Originally Posted by
Chimpy
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)
Put this post in the "Chimpy" hall of fame.
The $140k number is real, I have a friend doing exactly the same on the 737 over there, plus he got the holidays off this year.
I live in the middle of the country and commute. The "fairy tale QOL" isn't really possible where I live either. Commuting + working the system=burnout in one month for me. I've worked a 2-3 100+ hour credit months, but after each month like that, I take every day off for my family, because we need the time to recover.
I will fly over 700 hours this year. My pay for the year is well below my peers that work here. I'm fine with those that work hard to make lots of money...more power to you. But that's no reason to have the base (72 hour) pay for the month lacking.