Does working at a ULCC mean you deserve less?
This is the line of thinking I am hearing from pilots. “We are the highest paid ULCC” as a justification for making less than other airline pilots.
Working at a company that has a low fare business model does not make you worth less as a pilot. You are still responsible for the aircraft and hundreds of lives day in and day out. You had to work just as hard to get an ATP. You can still be violated by the FAA. Why does the company’s business model matter?
You deserve to be paid as much as the Jetblue or Delta pilot who does the same exact job. One could argue that being a Spirit pilot is more difficult with the more densely packed aircraft and higher incidence of passenger issues to deal with. Should you get paid more for that? The argument can be made.
In the upcoming JCBA negotiations great things can be accomplished. Don’t settle for less.