What's life like on the Airbus?
 

Now that Allegiant is going all Airbus, what is life like? From what I understand, the MD-80 is horrible, but has the bus made life better?

The MD80 is far from horrible.

If life on the 80 is horrible, I want more horrible.

True, but MadDog Mushers want everyone to think it's horrible, so that senior pilots don't bid in above them. :p

😂

I do think reserve on the 80 is an entirely different world with all of the rescue flights and downgauges...

Yeah. My friend in SFB, on the Bus, flies literally 2-3 days a month

That's only because the Airbus's are broken and being rescued by the 80's.

The only people that think the 80 isn't horrible are the ones who never flew the Bus.

If you like grease and sweat stains on your shirt, hot cockpits that smell like a gym locker room, constant schedule reroutes, cancellations, rescue flights, deferrals, breakdowns, and an airplane you have to babysit and correct every minute, the 80 is awesome.

If you like air conditioning, automation, procedures you don't have to think about, easy trips, great bases, and having your schedule mostly remain intact, bid the Bus. But you probably won't have a choice, split classes are rare now.

and don't forget, all new hires have a 2 year aircraft lock, and the 80 is a dying fleet. Anyone hired on now will ride it until Bus upgrade (currently running 2-2.5 years), or it's parked in 2019.

Too bad you disposed of the 757s. Now that's the airplane you need to fly.

This is funny....

What you're really saying is that the 80 takes someone with the ability to actually fly an airplane and clearly you don't have that.

Yes... lots of rescue flights on the 80. We're out rescuing the Airbus daily. Schedules remaining in tact? Clearly you're not talking about the unscheduled RON's your fleet members continually post about on FB.

Give it a rest buddy... your sh&$ don't stink any less because you're flying an Airbus.

Expect 3-4+ year upgrades unless we double our fleet in the next 2 years. The -80 is a GREAT plane despite its drawbacks, it's fun to fly and will treat you well if you don't take it for granted. If you get the -80 now you'll probably be on reserve for 2 years so plan to be flexible. If you get the bus you'll forget how to fly but at least you'll have a comfy seat. You can also expect to constantly move backward in base seniority as people come off the -80.

Either one is a fine choice just remember to manage your expectations if you come here. Prepare for a terrible few months and you'll probably be pleasantly surprised.

Looks like somebody takes himself and this forum way too seriously. :D

MadDog Mushers are like rodeo cowboys who ride a brahma bull.
They take pride in the beast's ferocity. :D

More like the rodeo clowns - they're at the show but don't realize that there's something better.

Friends who flew the MD82/3 at AA who have transitioned to the Airbus unanimously prefer the Bus for its simplicity and comfort up front.

The people you should feel most sorry for are the pax in the last 10 rows of the MD82/3 who have to listen to those eardrum-busting engines. God awful.

Its just as bad for them on the Airbus in anything worse than "AA light chop." Its like a washing machine back there.

I think of it as a massage. People pay to sit in those chairs in the coucourse at the mall.

Wasting your breath, Tom. This "procedures you don't have to think about" and "an airplane you have to babysit and correct every minute" was the most disturbing part of that post.