Who is happy where they work?

[Clyde]

I am extremely happy.

Good schedule, paycheck is always on time (sometimes early), job security is second to none, company is very, very profitable, and I am going to have the option to retire early if I want. Yes, I am happy where I work.

 

[atldc9]

Airtran - Good. Obviously it is not perfect, I mean we are pilots, so we must bitch, but it is a pretty good gig. As a lineholder, I have averaged 15.8 days off per month this year, don't ever talk to scheduling, haven't seen my boss in months, and the direct deposit keeps showing up. I am very happy.

I hope it stays this way.

 

[Lequip]

LOVE IT! Fat Check, Cool ride, Cool Crews.

 

[chase]

English,

Good question. We need a few more positives on here I believe.

Who here is truly happy working as a professional pilot at a major, LCC, national, or large cargo carrier such as FedEx or UPS?

Yes but that isn't a surprising.

What, specifically, do you like the best at your company? Please don't limit yourself to just one good thing.

When I started looking for an airline job nearly 6 years ago I wasn't sure if I could find one that gave me as much satisfaction and pride as I had by my previous job, flying in the AF. It was always nice to have people think of you doing something that benefitted folks and that people respected...the military provided me that opportunity.

The airlines weren't viewed in my mind as a place where that occurred...(I've changed my mind 180 degrees).....it was about making money, working as little as one could get away with and make as much money as one could imagine (my imagination went away a long time ago with 3 kids). What appealed to me about Southwest was several things;

1. they were respected by their customers and had extremely loyal ones for all the right reasons, i.e. low prices, convenience, reliability

Story to verify: Two old ladies on the through-flight in CLE traveling to MDW for a family vacation...while I'm cleaning up the cabin one of them grabs my sleeve and says the following, "Young man, I want to thank your airline for having low fares because it allows my 70 yr old sister and I to visit our family twice a year instead of once every 2 years...we couldn't afford it before, now we can...thanks a lot." The freedom to move around the country isn't just a motto or slogan...to most of our customers it is truly that, the ability to go places at prices they wouldn't normally be able to do. High fares are the #1 deterrent for folks not traveling...having low fares is the #1 reason people fly...it is nice to know folks think that way about your company.

2. SWA employees were having fun and enjoyed talking about their company and sharing positive info on it, i.e. no layoffs, leadership that had integrity, respect for their employees, shared benefits and risks.

Stories to verify:
1. I read in NUTS about the big Halloween emphasis at the airline. Never would I imagine a company shutting down its HHQ for an entire day to devote it entirely to having fun, family, laughing and just goofing off. I saw in 2000 what that was like when I visited the HHQ & saw every floor, every office, Herb, Parker, Colleen all dressed up and judging the competitions for best costume, skit, department, etc. It was crazy, zany and fun...'what a company'! That appealed to me. If you're in Dallas over Halloween I'd recommend attending it, kids and everyone are invited I believe...it is a zany day for sure.

2.I would talk to my friends at Southwest and other carriers. Rarely would the non-SWA folks talk about their job or airline unless it was in a negative way, even pre-911 and nearly all bad-mouthed SWA. It didn't seem like much fun and flying was always fun to me. I certainly never ever saw any of them wear a shirt, cap or other clothing item that had any logo of their company on it. Completely opposite for my SWA friends, always chatting, talking about happenings, and in terms of wearing shirts, hats, and other items...not uncommon at all for them to wearing something. OK, maybe we're not snazzy dressers and my wife will confirm that but again it was little things like that. I had many sqd tee-shirts, hats, and other paraphenalia of military wear that was part of my wardrobe (very limited again I know) but it was something I was proud of. The same goes for the company you work for but it certainly doesn't mean you don't like your job if you don't wear company logo...just an interesting observation as I was looking for a job.



3. "underdog" mentality; bad-mouthed by the competition; always hungry, never satisfied with the status quo, diverse group of folks allowed them to get folks who brought in lots of good ideas from many places.

Story to verify: I came from the ultimate underdog mentality in the AF;T-37 tweets (looked down upon by everyone as being too noisy, slow, hot, etc. guilty of all of the above), A-10s (vilified by generals, viper/mudhen/eagle drivers as being too slow, ugly, no air-to-air hero worship), AT-38s (smurf jets, not real fighters, toy jets, viewed by "real fighter pilots" as wannabee fighter pilots) so to me the underdog was what I was trained in...we had folks from every community offering up great ideas on how better to train students...a great resource of data. All of the counseling for my mental disease has come in handy though, thanks AF

The great thing about all of these airplanes and particularly the A-10 community was we wallowed in that underdog reputation and took it as a badge of honor and simply went out and did our business. Nothing fancy, keep it simple and do it right but have fun doing it.

So to me the more I looked at Southwest, its people and philosophy, it matched up well with me and my background. While we may not be the underdog anymore, we are still a threatened species (legacy LCC) and I have great confidence we'll work through the next set of challenges that we're facing. We certainly have the talent to do it but will need more folks to come to the team. Many of you reading this will be a part of this team either in the near future or slightly longer....that is encouraging to me and hopefully to you since many of you will have ideas that will help this company and you're not even here yet!!!

