Originally Posted by
dracir1
I actually used to think one of the Big 3 would buy us. It made sense from a #s and aircraft orders standpoint. All of the majors hire 2000 every 6-9 months - our entire seniority list could be absorbed and it wouldn't be much of a bump for them. And EVERY airline could use new 321neo's (even if they don't come for another 3-5 years after the engines are inspected/fixed).
But, that would basically eliminate ULCCs from the market and the govt won't let that happen. We really don't affect that many routes but it's just enough for us to be used as an "alternative" for the protection of the consumer against monopolies/price setting. Our only argument against would be that our product is so inferior that despite our low cost, we still don't get the traffic to be very profitable.
As such, this airline is stuck. There's no one to merge with. It can't be bought. And it doesn't have the right leadership/ownership to improve as the multiple base/Allegiant strategy won't work either. And the union, who I honestly think DOES try hard, isn't equipped with the right galvanizing/fortifying efforts to overcome the obvious disharmony among the pilot force. Last contract cycle, 70+% voted to be paid an hourly rate less than just about EVERY OTHER AIRLINE willfully (touting drop/swap/trade rules that are easily nullified by scheduling in a way that's not transparent to us). That, coupled with the obvious lackluster performance and customer service mantra we have means we can't retain pilots. The ONLY pilots who come here are cadets and ones who weren't offered a better alternative. And, as soon as they do get here, the often ARE offered and leave.
Every move seems like arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. I'll admit i'm scared sh/tless about giving up multiple years of seniority, but I'm beginning to think I don't have a choice. I'm not sure if it's admirable or stupid to hang on to the bitter end but I don't want to find out...
Trust me, that fear/concern of the bottom of a new list goes away very, very quickly after you make the move. Keep in mind that every week you wait and worry, that’s another 50 seniority numbers you give up.
The only regret I have for making the move is that I didn’t do it a year sooner, but didn’t because of the same fears. I’d already have over 20% of the seniority list below me. Now I only have about 10%.
That said, 8 months in and already have an upgrade award in base, and Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day off as an FO. I used to think that people who went to a legacy from F9 would just talk about how much better life is to justify their decision to leave. But, now that I’m finally on the other side I realize that it’s all true.
Believe me. I was a massive pro-frontier guys. If I was typing on here you better believe my lips were koolaid powered. I made spooldup look like a suicidal person looking over the edge of a skyscraper. But after 6 years at F9 and in both seats, I’ve come to realize that Stockholm syndrome and the “maybe/but if only” justification is real. If you live in a legacy domicile and won’t have to commute for long, if at all… The time to leave is now.
My wife stopped working shortly before I made the switch and went from the F9 left seat to the right seat of a legacy. My own paycut was around 200k/year. That doesn’t include the loss of my wife leaving a career job. Three kiddos at home too. Trust me, I know the fear and the first year pain. But it’s doable and in about 4 more months when my upgrade gets activated I’ll be making at least 300k while sitting on my butt at home on reserve without ever moving a muscle.
If you have any thoughts don’t delay. You’ll get through the first year pain too. Everyone does and nobody regrets it. It’s like getting over a breakup with a long term partner. Eventually you’ll feel just fine and just look back and laugh while wondering why you stayed in it for so long.
I won’t lie and admit that it stung a bit when I found out that they were reopening Chicago, but mostly it just made me mad and reaffirmed how QOL at F9 will always be all over the place. Especially after so many pilots already uprooted their families for their new domicile. It only solidified the belief in my decision to leave.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some blue koolaid to go drink (or whatever is in our “colour palette” these days 🙄 ).