skybus is so cheap......

[HA25]

Umm, why don't you just go to a place like AirTran, SWA, or Frontier? Upgrade isn't 18 years, and the first year FO pay isn't poverty wages as it is at the legacies.

Here's a comparison of pay after the first 5 years. This uses current payrates at common credit times of about 85 hours for SWA, Frontier, and AirTran, and optimistic Skybus pay based on working a bunch over guarantee:

SWA Frontier AirTran SkyBus

Y1 62k 47k 53k 40k
Y2 98k 74k 66k 84k
Y3 108k 83k 71k 86k
Y4 118k 87k 77k 88k
Y5 129k 143k 130k 90k

Total: 515k 434k 397k 388k

good points, and deserving of an answer, even if you added that bit of hyperbole in the end..

for me as an individual, being hired at a start up with 75 pilots and plans to hire 1200 over 5 years makes me VERY senior much faster than at any of those places.. therefore QOL..

second, there is the matter of stock options

So those two reasons alone are why I'm "CONSIDERING" skybus.. I'm not saying I'm taking the job.. I've yet to get an interview.. and when I do, you can bet I'll have some tough questions for them.. let's see what happens.

 

[PCL_128]

good points, and deserving of an answer, even if you added that bit of hyperbole in the end..

It's not hyperbole. You already have a decent job. It would be crazy to gamble on this scumbag bottom feeder airline just for a few stock options that might never be worth anything. If you take the job, then you're nuts.

 

[FLYfishin]

FMS Speed - OIL IS AT $89 A BARREL. HOW THE HELL ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE MONEY FLYING OUT OF OHIO AT $89 A BARREL? Last time I checked Columbus didn't have Palm trees. Have you lost your mind? I've seen how this nightmare is going to end, remember Independence Air? You are only fooling yourself.:bomb:

 

[vixin]

There was a time when your Dispatchers started out getting paid more than your FOs at Flex

I havent been their almost two years.
Starting dispatch pay when I was their was low-mid 20's. FO starting pay was mid to upper 30's base pay, low 40's usually. So I dont see your point. But then again fractional and Airlines are different.

 

[Sgt. Hartman]

Skybus is soooooo cheap.......PROFESSIONALS (I use that word loosely) in the industry turn into little whiny babies and tough guys all at the same time when they hide behind the anonymity of an internet forum.

 

[HA25]

FMS Speed - OIL IS AT $89 A BARREL. HOW THE HELL ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE MONEY FLYING OUT OF OHIO AT $89 A BARREL? Last time I checked Columbus didn't have Palm trees. Have you lost your mind? I've seen how this nightmare is going to end, remember Independence Air? You are only fooling yourself.:bomb:

All the more reason why the legacy airlines are in more trouble. High oil prices are a reality, and the days of $30-60/barrel are gone. China has seen to that, and India is doing it's part. So ALL airline business models and cost structures that were developed prior to this spike in demand are now outdated. This alone is the reason why airlines are unable to pay the wages they used to pay, and the wages we deserver.. not because of a 5 airplane company called Skybus.

The way I see it, I have little to loose, if I try it.. in the end if Skybus flops I have American to fall back on... I have absolutely no intention to apply to DAL, UAL, NWA, AAA or any other legacy carrier, and the other LCC's while interesting don't offer the same career advancement and rapid seniority rise.

American is more than 2 years from calling me back at the rate they're going anyway.

I think the Skybus model is a solid one, the company is well capitalized, with experienced management (ex- Southwest, Ryan Air, etc..) and their CEO is a respected business mind and book author.

Considering they're only flying 5 airplanes and have yet to reap the advantage of cost reduction (efficiency of scale) that comes with an expanded fleet size which is only a few months away, they're a good gamble; one I'm willing to take.

Frankly I find it distasteful that anyone would use the word scab to describe the guys working there, many of whom are furloughed legacy pilots that have either given up on their prior employer, or are still waiting recalls..

The good news is that forums like this are just a tiny sample of our profession. I know several senior pilots at American, Delta and United, all of whom advise me to go for it, they' don't read these stupid forums (I should do the same), and tell me that any talk of scab or denying jump seats isn't happening in their cockpits.

Anyway, I'm done here.

 

[FLYfishin]

So in other words you don't mind subsidizing the high price of fuel with $hit pay? You have nothing to lose? How about dignity and pride?

 

[say again]

You have nothing to lose? How about dignity and pride?

haha, thats already out the window!!!:beer:

 

[HA25]

Well, either in a few years you'll all be eating crow, or I will.. Until then, keep this thread bookmarked.

 

[FLYfishin]

I heard you guys are already pulling out of some West coast destinations. And cutting back service on others. Doesn't sound promising.