I always tell folks to write down on a piece of paper the 5 things you want in your next job/company...corporate values, priorities that you desire...then go out and locate that company that most closely lines up with your philosophy. Pre-911 lists look a lot different than post-911 lists and many of us have changed our priorities but companies don't usually change their philosophies, even in a crisis...they usually revert back to the core instincts so become very familiar with what those core values are and you won't be disappointed or disillusioned.

Southwest IS NOT the perfect job. There are none I believe. If you're easily disappointed, then you'll be disappointed here. If you don't play well with others, you won't have a good time here. If you change your priorities in your own life and expect SWA to change theirs, you'll be disappointed here. The grass is not always greener on the other side, as somone told me once, it is brown on both sides, you just have to decide if you're willing to do the watering to make it green all the time...that takes work. Some are willing to, others aren't.

As Colleen says, "Southwest is not responsible for making you happy, you are responsible for making yourself happy when you wake up each day" If SWA stopped tomorrow I'd still be happy (a little stressed yes) but as long as I have my faith, friends and family then I can overcome anything. There are many of you who are reading this are living testimony to that fact...you are the underpinning of the aviation industry and our country..that indomitable spirit to achieve a difficult goal and lets face it, wishing to staying in the aviation business these days requires a lot of indomitable spirits (some liquid) ...thanks for your continued interest in SWA. Sorry to ramble,

hope that answered the mail English

 

[80drvr]

80drvr, what do you like about working for AA?

A few things come to mind:

• Good route structure
• Many decent layovers
• Decent ability to manipulate schedules through trip trade w/ open time.
• Outstanding retirement (and it will be even if they do a cash conversion to the B Fund)
• Good Health plans
• OK pay (used to be better than OK...but I guess that isn't competitive)
• Flight Office has always taken care of me and other pilots I know
• I've always gotten along with the F/As (w/ a few infrequent exceptions...but I'll bet you find that at any airline)
• Exellent training
• Excellent non-rev opportunities

Now, I'll concede that there is room for improvement within the corporate culture at AA. Arpey is doing an acceptable job of moving the corporation in the right direction in my opinion. That quest will be a heck of a lot easier when we string together some consecutive profitable quarters and start recalling mainline crews. We just recalled 610 F/As, so hopefully that's a step in the right direction.

At the end of the day, we all do pretty much the same thing for a wide range of compensation and time off. When the cockpit door closes, it really comes down to my attitude more so than how sensitive my employer is touted as being in Fortune.

 

[capt. megadeth]

Not having to commute and being home every night is definitely a plus too!

 

[P3 Tweek]

Perfect job?

As everyone knows, there never exists the perfect job. IT IS AN IMPERFECT WORLD! Being a chief pilot for a small company has its `not-so-good' days especially when flying a desk. I do know that I'm blessed to have the position I now hold. It is a very good job with a brand new Citation Encore. There is not much more a person could hope for in a career.

Now, as for this aviation career I had chosen for myself when I was...oh about 4 years old...I can think of nothing better than being a professional pilot. It is as near to perfection as I can imagine.

I can imagine `only one' job better and that is flying with Southwest Airlines. Whether this ever becomes a reality, well you know Whos hand that's in. There are `many' factors that will need to fall into place `just right' for this to be my eventual destiny - nearly all I have NO control over.

Tweek

 

[AA717driver]

I was forced into my current job. I've got one of the best corporate jobs in the business. We just fly. We don't have to show up at the hanger every day to impress the boss. We don't really even have a boss. We rule by committee. The pay is at the bottom of the range but we're in the Midwest so it's not bad. We fly all over the world so we certainly get a variety. We get airlined home over the holidays. Better health benes than either major I've worked for.

When someone asks if I miss the airlines I generally jump on it and say YES! But when I start adding up what I miss v. what I don't miss, the negatives are greater than the positives. I don't miss security. I don't miss the commute. I don't miss the instability.

My instincts keep pulling me back to the airlines but I believe logic will overrule that when I get recalled.

Great thread!TC

 

[UPSer]

I am extremely happy.

Good schedule, paycheck is always on time (sometimes early), job security is second to none, company is very, very profitable, and I am going to have the option to retire early if I want. Yes, I am happy where I work.

You must work for FedEx.

 

[-9Capt]

AirTran has been pretty good to me.

What do I like most?

I upgraded in 26 months and made it into the top 25% of the senority list before my 6th year. I fly my line and go home (80-86hrs, 16-18 days off typical). Pay is OK, could be better, retirement is good (10.5% B-fund), decent rigs, 12hr max duty day kicks butt, and I operate an airplane that takes care of itself.

What do I like least?

Management could learn a lesson from SWA and JetBlue, not too employee friendly, still probably better than most.

