You're right, there is no straightforward answer to that. It depends on quite a few factors. The biggest problem we have with our base structure is stagnation when you move to the left seat. Heck, it's even a problem to a smaller extent with the right seat. We have quite a few new bases though, so it will be impossible to predict what movement will be amongst captains at those until farther down the road.

 

Thank you so much! And at this stage how long is it taking to upgrade to Captain? And how senior is CVG for FO's right now?

 

At the forecasted grow rate of 10 planes/year it'll take 4-5 years to hit ~60% of system seniority, where the most junior CA currently sits.
The bottom 7 guys in CVG are Aug '19 hire.

 

The pay agreement ends in about a year correct? What was the timeline like last time?

 

I am a 3.75 yr FO. My date of hire class is just now getting captain spots. It is in GRR. I believe ABE will go junior. That could be a base that goes junior in both seats.

As for the contract...... it took forever to get the first one and it is not very good. I believe this next one will be a LONG drawn out process. Our "young" pilot group got greedy with the first contract after seeing the pay scale. They now realize work rules are more important than the pay matrix in the contract (I hope). Unless something changes in management, I am prepared for a very long and boring negotiations. Now something could change that like last time when the company needed a contract for financing of the new planes, but I am a realist and see the current union busting techniques as a long drawn out play. Looking at other LCC not sure why one would come to G4. Unless you live in a base we have there are just too many other options with real retirement, bidding software and contracts that get followed. Spirit/Frontier negotiated getting 15% where as G4 is at 10%, but to get 10 from them you have to put in 5%. Yes we should all be putting in $$, but at other airlines you are just given the 401K money without it being a matching amount. If that is not a driver then you are missing the point of this career, get paid the most to work the least. On the bright side you will be home most nights, that is what the company keeps telling us.... until it becomes more profitable to do overnights. Then it will be just like spirit/frontier/jetblue, but with less QOL and less pay.

Please come here with eyes wide open. I did when I came here pre-contract in early 2016, I knew what g4 was about and I was OK with it, but I also lived driving distance to a base they had just opened.
Good luck with your decisions, it is a great time to be looking for a job. Just remember if times change (election year/economy) can you stomach being a junior FO on reserve in DMS, GRR or ABE for years. P.S. our reserve section in the contract needs LOTS of work and don't even get me started on vacation and the days off matrix that has you losing days off on months you bid a vacation in. If you can even get vacation in a month you want it.

 

Box hauler. That took a lot of time and effort from someone that doesn't even work here anymore. What gives?

 

Is he gone? It read like he is still here...

 

Disregard....

 

I am one of the new hires for Jan, looking forward to it with fingers crossed for PGD

 

Congrats/welcome! Shouldn't be to hard to get sooner than later but ABE/DSM would be the junior vacancies coming up. PGD has grown into the 5th largest base now out of 20 so there is movement sometimes often.