The AirTran experience?

[Captainjerky]

As somebody who has decided it's time to apply to a 'real' airline and get out of my regional slump, I've decided I should be trying to get an interview at AirTran. I was wondering if I could get some info from those who work there.
What's the quality of life with commuting? What are the schedules like, and how easy is it to modify them? How long are you sitting reserve before getting a line? What's the employee/management relations situation?
I realize a possible buyout of Midwest would affect this, but I've learned you make aviation decisions based on what you know, not versus what might happen.

Any advice appreciated...

 

[-9Capt]

Commuting- Same as anywhere that doesn't have a commuter pilocy.

Schedules- I can only speak for the 717, mix of mostly 3-4 day trips, 2-4 legs per day, sometimes 1 other times 5. Standups are on standup only lines. As for modifying them, we have 2 opportunities, the first is seniority based and the 2nd is first come basis. People are not too happy with the way the 2nd has been working out.

Reserve- No idea, sorry

Management relations- About as bad as you'll find anywhere.

I just finished a trip with a guy who came here after 7 years at ASA. He said he'll make about the same his first year as he did in the left seat of the RJ due to rigs and generally flying more. When I asked him if he thought he made the right decision by coming to AirTran, he gave me about a million reasons why it is better here.

It's a good place to work. If management played nice, or if the pilot group had a spine, it would be great.

 

[gt1900]

Captainjerky.... Basically what -9 capt said.. The one thing I will say is that for me... sap II (the second chance to change your schedule) has worked great. I changed me entire month of flying for feb (due to flying with a not so reputable capt.) and it worked out great.. It is very easy to get time off when you need it. Plus, then you can pick up and drop trips during regular open time during the month.. I am very happy at AAI.... You can plan on making $45-50 grand your first year, and 60-65 your second (not including perdiem). The nice thing is you have the option.. If you wanna drop trips down to 70hrs a month and not work, you can do that. If you wanna pick up lots of trips and fly your @ss off, you can do that as well.. From what I hear, we had a bunch of guys fly like crazy last year and make over 200,000..... Having that flexability is nice... Good luck..

 

[RIDETHELIGHTING]

I have flown under much worse, just the reality of going through contract neg.

 

[newnan]

"From what I hear, we had a bunch of guys fly like crazy last year and make over 200,000..... "

I wouldn't say a bunch, that's company rhetoric, maybe a handful and probably in the training dept. ie check airman getting paid to commute.

6 yr capt., avg 75 hrs month credit, 132,000 gross.

 

[-9Capt]

A company letter a few months back said there were numerous pilots making over $300K. What management failed to mention is they are all check airmen/instructors who unloaded a bunch of their stock options.

I basically fly my awarded line, seldom SAP except for commute-ability and made almost $166K, which includes dumping half my vested stock options. There are plenty who made over $200K.

 

[SeaLord]

Say it tain't so, Ry, say it tain't so? Leaving the friendly confines of good ole SYX?
Well, I've been a Citrus for one year (today) and I love it. The commute from MKE is eaaaaaaaasssssssy and we finally got CASS last week.
The people are great and despite what those turkeys at Midwest want you to think, we're doing well.
Keep in mind the 3 year upgrade may not be there for much longer though. FL has wisely decided to reign in a bit of growth which is a nice idea anyway.
All in all a good airline to work for.

 

[TV9Driver]

AirTran culture-wise is somewhere between a commuter and a legacy. You don't get treated nearly as well as a pilot at CAL, AA, Delta, etc... but you don't get treated or paid as poorly as you are in the commuters. So, if you've never worked for a legacy before, then AirTran is a big step in the right direction.

Pay wise, I made over $50K my first year and $62K my second. Third year should be around $68-75K and then it flattens out until you make captain - and i'm not there yet so I can't help you with that.

The people you work with are pretty cool. There are a higher percentage of @ssholes here than at other places i've been though. Normally you would say that 1-2% of the pilots you fly with are @sses. Here i'd say it's closer to 4-5%. I don't know why that is.(it could be me)

They train in the old "Eastern Airlines" style where if you're not a Captain, you're nobody, and every checkride is a good reason to haze you. That culture is slowly changing for the better, but it's still here.

Insurance is expensive. I pay $550/mo for my family of four.

On the good side, you get to fly new airplanes, a lot of point to point flying, and we are still growing and expanding. I think we've got 60 more 737's coming. Our leadership (Joe L. and Bob F.) are pretty smart and only make moves when it's going to make us money. Maintenance on the airplanes is excellent - you rarely fly around with any MEL's.

The commuting has been pretty brutal, but now we have CASS and Delta has unlimited jumpseats, so getting to ATL just go a whole lot easier.

In summary; a great place to be, but if you are looking to be treated like a "professional" pilot, then you'll be disappointed.

 

[Visceral]

The commuting has been pretty brutal, but now we have CASS and Delta has unlimited jumpseats, so getting to ATL just go a whole lot easier.

Any idea when Airtran will get unlimited jumpseats? I thought for sure ya'll would get it before Delta EVER would.

 

[SeaLord]

We already have unlimited jumpseats. Occn'l the gate will charge you 25 bucks for each addtl jsr but it's up to them.