 

[sleepy]

My current corporate job is the best ever. I have worked at two airlines, and nothing that airlines have to offer comes close to this.

I have better pay than most majors, fly great equipment (with more on the way soon), I usually know my schedule two weeks in advance, I only work 11 to 14 days per month, my company has more cash just sitting around than the net worth of all of the major airlines combined, great benifits, good management, generous expense account, nice hotels if I have an overnight (plus I get the points), if I dead-head I go First or Business Class. I can't think of a bad thing to say about it (ok, sometimes I get the crew meal without the shrimp cocktail).

 

[Ty Webb]

I can't think of a bad thing to say about it (ok, sometimes I get the crew meal without the shrimp cocktail).

Well, Sleepy, I think I can solve this great mystery for you . . . if you want the shrimp cocktail, you just have to tell them you want the "deluxe" box lunch, if you are ordering from Rudy's, or calling an FBO that uses Rudy's, like Million Air TEB.

I have lived on or near the Gulf of Mexico for nearly half of my adult life, and I can say without reservation that they have some of the best shrimp in those lunchs I have ever had.

Well, I might as well throw in my two cents here, since I'm all logged in and fixin' to get my travel on . . . . .

I enjoyed my time flying corporate iron. I miss the ski trips, the multiple-day layovers in tropical destinations, first-class accommodations, etc., but I am also very happy at AirTran, where I show up a few days a week, commit acts of aviation with some very fine folks for a few days, then jettison my flight case into the bag room until such time that I come back to use it again.

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to do both.

 

[Flyin Tony]

I like my job, Whats a job? I sit on my a$$ and play flight sim or go riding, go work on the plane, getting a check from SS for 800$ a month doing nothing

 

[AlbieF15]

Flying 727s for FDX...rocks. Good people, decent pay, very flexible trips you can pickup, drop or add...

Flying in the ANG...rocks. Great people, and looking in the mirror at someone in a flightsuit is good for the soul in these tough times for the country.

Airline + ANG....absolutely wonderful. Allows one to enjoy perks of both while having some control over schedule. Busy....but never happier. For what its worth...

 

[AZaviator]

Any Regional pilots out there who like their jobs?

<crickets chirping>

 

[sleepy]

Well, Sleepy, I think I can solve this great mystery for you . . . if you want the shrimp cocktail, you just have to tell them you want the "deluxe" box lunch, if you are ordering from Rudy's, or calling an FBO that uses Rudy's, like Million Air TEB.

I have lived on or near the Gulf of Mexico for nearly half of my adult life, and I can say without reservation that they have some of the best shrimp in those lunchs I have ever had.

Well, I might as well throw in my two cents here, since I'm all logged in and fixin' to get my travel on . . . . .

I enjoyed my time flying corporate iron. I miss the ski trips, the multiple-day layovers in tropical destinations, first-class accommodations, etc., but I am also very happy at AirTran, where I show up a few days a week, commit acts of aviation with some very fine folks for a few days, then jettison my flight case into the bag room until such time that I come back to use it again.

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to do both.

I agree Ty, and I am not knocking the Airlines. I just found something that I like better. I also agree, Rudy's shrimp rock. I wonder where they get them?

 

[jobear]

Any Regional pilots out there who like their jobs?

<crickets chirping>

As much as I complain to my co-workers, I actually enjoy my job. I like the planes we fly, I like the people I work with, I enjoy the challeges of the weather in the upper-midwest. Pay could be higher but everyone thinks they are underpaid.


Jobear

 

[F18-FDX]

I have been at FedEx over 3 years now and absolutely, positively love it. Things I'm very happy with:

- Schedule flexibility. Trip trading, open time is max flex. No minimum or maximum. You can drop the whole month or work it.

- Excellent variety of trips from 1-14 days. "Norm" is 5-6 on/week off but you can arrange your schedule virtually any way you want by trip trading.

- Easy to commute if you choose to. Lots of double deadheads/commuter friendly lines.

- Great choice of equipment

- Choice of flying: day, night, domestic, international

- Outstanding vacation rules

- Great pay (and only getting better)

- Solid retirement

- A financially sound company


The best "airline" job out there in my opinion, I couldn't be happier with my choice.

 

[Twotter76]

Any Regional pilots out there who like their jobs?

<crickets chirping>

I love my job - it allows me the freedom to do pretty much anything I want and go anywhere I please at minimal cost to me. Yes the pay and benes could be better and I'll be the first to admit that when the majors start hiring again I'll be the first in line but until that time comes I am quite content where I am. My schedule is definitely better than some at the majors right now, though from what I have read here we don't have quite as much flexibility in adjusting our schedules as those at the majors do - but I can be denied due to coverage with the best of them. I suspect that those at regionals that have lesser contracts probably don't like their jobs as much, but then what do I know, I just drive.

 

[SpiffAV8]

Originally Posted by AZaviator Any Regional pilots out there who like their jobs?

Your not thinking about leaving us are you? (LMAO!)