Originally Posted by
Qotsaautopilot
I’m at a ULCC in the left seat. It is true ULCC pilots can make the same as legacy pilots.
The thing that my fellow ULCC pilots fail to include is that to make that money you have to work the system, work more, or both compared their legacy counterparts just flying their line. Lower retirement and no profit sharing. Add also widebody flying and compensation at the legacies and it’s not a comparison. Seniority movement was fast but the legacy retirements are coming and seniority movement at the legacies will be as fast or faster than the ULCC moving forward simply because of the hiring demographics of the ULCC pilots already hired.
I find that many ULCC pilots have a bit of Napoleon syndrome. It’s fine to be happy with what you have but legacy compensation it is not. I have a seniority percentage that’s not worth giving up because of the age demographics hired at delta and United the last couple years. I’d move fast for many years at a legacy and hit a seniority wall when I turn about 60 years old with most guys senior to me being younger. AA might be a different story but for a new hire or junior FO at a ULCC is highly likely to have more career progression and make much more at a legacy.
Excellent post.
ULCCs work for some, not for others.
A big reason why I like the big 3 is getting to fly different aircraft to different destinations. I've flown the 727,737, 757,767,777, 787 and am currently flying the A319/320. I couldn't do that at LUV, JBLU, or an ULCC.
I commute to work, but spend less time getting to/from work than most cube workers in large cities so commuting doesn't bother me. YMMV. (Sure, I'd prefer to live in domicile but wifey doesn't want to move and the cost of living is much lower where we live).
Everyone I've flown with who previously flew for an ULCC is impressed with the support given to crews by United. Is it quantifiable? Not really, just like the tradeoffs of commuting.
Salary/benefits are better and will likely stay better at the big 3 but the gap has definitely narrowed on wages.
One thing about ULCCs is that the top of the seniority lists are fairly young so there won't be much upward movement from retirements; almost all growth will have to come from expansion. The big 3 have a ton of retirements but grow at a slower rate than ULCCs. And if one wants to just fly the bus/guppy at the big 3, they'll be able to reach the top 25% of the list relatively quickly.
What happens in the next downturn? No one knows, but I don't expect the same response (giving up market share) by the legacies as in past because balance sheets are in better shape at the big 3, including AA. And debt is CHEAP right now, as anyone who ever had a 10%+ mortgage in years past will tell you.