Originally Posted by
golfandfly
Fdxlag,
The training pay is low, but the first year pay isn't bad. I doubt we will have a shortage of applicants. If I were on the streets or working a regional, I'd be all over HKG if that was what I was offered.
If I didn't have a savings, I'd live off credit cards if I needed too. I'm sure there would be some crashpads in HKG that wouldn't break the bank. If you ever commuted to New York, you would see similar situations. Way too many guys in a cramped apartment. After one year (the first three months would probably be in Memphis), they would be making pretty good money (139/hour). Not too bad.....
No doubt if I were on the streets or working at a regional I too would jump at HKG. If I were single and leaving the military I just might jump at HKG too. If were married and my wife was rich I just might jump at HKG. Why do you and I need to qualify a need to jump at HKG. I contend it is because 60 bucks an hour is inadequate for a 1st rate airline to offer and a 1st rate union to accept for flying widebody acft around the world.
Ten years ago my 1st year paychecks were about 1200 every 15 days or so. I learned real quick that if I used my extra 6 hours a month open time capability or if I put myself on volunteer status while waiting around for my jumpseat home I could bump my paycheck up by 20-25%. At the 6 month point or so I learned the most important FDX crewdog lesson; C/O make life a whole lot easier.
Now I know that some people will always fly extra, but one of our goals at ALPA ought to be to lessen the need to fly extra.