Originally Posted by
Tpinks
Well if you would like to pay for my mortgage and for me to have an apartment in base just so I can sit there and not be used and not make any money, I'll gladly stop picking up trips. Until I'm in my hometown base, I'll continue to pick up trips that cover my reserve days as I'm only going to be paid straight time anyways whether I put it on my schedule or the company does.
As for red flag pay, they are offering it. Most people I have talked to have even negotiated 200% or better...
This isn't meant as a jab at you or a lecture on your personal finances, just putting out there some advice I've learned along the way that might help some newer guys. Try to budget yourself for min guarantee and stash away what you make above that or buy the stuff you want and don't need with that extra.
Open time won't always be there (debatable in the "pilot shortage") and if you need to call in sick and don't want to burn PDO's you'll be able to have some extra money to get by on those months you drop below min guarantee. Budgeting yourself off those months you make 90+ hours is only going to strain your finances in the long run.
We don't have any pilots furloughed and aren't back in negotiations yet, so I get both sides of the open time argument. However, in the fall we should be back at the table for the early opener and if the company sees no problems staffing flights, there is less leverage on our end.