Spin and 320, Are you two customers or pilots? Like I said, I am happy you have a nice product, but that alone won't keep you working or making a decent wage. This is a pilot forum, and to a pilot there are three (Big 3) measures of how good an airline is: Job security, Pay, and quality of life. Big pax seats, lots of leg room, good food, and nice TVs are just splendid; but they don't mean a thing to a pilot if the airline can't come close to charging enough to pay for it all. Southwest is by most standards the most successful airline ever...and the only frill they offer is a big smile (because those are free). Again #2 and 3 on that glorious list of the "best domestic airlines" are at the bottom when it comes to the big 3. Midwest has their famous cookies, big ole seats and all kinds of room...they are parking 30% of their fleet with the associated furloughs. Sun Country same. For a good pilot career it is the bottom line that counts, and the bottom line is very precarious at "the best domestic airline right now". If you boys just step back and look at the business for a second, your rose colored glasses won't work anymore.
- Started up an airline based in the most saturated and expensive markets in the world.
- Trying to grow in an enviroment that has never been this hostile to the industry.
- Competing against much larger, firmly established carriers.
- Lost 20% of their start up capital in the first 1/2 quarter. And that in what is usually a strong quarter for airlines.
- Vigorously fighting to keep their losses a secret...presumably to prevent investor panic and competitors from exploiting their weaknesses.
- 10 months after start they are already scaling back growth plans.
So lets recap: Am I jealous VA guys don't really know if they will have a job in 6 months...NO
Am, I jealous VA guys get paid RJ wages to fly 150+ pax jets...NO...just mad people will fly for that!
Quality of life...don't know, but mine is fine...so not jealous there either.
The point of my first post was that the award is meaningless to pilots...When VA is profitable and paying pilots what they should be paid, I will be back here as fast as possible to say YOU WERE RIGHT!!!! Until then, VA pilots have absolutely nothing to brag about, and I do not personally know any pilots who are in the least bit envious.