Originally Posted by
Khell
Am I not understanding something about these 2 companies pay scales? It seems to me that with the bonus at envoy, you would make the equivalent of $57/hour vs $38 at spirit but second year you would make $40 at envoy and $72 at spirit. $57 + $40 at envoy ($97) vs $38 + $72 at spirit ($110). Wouldn't you be making more at spirit by the end of the second year?
Yes, but a lot of people would be hoping for a legacy job after 1-2 years so spirit second year pay just doesn't really enter the equation at the current payscale. CA upgrade also could make a huge difference during the 3rd year at a regional. Remember, spirit explicitly relies on "juniority" in the pilot group for their business model, meaning they both expect and NEED new spirit FOs to quit and go somewhere else before they get expensive. Just because they took it off the investor slides as they entered mediated negotiations doesn't mean they aren't holding on to that pillar of the core business model.
Not saying hey everyone should go to Mesa, but just for comparison with what's becoming typical in the regional world...
Mesa sent out an info email after the virtual job fair, with their incentive program. $50k in bonuses over 3 years. Up to $30k bonus first year with first year pay $36/hr, which works out to nearly double Spirit first year pay. $20k bonus at end of 3rd year plus "guaranteed" CA upgrade in less than 36 months, and Mesa 3rd year pay plus 20k bonus is close to spirit 3rd yr FO pay. That means first year pays a lot more at Mesa, 2nd year doesn't match spirit, but 3rd year does after upgrade, plus building PIC time for that Legacy application by the 3rd year at Mesa.
If you're realistically looking at 1-3 years transition to somewhere else, spirit is pretty much $$$-neutral and you probably won't get PIC time. The spirit benefits are flying a bigger plane (yay), a good hotel committee, and the ability to drop trips ($$$-negative of course). Plus free high-fives and a restraining order, but that's just gravy.