are going to out live the Freight Dogs by about 12 years, on average. Last time I checked, you can't take any money with you on your journey to the "other side" and I'm not talking the other side of the airport.

Also, some folks like Lite beer and some like the bold full flavor of regular beer.

 

[ptarmigan]

I actually enjoyed talking with, ie flirting with the FA's. I was fortunate enough to work for pax airlines that were actually decent in the FA hiring department, and I've been single my whole life and a had a good time with it. Those guys that say the FA's are bitc hes and 'boxes don't bitch' are probably guys that don't have an ounce of personality, and never got laid by an FA. If you occasionally got to bang them, it made the layovers WAAYY more enjoyable than just going to dinner and a bar with some 40+ year old captain and talking about work bulls h it..

Hmm, never seemed to be a problem to pick up F/A's as a freight pilot. In fact, it often worked to my advantage, not being "same company" and all....

 

[Big Beer Belly]

You forgot to mention, that the PAX folks are going to out live the Freight Dogs by about 12 years, on average.

I'd love to read that article. Pax guys often mention stuff like this, but I've never read it anywhere. Do you have a reference SWA/FO? I ask because insurance companies live and die (I crack myself up!) by micro-examining every aspect of our expected longevity, but never have I been asked if I worked for a passenger hauler or freight hauler. Hmmm ... I would think if the data existed that supported your contention then life insurers of all people would know about it. Just another one of life's things that make you go hmmm ....

BBB

 

[SWA/FO]

I'd love to read that article. Pax guys often mention stuff like this, but I've never read it anywhere. Do you have a reference SWA/FO?

I made it up. :0

 

[Whine Lover]

Sir, before you attempt to correct others, I urge you first to go through your original post with a basic English guide. I see spelling errors, grammar errors, and far too many "quotes" for emphasis. High school writing, at best.

For my edification could you please point out:

- My spelling errors in the original post.

- My grammar errors in the original post.

?

Although this really isn't meant to be an English Class (OR a writing contest) I am always ready to learn something.

Thanks,

YKW

 

[Whine Lover]

"Also, some folks like Lite beer and some like the bold full flavor of regular beer."

BINGO.

Busch Light Rules.


YKW

 

[RollinOnMy22sYo]

"Also, some folks like Lite beer and some like the bold full flavor of regular beer."

BINGO.

Busch Light Rules.


YKW

Yo, Colt 45 gots it all ovah dat lite crap, know wha'm sayin?

 

[taxicabdriver]

Thanks for starting this thread again, I have been very interested in this debate. I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to step up my career with a big PAX company, but have the appeal of going to UPS/FDX. I have friends at both, but didn't even want to apply unless it was for sure what I wanted to do. Now I'm not saying that I could get on at either place, but didn't really want to bug my contacts too much until I had made up my mind.

For those of you at UPS/FDX, how long did it take you to get used to changing your body clock and flying the night shifts? How do your wives/kids/gf's adapt to you sleeping thru the day time, or do you constantly change your body clock from going to work/days off? If the pay were equal, would you stay freight? One final question...I'm fairly new to the industry and was still doin the cfi thing prior to 9-11, but how did UPS/FDX rank on people's list of places to go back then? I read a news article a few days ago and the author basically said he could never see freight drivers making more than pax drivers over the long run. I'm not trying to "chase the money" but the job stability and retirement benefits at the freight companies seems a little more stable.

I would appreciate input from both sides of the fences, and I already know I can't spell

 

[propjob27]

I read a news article a few days ago and the author basically said he could never see freight drivers making more than pax drivers over the long run.

Wow, you read an article, then it MUST be true. Maybe you haven't seen the pay scales of FedEX vs any other airline for the last 5 years...

 

[ASA]

Only since you asked. Here are a few:

Everyone has their personal opinion / preference. his or her.

rythms misspelling.

Only to repeat the process so that you can get to some hotel at 9am and try to get some sleep with the maids banging around in the halls and all the doors slamming as people leave to check out. not a sentence.

forced them too. Should be "to." Also, try to avoid ending a sentence with a preposition.

YKW

Overall, though, it's better than most posts in here. It's a good thing passengers don't read these.