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Old 08-15-2017 | 11:53 AM
  #8078  
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I like BIG Bus
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 308
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Default Don't believe the hype

For those of you contemplating coming to F9. A little dose of reality to counteract any sales pitches you hear about growth and upgrades. In the two years I've been here we've only added 150 to the list. Growth seems to be coming from utilization. We use the crap out of these airplanes. Some "growth" comes from turning in 319s and getting 320s. The new routes they add seem to come from taking away other routes. Upgrades are anemic now, at best. The most recent upgrades are now 11/14 hires. That's now. There were about twenty hired each month from then on. Plus hold outs from previous classes, means that two years is now becoming three, and will deteriorate to 4, 5 and so on. The music will eventually stop. I have had decent seniority movement due to attrition, but again, how long until I hit the proverbial wall. Whatever numbers they tell you are just that. Anyone trying to tell you what a great deal something is for you is "selling" you. Do your research and realize that Frontier is what Mesa would look like if they flew bigger aircraft. if you still decide that F9 is something you are still interested in then realize that you are signing a training contract. Make sure you look at the health care, especially if you have a family. I've got family members who cannot get procedures covered even though they were ordered by specialists. It gets expensive. The hotels and locations are mostly sub par. Lines are OK at best. There is nothing to look forward to as far as seniority getting you a "good" line. Especially if you commute. All right that's enough for now. There are good things about being here but they are the same as any other airline. F9 is the choice I made consciously. It has been fine for me and that's all I'm going to say about that. I hope things get better here if I stay, and I am actively participating to make that happen. I know that getting hired at an airline takes time and work and you don't just apply and get a call. All I'm saying is I grabbed the low hanging fruit, and am dealing with my choice. Just don't go complaining that "they" said there was a lot of growth and I would upgrade in two years to justify the meager compensations here. Good luck to all of you searching to better your aviation career, but I sincerely hope someone else calls you first.
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