This thread is a must read for new hires or wannabes at FedEx. These are real world posts from pilots who learned the truth after switching to FedEx. The grass is not greener here. There are a lot of cons to working at FedEx.
This thread is so stereotypical of what happens at FedEx. A pilot complains about the contract and someone who hasn't worked at any airline other than Uncle Sam chimes in to say something ignorant. These folks have been told they're they're best of the best throughout their entire military career ... and that FedEx is the best of the best. But IMO, that has changed.
Prior to 9-11 .... that's September 11th for the Zers, FedEx and UPS lagged in work rules and pay. They were considered second rate airlines to Delta, US Air, American, Continental, Northwest and United. After 9-11 bankruptcies and consolidations, legacy airline contracts, especially in pay rates, fell below UPS and FedEx. Suddenly UPS and FedEx were the two hottest chicks left at the dance and it is 2am. Flash forward 20 years. The legacies have been clawing their way back from bankruptcy. FedEx and UPS still haven't raised the bar in term of 2002 pay rates adjusted for inflation. After FedEx's abysmal failure of a contract in 2015, the legacies were now on par in pay. UPS pay rates are much higher than FedEx's. However, folks still preferred to haul boxes over passengers. I get it, I made the jump myself from a legacy. But times have changed. The 9-11 bankruptcy contracts are well past us.
FedEx pilots current pay rates would be much lower had it not been for COVID19. COVID19 slowed the legacies next round of contracts. Now that COVID19 is over and the passenger airlines need pilots ... lots of pilots, they're seeing significant gains in pay rates (for example ... Delta's 34% pay improvement) and quality of life items. But it just isn't about pay too. Future retirements at FedEx are dwarfed by the legacy retirements. FedEx rapidly grew during COVID19 while sacrificing customer service. FedEx's rapid growth is over. The legacies are going to continue to grow. Therefore, anyone hired at FedEx in the next 5 years or possibly more is going to see very slow seat progression.
FedEx IS NOT the place to be junior.
I've highlighted in red the typical response when someone says something about FedEx's contract. Every FedEx wannabe should read these comments.
And then there's this ...
FXLAX: TonyC is right. FedEx had passover pay and a filling of vacancies system that didn't violate seniority. However, in a rush to settle a contract with the company, the union leadership pushed a concessionary 2015 contract to the FedEx pilots and they ratified it. The company schooled the FedEx pilots in several areas of the new contract. This is why TonyC says it's hard to find anyone who voted for it. Why? Because it was a huge setback while other airlines were making gains and they're embarrassed to admit it now.
FedEx pay rates are already behind the legacies. The legacies are going to get huge increases as we've already seen in United's failed AIP and Delta's AIP soon to be official TA. If I were a wannabe, I'd choose carefully. FedEx has too much risk involved anymore.
FedEx's CONS:
Night Flying. Unless you get seniority fast which is unlikely, you're going to be flying nights. Night hub turns slowly kill you. Not joking. And compared to legacies, FedEx's supposed "day flying" is also night flying as you come back to the hub at midnight to 1am. The "twilight sort" at Indy (which is flown by all bases) has a lot of midnight to 10am flying which is slightly different than the 9pm-5am typical night hub flying.
Lagging B-fund: FedEx's B-fund has fallen behind UPS's and is well behind the top legacies.
Dying A-Fund: FedEx's creme de la creme, the A-fund is now down to a 17% income replacement ratio. It is dying due to inflation. It is hardly the game changer anymore.
Section 24 and System Bids: Junior people and new hires will be trained and moved in your seat before you will be -- and you won't be paid for it. FedEx likes long wasteful system bids ... sometimes more than 2-years to train out and execute.
FedEx IT systems ... you'll be shocked as to how hard it is to put in for trip swaps, changing your schedule if even possible, doing expense reports. Yes, you have to do monthly expense reports like reporting hotel receipts and commercial ticket receipts etc.etc. You'll end up buying third party software to bid.
No easy base transfers ... even if you have someone willing to swap with you. You'll have to wait for system bids and then it could be 2 years after that. We currently have folks waiting until May 23 for a base transfer on a system bid that was in Nov 21.
Reserves ... EVERY SINGLE DAY YOU SIT RESERVE AT FEDEX HAS A 1.5 HOUR REPORT TIME. SO YOU MUST BE IN MEMPHIS OR YOUR BASE ON EVERY RESERVE DAY. Unlike the legacies, long calls can be sat at home. And Delta is getting 18 hour call outs!!!
No paid training hotels. You have to pay for your own hotels if you live outside of base.
Yes some of our domestic flights may qualify for catering. Trust me, you don't want to eat the "cold" meals. The hot international meals are ok though.
Even if you are a line holder, the contract at FedEx pretty much means you are on reserve ... the company can pretty much do anything it wants with you and/or your trip. Good luck if you are put into "substitution" ... Chinese arithmetic is probably easier to understand than the substitution diagram. Understanding substitution from reading the contract, impossible. Don't doubt me on this. Also, you can be involuntarily extended up to 3.5 days. It happens especially for international folks.
Operational Emergencies !!! ... FedEx can and will require you by contract to fly to the FAR maximums (that's a 16 hour duty day no matter when your show time was).
On reserves, you can and you will do up to four night hub turns in a week.
No FAR 117. FedEx and UPS operate under the Cargo Carveout. The corporations lobbied the FAA for it. It isn't in your favor.
Very tight manning. Reserve lines make up 10% of the known lines. Secondary or PBS lines make up about 20% of lines. You can and will get assigned reserve status during the Secondary or PBS process.
No profit sharing or other goal sharing incentive programs (for example Delta's on-time performance and baggage goals).
Unlike legacies, if you accidentally bring a weapon (as defined by FedEx security) through security, you'll be fired no questions asked. You don't get your job back. FedEx's restricted item list is much larger than the FAA's.
You fly a lot of extremely hazardous cargo. My personal favorite is Class 4, spontaneously combustibles. I'm not joking. Only the 777s and MD11s have upper deck cargo fire suppression. Good luck at 30 west in a 767, we're all counting on ya.
While the passenger carriers have the passenger bill of rights and they cancel a lot with bad weather, you're going to fly no matter what. As long as it's legal by the FARs, you're going.
Jump seating to long haul flights is frowned upon. The pilot isn't pay protected if there's a disruption with your jump seat flight and you were to fly a long haul flight.
Fred Smith is retiring. FedEx Express (the airline) is no longer his baby. We have no management and they don't have a love affair for pilots or planes. Things are a changing and not in a good way. FedEx hired two SVPs to work on efficiency with the airline.
FedEx's Pros:
More wide body positions
Dying a-fund
Best vacation system
70% of the bid pack (flying lines) are hard lines.
Guaranteed jump seat to work IF able to reserve 21 days in advance
There's probably more cons but it is 1:15 am and I have to go to work.