Originally Posted by
Das Auto
What a difference a year makes. The pendulum has indeed swung from one extreme to the other. This time last year there were as many extended days paid at 2.5x as you wanted and FDP was plentiful. All the while the regionals still paid less and sucked more.
Fast forward to today, extended days are unicorns, FDP has dried up (at least in my fleet) and the regionals are offering unheard of financial incentives and flow through programs. I just read that Air Wisconsin is offering a $150,000 signing bonus!
There has to be massive improvement in the next IBB, especially for the new hires and junior first officers. These are the people who can make or break the growth ambitions of the company. Attract and retain!
I agree. Dec 2021 looked a LOT different than Dec 2022 for me by means of scheduling, QOL, FDP and extended days. The only way I can get an extended day is through VAWD. My last Vector approved extended day was in April. I had 2 vacations in 2022 I tried to extend on and not a single taker.
I think the IBB had to already have been here and should’ve taken effect in Dec 2022 attract and retain talent. If we start negotiating in April 2023 for pay rates that don’t take effect until Dec 2023, then Netjets has missed the boat. April next year is too far from now with this dynamically changing pilot market.
A lot of new hires I’ve been flying with have it in their mind that we are getting a new contract in April 2023. I then query how they heard that and inform them how an IBB works which extends the current contract. The reaction usually is “I’m not waiting until Dec 2023”.
I honestly don’t think Netjets currently realizes how far behind the hiring curve they are right now without something in already in place to attract new pilots.