Originally Posted by
9easy
Everyone has to make the best choice for themselves and their family... however, at the risk of sounding koolaid, I think some of the doom and gloom is overblown.
1. Eventually there will be a new contract. It may not be the Delta contract, but it will be an improvement in pay and time off
2. The MD80s will eventually be gone. Probably sooner than later once the A320NEOs start hitting the street and airlines trade up
3. The company prints money, and the potential markets where the business model works is huge
4. Home every night, sleeping in your own bed, eating your own food, in the same time zone, and seeing you family is hard to quantify in value, but for a lot of people it's priceless
5. Most people bailing from G4 are going to AA or WN. The same thing happens at Jetblue and Spirit
6. MX is still better than almost any regional airline, especially the ones who use contract mx. An issue is the JT8D can't be treated like a CRJ or ERJ engine. And the expense of maintaining them in the way it would take to improve things is counterbalanced by their relatively short remaining life
Just a few things off the top of my head... For people thinking of applying at G4 and live in Florida or Vegas especially, don't be taken in by all the negativity.
You're right, people have to make the best choices for them and their families. In order to do so, they have to have the information to make good decisions. Below are some areas where we appear to disagree. Buyer beware
1. Eventually there will be a new contract? Really? I'm beginning to wonder, given the behavior of the NMB and the ability of management to have their way with them. If and when the new contract is signed it may be so watered-down it could be considered concessionary by most standards. The growth and rotating group of pilots works in management's favor. Although much is growth related, 60% of this pilot group wasn't even here three years ago when we elected the Teamsters. Once the contract is signed, management will have to abide by it. Good luck with that
2. MD 80s will be gone? Right now the Airbus are being acquired for growth. Current estimates place the MD-80 on the property until 2020. Hopefully we will not have a major incident between now and then. We can only get lucky for so long, 80+ engine failures so far. Not that the Airbus is the panacea. Allegiant proved it could not maintain the venerable 757's and is now doing the same with the junked out old airbus's G4 is currently purchasing.
3. Company printing money does no good if that money does not get reinvested into the operation and the employees
4. Home every night is not something many of our pilots are able to enjoy. Tell that to the guys that are TDY or others who don't have more than one day off at a time for two straight months.
5. And others are bailing to JetBlue and spirit.
6. Most regionals have far better maintenance than we do AND they have much newer, more reliable equipment. As far as the cost of doing maintenance on JT-8, that is not an option. You either maintain them to an acceptable standard of reliability and safety, or you park them. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were accepting an eroded safety margin to save money.
Differing perspectives depending on the equipment you fly in the time you have been here among other things. Do plenty of research before deciding to come to Allegiant. As 9 easy said, if it works for you, great.