For anyone who is considering accepting a class here, be sure you do your research and homework. Know what you are getting into- this place is not for everyone... if you're looking to build time, it will take you about 1.5-2 years to get about 500 hours in the 737. This is not a time building airline... if you're looking to make some cash, you'll make peanuts compared to any other 121 carrier (regional or other).
Miami Air is not what it used to be, and just do your homework before signing on the dotted line for your $18,000 commitment here.
Management is trying very hard to attract pilots, simply because many first officers and even captains are leaving. Trying hard by talking but with no action. Pay has not increased, QOL has not increased, training bond has not gone away, etc. We have a few pilots leaving for the majors, but even have pilots leaving for regionals. A lot of the guys were unhappy but hanging around hoping for an improvement with the new contract, but that has stalled and it's apparent that giving up their spot here and starting over somewhere else is a better bet. Management has no intention of increasing the pay to anything close to industry average- they say the "awe" of flying a 737 will attract pilots and then once here the $18,000 training bond will keep pilots here or fund their replacement if they do leave. If you think you can come here and just wait a little until the "golden" contract comes around, you'll be in for a big surprise. Management has said multiple times that this contract is a "neutral" contract and any gains in one section will be offset by concessions on the pilot's part. When most of the original negotiating committee has quit, that should be easy writing on the wall...
You will spend a lot of time in vans driving around in the middle of the night after long days of flying to reposition. 4 hour (or longer) van rides are pretty common to drive crews around Florida (or other parts of the country). Don't count on any non-stop flights when you commercial to meet the plane or go home. If you need to go from Miami to LA, plan on having a really early report time (like 4am) in Miami, and then driving to FLL, then flying to ATL, then flying to LA (as an example). Something that can be done in 6 or 7 hours will take you 15 or more (just an an example). Even going from Miami to Atlanta will take you 15 hours since they will route you through CLT or IAH or something instead (with a nice long ground sit). I've even seen crews with two or three connections for domestic flights because it saved the company $10. Tickets are bought last minute, so you are on your own to try and fight out of the dreaded middle seat. The tickets are the cheapest they can find, so there is no economy plus "upgrade" or anything like that. And no, there is no deadhead pay here. Go to Priceline and scroll to the last option and that is usually what travel will give you for commercials.
Ask any pilot here and they will tell you the commercialing is the worst part of our job- and we do it more than 50% of the time when on the clock. 117 doesn't apply and they can keep us out for 22 hours when deadheading.
You will have the chance to see some cool places, but the layovers have gone to minimum rest for the most part and they keep us in hotels by the airport or away from the city most of the time (cheapest option). Unless you plan on not sleeping and spending money on taxis, you won't get to see the places you're flying to.
The moral is in the toilet- I haven't seen it this low in a long time. But nobody seems to care.
A simple thing like having KCM is too expensive for Miami Air. I don't know any other airline that doesn't have KCM, but we don't have it here. It costs the company some extra cash and they don't see a return on it, so they don't see a need for it.
On the flip side, the crews are awesome and some of the best people in the industry... unfortunately many of them are so beat up right now that there is a lot of complaining while at work. Makes long trips feel even longer when there is so much complaining going on...
My suggestion, keep your options open and keep an eye on Eastern down the street if you're looking for a 737 gig in Miami. Higher pay, actual projected growth. A lot of guys are making the move over there... (captains and first officers)... might be a gamble for them, but it beats what is going on here.
Our management wants a small fleet... they want to run it old school and they don't show appreciation to the crews/employees. Nothing will get better unless there is a drastic change here... which nobody expects....
Either way- good luck