Originally Posted by
ChecklistMonkey
A bonus is just that. You sign now, you get paid. You have a type rating, you get paid more. The airline is effectively paying for a very expensive training and rating and all you have to do is sign a piece of paper. That isn't a narrative. That is just a fact. And this program isn't far removed from the days when new hires were unpaid until the end of training or had to pay for the type themselves. There companies aren't doing this out of the kindness of their heart.
I think this is a good reminder it's not just pay. Pay alone RJ drivers should be higher but at least now it's a livable amount with defined progression to the left seat instead of years of uncertainty when upgrade will happen. It's also all the soft stuff, single occupancy paid hotels during training, positive space during the interview (as silly as it sounds, back in the day you had to find your own ticket at some regionals) etc. Regional airline pilots are almost treated like professionals.
Of course you could go to the 135 world and get a company card and home basing a lot easier now too.