Originally Posted by
Captain Tony
Several thoughts after reading these 5 pages:
2. Know going in what quality of life is like at ASA. Read here and flightinfo for some insight. ASA treats reserves worse than an ugly mutt hound dog. You will have no life. Period. And you will spend several years on reserve. The merger will preclude any real growth, because since ASA has their hands full with the merger, SkyWest Inc will give anything that comes along to SkyWest Airlines.
3. It is unlikely that any newhires will go to the 700/900. The most recent award gave the 70/90 to many current 200 pilots, which means they plan to back fill the 200 with new hires. QOL on the 200 compared to the 700/900 is night and day. The 200 does 4-7 legs a day of flights mostly an hour or less on 4 day trips. The 700/900 does 2-4 a day, most flights 1-2 hours. QOL on the 200 is so bad that people who can hold a line with weekends off on the 200 are opting for reserve on the 700 for a better lifestyle!
4. DR does not represent the typical ASA pilot or ASA manager. I'm just saying...
I usually agree with you on most of your posts but I strongly disagree with you on a couple points you made, particularly that reserve 700 is a better lifestyle than lineholder 200.
I've flown the 700 on reserve and as a current 200 lineholder there is no way 700 reserve is a better lifestyle unless you have lots of money, don't want to fly, and bid 1800 reserve. And even still that might be pushing it when you factor in the mouthful of ready reserve you'll get.
How can you go from saying in one paragraph that on reserve at ASA you're treated like garbage and have no life(which is true) that saying that 700 reserve is a better lifestyle?
Not only do lineholders have a more days off and better QOL from having control of their schedule, they also make around $10,000 more per year than your avg reserve(non-call me first) pilot who normally get the brakes from scheduling once they hit 75hr credit.