PapaWoody
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2010
- Posts
- 162
How many 8 year Cpts are at SWA? None. Almost everyone at AAI who is an 8 year pilot is a Cpt. Im trying to compare apples to apples as best as possible. If you compare guys who have been on property for 6-10 years at AAI, and guys who have been on property for 6-9 years at SWA, the pay gap that many at SWA are trying to claim just isn't there. Sure, the hourly rate of an 8 year FO at SWA is much better, but there isn't many 8 year FO's at AAI, so you need to compare actual apples to apples. If it wasn't for the SWA merger, Id already be on SWA pay because I could hold the left seat, but im still in the right seat because of this merger, and AAI has stopped hiring and for the most part, stopped upgrades.. For 10 year guys and later, sure, the SWA guys are making more money. But for a large portion of the AAI pilots, this isn't the huge windfall many at SWA think it is. In the long run it "might" be, but then we would just be speculating. 10 years ago SWA wasn't exactly the most desirable airline to work for. They were still young and didn't have nearly the hold they do today. They made money because their wages were lower then everyone elses, and they scrapped for market share. Sound familier?
If you want to compare apples to apples, lets do that. An 8 yr. AAI CA gets paid $149/hr and is guaranteed 70 hours per month for a guaranteed minimum of $10430. An 8 yr. SWA F/O is paid $139/hr and is guaranteed 77 hours per month for a guaranteed minimum of $10703. Apples to apples. (side note: I know you can fly more, and do...we can and do too, and probably to a greater extent) So, in essence, our F/O's make more than your CA's. Please explain to me why you, or anyone else for that matter, thinks that your DOH at AAI should be valued greater on a combined list (the result of a relative seniority type solution), since regardless of the seat you occupy at that longevity at AAI, it is valued less now??? You want to talk anything approaching relative seniority, call the leg store, 'cause you're gonna need something to stand on. Start basing your arguments on the realities of this situation, then maybe we can talk. Just to make it clear to you, every F/O at AAI will realize the equivalent of an upgrade by becoming a SWA pilot. You know upgrade, that's the point in your career when you trade in seniority to make more money. Contrary to Ty's continual assertions, seniority isn't forever, it's a commodity that is regularly traded for a better life for your family. If that wasn't the case, we'd all still be regional captains. Capisce? (Sorry about the run-on paragraph, D. )
Fraternally,
Papawoody
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