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SkyWest QOL

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flyboy32482 said:
Does anyone have any info on SkyWest? What is the QOL like? What about ORD as a CRJ fo? Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...

QOL is pretty good. It's definitely a lot better than another airline I've worked for...For example, when they're trying to cover a shift, they call me and ask me if I want to pick it up instead of just Junior Assigning me. At a minimum I've always had at least 11 days off, even on reserve. Work rules and trip rigs aren't bad either. Plus, when you are a lineholder, you have the ability to drop and pick up trips to make your schedule what you want it to be. It's not perfect, but it's pretty darn good.

As far as ORD...I don't think we're hiring into the jet right now (however "rumors" say that will change soon) so I wouldn't expect anything but the Bro right now as a new-hire. ORD isn't too bad; I was based there for 9 months, and it runs pretty smooth (ATC is the best in the nation there, bar-none). Although in bad weather, you can expect to get stuck in out-stations due to flow sometimes. Although, it definitely wasn't the "horror-story" that some people made it out to be. However, being from the west, I didn't really like the weather there very much.

Overall, I've been really happy over here. But if you get on the jet, expect to sit reserve for a significant period of time right now in every base. MKE is still the most Jr, ORD second most.

That's all I can say without more information. Hope that helped.
 
Caspian27 said:
At a minimum I've always had at least 11 days off, even on reserve.
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Always had at least 11 days off a month? Fantastic, that sure was nice of them. Don't you have a min days off a month in your contract...

Caspian27 said:
I was based there for 9 months, and it runs pretty smooth (ATC is the best in the nation there, bar-none). Although in bad weather, you can expect to get stuck in out-stations due to flow sometimes.
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That's a pretty bold statement. Chicagoland is out by itself, now what the guys do on the East coast is truly impressive, despite the delays.

Sorry to threadjack, I don't have any useful info in QOL at Skywest. All I know is I'm guaranteed a MIN of 12 days off a month regardless of the line type.
 
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SkyWest doesn't have a minimum days off. They have a max of 20 duty days a month.
 
flyboy32482 said:
Does anyone have any info on SkyWest? What is the QOL like? What about ORD as a CRJ fo? Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
Seening as how they are not hiring, I would be willing to be that the QOL has improved.
 
I have friends at SkyWest. All seem to be relatively happy, no un-usual complaints that any other regional puke couldn't make.

ASA is undergoing a 'SkyWest-i-zation'. The results seem to be working out for the better.
 
Like any airline its all about seniority. Top 20% (18 mnths) in ORD will get you 16+ days off with about 85-90 credit. I have personally never been re-flowed or even asked to do a JM. If your senior enough you can leave ORD on day 1 of a 4 day a go to west coast until your last day.With our schedule alteration software you can alter your schedule even down to 62 hours without using vacation or user time. most trips average out to be around 5.5 hours a day. Could of have been better with ALPA. Reserve on the other hand is like a whole different airline...

3:45 min day
Full deadhead pay
No involuntary Junior Manning
1.5 for open time pickup
Block or better
Leg by Leg cancellation pay
 
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duck_killer said:
Like any airline its all about seniority. Top 20% (18 mnths) in ORD will get you 16+ days off with about 85-90 credit. I have personally never been re-flowed or even asked to do a JM. If your senior enough you can leave ORD on day 1 of a 4 day a go to west coast until your last day.With our schedule alteration software you can alter your schedule even down to 62 hours without using vacation or user time. most trips average out to be around 5.5 hours a day. Could of have been better with ALPA. Reserve on the other hand is like a whole different airline...

3:45 min day
Full deadhead pay
No involuntary Junior Manning
1.5 for open time pickup
Block or better
Leg by Leg cancellation pay
Click to expand...
Will it stay like that? I have a friend who has been on the line in ORD for 3 months, and she says that she cant see any end to reserve, and all movement has come to a screeching hault.
 
I like it here.

That being said, after 5 years, there are some 'issues'. If you like to work, you'll be happier than those who don't on reserve. Though, either way seniority is abrogated regularly. Get in good with Crew Support. I'm NOT kidding about that. (no contract sucks and it means you make your own bed here...and even that may not be enough if someone doesn't like you). Don't know how someone is getting a minimum of 11 days off a month "even on reserve". I've had plenty of 10 day off months during my 2 years as a reserve FO and 1.2 years as a reserve Captain. Again, I'm happy here, but the truth is...it's a job...and it's going to suck your QOL at times. Other places are better, other places are worse. I came to SkyWest because I can live closer to the NorthWest and the "policies" weren't bad.
 
G2T said:
Always had at least 11 days off a month? Fantastic, that sure was nice of them. Don't you have a min days off a month in your contract...



That's a pretty bold statement. Chicagoland is out by itself, now what the guys do on the East coast is truly impressive, despite the delays.

