Originally Posted by
NoAccoutrements
Didn't you know that you don't work for Spirit?
Here's a delicious bacon sandwich, on the house, to help keep your mind off of Spirit for just a few moments. You can thank me later.
That's not the point he is making. If you take a job at a ULCC because of the opportunity for a quick upgrade, don't complain when management is a little stingy when it comes to opening their wallet.
I know the OP wasn't complaining and this isn't directed at Vegaspilot, but complaining about the lousy pay at Spirit, Frontier, or Virgin America, is like an Allegiant two year Captain complaining that he can't commute home on weekends, or he is TDY'd all over the place and can't get home to see his wife.
If you went to the Spirit interview and told them you believe in the ULCC business model, then it should come as no surprise to you that the main virtue in the ULCC business model is ultra low costs...including pilot costs.
I was sharing a cab with a JetBlue Captain from JFK to LGA one night about 6-7 years ago. The entire cab ride he was complaining about pay and work rules etc. He had been there 4-5 years, maybe less, and I asked him if he had any problems with the pay when he was hired....No, he says. I asked him if he had any problems with things when he was a senior FO....No. He took the first upgrade he could and now, even though he was making more money than ever, he was ****ed because reserve sucked. As long as there is advancement in our near future, we can endure the suck. Once we go as far as we can on the payscale, however, our perspective changes and important things like reserve rules and legacy pay become a priority.
As long as there are pilots that are willing to accept a job at an LCC like Spirit, or Frontier, etc. Your management will not agree to pay you more. Maybe now that the 2 year upgrade seems to be off the table, less pilots will be as eager to fly there. That and the regional airlines setting up more and more flowthroughs, should help your cause in a big way.
Sorry for the rant. I know no one was complaining, but shyguy made a valid point. I'd love for you guys to match legacy pay. I'm pulling for you and you deserve it! Just don't be surprised if you're always trailing us during the good times. Chances are, like Southwest did during the 2003-2013 timeframe, when things go Tango Uniform again, and they will, you guys might be the highest paid in the industry for a while. I just hope it's not with your current rates. �� Try to plus up about $30-40 an hour first, then maybe the legacies won't fall so far when the bottom falls out on us.