Originally Posted by
PikeAV8R
I posted a thread earlier today about quality-of-life versus pay. I'm just curious if any of you guys have actual numbers from people at other airlines in terms of the amount they have worked vs the pay they made. How far off are we? I have a feeling what people perceive as an amazing quality of life here is not as good as they think it would actually show in real numbers against other airlines. I doubt that even if we do have a slight advantage in quality-of-life it probably doesn't make up for the overwhelming lack of pay. I'm OK with being slightly less than the top of the pack if I get to spend more time at home and more time doing the things I want to enjoy. In essence the total compensation package (pay, retirement, time off) for time worked would be equal to Delta, American, United, and Southwest, but I highly doubt that's the case.
Buddy over at United is a IAH 737 guy. I believe he has been there for 4 years? He flew 550hrs this year and will make $140,000. That is not counting the DC 16%. Id say he has a pretty good QOL. He did get hired at the very beginning of the wave after the merger.
If I remember correctly, I feel like him (and a few of my other Ual buddies who have been there 3-4 years, based on facebook
) usually are working the holidays. It may be by choice I have no idea.
my QOL has been very good since ive been here, havent missed a holiday or life event etc. (getting worse in ACY because of no F/Os), however I have had to BUST MY ASS to make over $100k. I blocked 750 hrs this year and have to bid conflicts and pick up day trips on weekends etc. 4 days off is great but not when you have to pick up trips in between to subsidize our horrendous pay.
I completely burned myself out and cant do it anymore, its exhausting . Ill continue to bid conflicts and enjoy the days off until I can upgrade and fly 72hrs.
Anyway, this fairytale that we have such a high QOL is only true if you live in Ohio where the cost of living is low or you bid in the top 10% Have you guys seen the lines for January? Does anyone really expect to live in the NorthEast comfortably at 72hrs? That should be the goal, not worrying about JA,s or "premium pay" for open time etc. The Goal should be to live well on 72hrs, and not because you are a cheap son of a -----. (I flew with a CA who had the nerve to ask me for a $1.00 because he bought me coffee at McDonalds)