Sorry to threadjack, I don't have any useful info in QOL at Skywest. All I know is I'm guaranteed a MIN of 12 days off a month regardless of the line type.
Click to expand...

Thanks for providing some useful information to the threadstarter...other than the usual "pissing" match.
 
poorpilot83 said:
Skywest is the best company ever! Can I have some more of this kool-aid now?
Click to expand...

I didn't say they were the best company ever. Every regional has their own issues. I was relating my personal experiences to try to help the threadstarter.
 
I decided years ago the probability of a 6 figure income is not the most plausible outcome in this business, so rather than complain about how horrible the compensation was and live in denile that I am worthy of a salary in a position any person can be trained to do, I developed my own home business and with the ability to use SkyWest's QOL systems, I never see less than 17 days a month off and a combined income of over 70k a year (more than enough to live comfortable.) My advice, come to SKyWest if you enjoy flying but find other means to satisfy you desire for big paychecks because in this industry, those days are ending. Be prepared.
 
siucavflight said:
Will it stay like that? I have a friend who has been on the line in ORD for 3 months, and she says that she cant see any end to reserve, and all movement has come to a screeching hault.
Click to expand...

Nope. I got hired at into like the second class of the wave. But per VA uprgrades are starting June 30. So i would assume movement to follow.
 
Supposed to hire approximately 400 the rest of this year...so goes the latest rumor from JA. Believe it when I actually hear of new classes. Check the recruitment events and there are none for April...so if true, something big is coming down the line and we will have classes of approx 50+ soon on top of being over staffed. Again, I will believe it when I see/hear it.
 
Peealot said:
Supposed to hire approximately 400 the rest of this year...so goes the latest rumor from JA. Believe it when I actually hear of new classes. Check the recruitment events and there are none for April...so if true, something big is coming down the line and we will have classes of approx 50+ soon on top of being over staffed. Again, I will believe it when I see/hear it.
Click to expand...
Not to state the obvious here but...I think everyone is in wait and see mode until Mesa's June note payment comes due.
 
WalterSobchak said:
Not to state the obvious here but...I think everyone is in wait and see mode until Mesa's June note payment comes due.
Click to expand...


Does SKYW have the people and planes to step in should Mesa implode? Relatively quickly?

Also, apologies about the 'Sky-West-I-Zation'. Didn't realize I was plagiarizing... :) However, since I'm in the mode of borrowing things from SkyWesters, think y'all could send some of those patented 18-22 year old, hot, blond FA's over for some extended ATR familiarization?
 
Nevets said:
They don't have a contract. They are "at-will" employees.


http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/showthread.php?t=14048&highlight=numbers
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That's the biggest impact on my QOL...laying awake sleepless at night worrying about my tenuous employment status. Actually, Not. Most americans are at-will employees...I was in all my previous jobs (except mesa). SKW doesn't fire many people...you have to have multiple non-innocent problems, or get caught lying to them.

If they fire you unjustly, you can always sue them.

Middle-of-the-road seniority, 17 days off lately, averages 15.
 
rickair7777 said:
That's the biggest impact on my QOL...laying awake sleepless at night worrying about my tenuous employment status. Actually, Not. Most americans are at-will employees...I was in all my previous jobs (except mesa). SKW doesn't fire many people...you have to have multiple non-innocent problems, or get caught lying to them.

If they fire you unjustly, you can always sue them.

Middle-of-the-road seniority, 17 days off lately, averages 15.
Click to expand...

I was not my fact because of the possible impact on QOL although a credible case can be made. I was just trying to set the record straight. Many posters here mention "SKW contract" when in fact the only one at SKW with a contract is JA.

As for the, "...multiple non-innocent problems, or get caught lying to them. If they fire you unjustly, you can always sue them"comment, DD prove that already. I'm sure he can tell us what he had to endure and how much he had to spend on legal fees to try to get his job back.
 
Nevets said:
I was not my fact because of the possible impact on QOL although a credible case can be made. I was just trying to set the record straight. Many posters here mention "SKW contract" when in fact the only one at SKW with a contract is JA.

As for the, "...multiple non-innocent problems, or get caught lying to them. If they fire you unjustly, you can always sue them"comment, DD prove that already. I'm sure he can tell us what he had to endure and how much he had to spend on legal fees to try to get his job back.
Click to expand...

Hey Nevets,

Have you ever worked at SkyWest? No? Maybe you should let the people with firsthand information explain what they know rather than your second or third-hand information.

I don't think that the original poster was asking for the opinion of an XE pilot that has never worked here. I've never worked at XE...so I won't try to tell people how it is over there. Deal?

Glad you're happy over at XE. Guess what though? We're happy over here too.
 
Nevets, DD got his job back with retro and legal fees. Doesn't make it right and I am not defending our only course of action after all other inhouse (weak) actions fail, just setting the record straight.
 

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