Originally Posted by
BigWatchPilot
If you guys EVER upgrade at your commuter and in another 5 years have enough time to apply to a major...you can then rant about Jet Blue or any other carrier that is dragging down your airline! Why do any of you give a crap about where someone else wants to fly..?
I have said it before and I will say it again...since the first post was about "big dream" that he couldn't make happen...You are at a commuter and it sounds like most of you are planning on making that your career. But for some of us...my friends included that flew at Mesa, Air Midwest, and Great Lakes...we were all there less than 4 years (now all sitting at FedEx and Southwest), we upgraded to Captain...we got into the training department...became LCA and worked more than 20 days a month. Because we were going to make our career happen and complaining about how many days I had to work didn't get me on at FedEx. Every day I flew was one more day closer to my dream job...so all you guys that want to upgrade in 8 years at a commuter with "quality of life" you don't have a clue as to what quality of life is....
But hey...we all want different things in life...sounds like most of you are just as happy sitting in the right seat of a kicka$$ commuter as I am sitting in a wide body flying international working 7 days a month!
If you think FedEx or Southwest is just going to come knocking on your door someday...well good luck. For those of us that don't believe in luck...it is preparation meeting opportunity...translation working hard, doing what it takes, and making lots of sacrifices. MOVING to the most junior domicile, knowing your job, upgrading and moving in order to upgrade…and then flying as much as you can. You will have a lot more to talk about on your interview with a major.
BWP…out
You make a good point, and congrats on Purple, especially if you came from Mesa. But here is the point that everyone else is making. Everything in the airline industry is copy-cat. If Mesa can get away with paying next to nothing in overall compensation to fly what effectively amounts to being "new DC-9's", then other companies will be forced to do the same to retain and gain new business. We are seeing this already. DL is denying new business to and taking away business from its wholly owned Comair because the "rich OH guys and gals are too expensive" when compared to the likes of Mesa. You think this same mentality can't find its way into cargo? Why should they pay you $200+K to fly boxes? Let a J.O. become CEO of FDX or UPS.
Its that kind of divisive attitude that keeps pay the way it is and allows whipsawing of one pilot group against another; specifically regional against mainline. Its disingenious to agree to work for substandard compensation for the sake of your "career airline". What if you never get there? Then what? Most people would say that you are very lucky to be a big watch pilot at FDX. But the point is this: you are an airline pilot whether you're flying a CRJ for Mesa or a DC-10 for FDX. You need the same skills for both jobs. The quality of compensation should be more uniform across the board.