Skybus

[UAL-GSO]

My best friend is a UAL A320 FO in his 3rd year seniority (recalled last year) and he also has to commute, first to IAD and cover 3 different airports, now to Chicago, and if he's lucky soon to LA.. all of which require him to crashpad.

Difference is at Skybus, I can chose to be home every night if I move, with him he's married to his suitcase..

Next..

The difference is after a 48% paycut, your friend is still earning more as an Airbus FO than your Airbus CAPTAINS. Hell, the mobile lounge drivers at IAD are making more than Skybus Captains. You may not care at all, but that bothers a lot of people, myself included. Admittedly, FI.com is more like a peanut gallery than a think tank, but after what so many pilots have gone through in the last few years, how can expect to receive anything other than a visceral, angry response to the whole concept of Skybus? While some people view this as capitalism at its finest, others view it as just one more step in the cheapening of our profession that will only end when we are all making "Wal-Mart" wages.

Maybe your stock options will pay off in the long run - I hope for your sake they do. Having survived two furloughs I would never wish ill on another pilot or his/her family. I think you are in for a long, hard road. God help us all.

 

[HA25]

UAL-GSO, you're not seeing the whole picture. My friend "takes home" as a 4th year FO is less. You're stuck on the $65K base salary figure and not seeing the rest of the picture.

in a 15 day work month, I would fly about an average of 6 hours a day.. for 90 hours.. (how many days does a UAL pilot have to work with your inefficient schedules to fly 90 and credit 105?).

I then would get paid 50% of about 20-25 hours of dead head, which is a far preferreable torture for me that living out of a suitcase at a hotel when my wife and kids are home. Credit hours of 100 to 105, and $85K.. then you factor in the stock options which can be worth about $400,000 in the 4 year vest period, and that works out to $185,000/yr..

YES, I know it's not gauranteed, but nothing in life is.. the COMPANY has to make profits for me to get paid, what about that is such a crime? UAL is making 100's of millions today and what are they giving you? you're having to fight for a raise. I get Equity in my company and as with the CEO and anyone else, if we make money, we all get paid.

 

[Blue Dude]

FMS, it's good that you're enthusiastic about your employer. It wears off fast but it'll carry you through the first few months with a decent attitude. Good on ya. But do NOT make the mistake of confusing stock options with income. They are not remotely equivalent and even if you hit the jackpot, that doesn't make up for extremely poor pay. Even on the off chance that you go public and the stock actually appreciates, you can then unload your shares to supplement your income for a while if you time it right. But make no mistake, the best you can do is create a nest egg or a cushion again bad times. You won't get rich, not even close. In the meantime, you'll still be captaining an Airbus for $80k. (90 hrs of flight time a month is not sustainable. Figure 83 hrs + your 50% of 25 hrs of DH and you get 95 hrs.) Good luck with that.

Your enthusiasm I think may be blinding you to some hard reality. I've been there, done that, and I was one of the original JetBlue guys whose options paid off. No, I'm not rich. Your Kool Aid isn't blue but it's at least as powerful as the stuff they serve here. You need to cut back some.

 

[HA25]

Blue Dude .. Noted. I always have my recall at American to fall back on (if/when) they ever get to it.. Hardball negotiations going over there now, so I'm not going to sit and hold my breath for it.

 

[UAL-GSO]

UAL-GSO, you're not seeing the whole picture. My friend "takes home" as a 4th year FO is less. You're stuck on the $65K base salary figure and not seeing the rest of the picture.

in a 15 day work month, I would fly about an average of 6 hours a day.. for 90 hours.. (how many days does a UAL pilot have to work with your inefficient schedules to fly 90 and credit 105?).

I then would get paid 50% of about 20-25 hours of dead head, which is a far preferreable torture for me that living out of a suitcase at a hotel when my wife and kids are home. Credit hours of 100 to 105, and $85K.. then you factor in the stock options which can be worth about $400,000 in the 4 year vest period, and that works out to $185,000/yr..

YES, I know it's not gauranteed, but nothing in life is.. the COMPANY has to make profits for me to get paid, what about that is such a crime? UAL is making 100's of millions today and what are they giving you? you're having to fight for a raise. I get Equity in my company and as with the CEO and anyone else, if we make money, we all get paid.

My typical schedule consists of four 4-day trips a month which credit about 21-25 hours each. Most days are 1 or 2 legs, sometimes 3 - overnights range anywhere from 12 to 25 hours. This works out to about a 90-94 hour month with an average of 15 days off. Yes, the schedule sucks compared to how it was a few years ago, but just maybe we can get some of that back eventually. Its certainly not as good as my brothers on the heavy side of the airline have it (you lazy 777 and 400 guys flying two 3 days a month - you know who you are , but its livable. As far as the three nights a week in a hotel, I guess it is what it is...

I maybe comparing apples to oranges here, but I'm not a big fan of airline stocks anymore. I would probably offload those asap. If you are familiar with our history you know why.

I don't agree with you about Skybus, but I appreciate your willingness to come on here and discuss it without resorting to name calling and teenager-esque (sp) insults.

Cheers!

 

[HA25]

UAL-GSO, you my friend are a breath of fresh air. A true professional. Gentleman will disagree, but I see some of your points and wish you the best of luck.

On that note, I'm done here.. really!

 

[blott]

I was a Iron Worker before my current "flying" job...

Alot of people are talking the big talk here (skybus), and on the other side, alot of people are talking the big talk(everyone else)...

Talk is cheap, What are you going to do about it? If Skybus employees start to become afraid to be "skybus employees" we might have a chance-otherwise I hope you have enjoyed your ride so far-It's over-Skybus pos's are the future....

B

 

[blott]

Skybus types, say what again....POS'S

B