DiveAndDrive

Hello. At the risk of catching much flak... I have many questions about Allegiant. The better half got called for a video interview as a flight attendant. So now I’m considering Allegiant as a pilot. I apologize for so, so many questions. I know I can search for these, but I want to try and make a decision quickly so I can tell her if she should or should not do the interview.

Operations
1. I saw the latest base drop. Looks mostly east coast/NE (ish). Any guesses on ABE, SDF, or BNA?
2. How often do base bids happen?
3. Do junior FOs (or FAs) get bounced around the system a lot and used for TDY, etc? Once you get a base, is it yours until you bid out or it closes (Heaven forbid)? I heard someone say first year FOs get switched between the bases a lot.
4. Any idea at all where the new hire FAs are going?
5. Do you often fly with the same FAs? Could her and I buddy bid?
6. What are the schedules like? I know it’s all day trips. I’m talking like 4 on, 3 off, etc? Line bidding or PBS?
7. How long is reserve? How is it? 2 hour call out?
8. How’s the flying? Do you find yourselves going to the same cities over and over again because of the day trips? Are there a lot of DHs and redeyes?
9. Is there ability to pick up extra flying while on reserve? Can you pick up out of base?

Training
1. How is training? Traditional or AQP?
2. How long?
3. Where?
4. Hotels provided?
5. Training pay and/or per diem?

Benefits
1. How much pay can a 1st year FO expect to earn?
2. What are the flight benefits (if any?). Are there ZED and/or CASS agreements?
3. Is short term commuting possible/viable until you get the base you want?
4. How’s the health insurance?
5. Are there any plans to increase 401k/pay?

Like I said. I know I will catch flak for a lot of this. It was mostly thrown together in haste as I’m hustling between flights right now. Thank you kindly for every and any response. A virtual free night of drinking is on me for being such a needy AAY newb. Blue skies!!

skydisaster

Yes. That is a lot of questions. I’ll see what I can do.

Operations
1. ABE is junior and will be for a while. Should be able to hold it immediately. BNA is junior for now because it, like ABE is just opening. SDF is not a Base.
2. Monthly as needed. When classes are running or upgrades are happening they are monthly. Otherwise, we will have months without a vacancy bid.
3. Allegiant is a seasonal vacation airline. This creates a constant need for shuffling of flight crews. This is partially addressed by the Variable Base (VBD=permanent TDY), but is very much addressed by TDYs. Some bases are more prone to them than others. In 3 years I have been involuntarily TDYd once. Others are TDYd a few months out of every year. You can only be displaced out of your awarded bases during a displacement bid. This usually happens during a Base closure or when a fleet type goes away.
4. No idea.
5. That depends on base size. No official buddy bidding that I know of. Someone else could answer that better than me.
6. That varies greatly by base and seniority. We have a lot of single days off.
7. 12 hour shifts with a 90 minute callout. How long you are in reserve varies greatly by base. I’ll be able to hold captain in the east coast before I will be off reserve in my base.
8. Again varies by base (detecting a theme here?). Very few red eyes. Most bases have none.
9. Yes and yes

Got to go now will try to answer more later.


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astaz

1. I saw the latest base drop. Looks mostly east coast/NE (ish). Any guesses on ABE, SDF, or BNA?

SDF Isn’t a base, haven’t heard of it rumored even. Wouldn’t expect it to be soon. Junior guys seem to be able to be able to get BNA and ABE. Only been 1 bid with them included though. Hard to know if people want to stay there or not yet.

2. How often do base bids happen?

When needed based on staffing needs, ie new hires or upgrades, as frequently as monthly.... or not.

3. Do junior FOs (or FAs) get bounced around the system a lot and used for TDY, etc? Once you get a base, is it yours until you bid out or it closes (Heaven forbid)? I heard someone say first year FOs get switched between the bases a lot.

Depends on the base. IWA in the summer? Bottom guys are getting a vacation. Most bases don’t have more than 1 or 2 when TDYs happen, and a lot of guys volunteer.

4. Any idea at all where the new hire FAs are going?

All over.

5. Do you often fly with the same FAs? Could her and I buddy bid?

It happens, but never tried to do it so can’t say how easy buddy bidding is... 4 FAs get 1 trip, vs 1 FO getting the trip. Possible but difficult.

6. What are the schedules like? I know it’s all day trips. I’m talking like 4 on, 3 off, etc? Line bidding or PBS?

“PBS”. In court fighting for PBS. Schedules vary greatly by base and seniority. Tuesday’s and Saturday’s are generally slow.

7. How long is reserve? How is it? 2 hour call out?

Depends on base and seniority. 90 min call out (everywhere but PIE/SRQ), depends on base. Some guys go all month without getting called, while others *cough* Florida *cough* get called almost every day.

8. How’s the flying? Do you find yourselves going to the same cities over and over again because of the day trips? Are there a lot of DHs and redeyes?

Yes, a lot of repetition. Only a couple of red eyes system wide right now, but they do exist. Deadheads aren’t common unless your getting shipped around Florida on reserve.

9. Is there ability to pick up extra flying while on reserve? Can you pick up out of base?

Yes, pickups on days off are above guarantee. Yes on out of base pickups.

Training
1. How is training? Traditional or AQP?

Traditional.

2. How long?

3 weeks of ground school, 10 FTDs, Oral, 7 Sims, PC, LOFT.

3. Where?

Mainly LAS, some in SFB.

4. Hotels provided?

Yes.

5. Training pay and/or per diem?

Guarantee only. No per diem as your “based” in LAS for training.

Benefits
1. How much pay can a 1st year FO expect to earn?

60ish

2. What are the flight benefits (if any?). Are there ZED and/or CASS agreements?

Yes and Yes

3. Is short term commuting possible/viable until you get the base you want?

Possible, but hard. Depends where you’re commuting to/from.

4. How’s the health insurance?

Good.

5. Are there any plans to increase 401k/pay?

Next contract is the hope. Got until Aug 2021 with the current one.

DiveAndDrive

Both of you are fan freaking tastic. Thank you so, so much for your help. Like I said. I knew it was a lot. The good news is I’ve got the next few days off, so I can actually do some of my own (deeper) research. I’m just surprised neither of y’all attacked me for asking these many basic questions. Thank you for that. Drinks on me, and have a great night!

KC135

Just to add to your commuting question, it would be difficult to do when you are junior. We have plenty of senior commuters that make it work, a lot are in the VBD base which goes senior. Their hotel is paid for along with 24/7/365 per diem. Although day trips and commuting should never mix IMO, you’d need at least 50% seniority to make it somewhat work, 25% would be optimal. I’m very junior and this month for example was 2 groups of 3 off, 2 groups of 2 off and 2 single days off. Reserve is 12 days off and possibly reduced to 10 during the 3 busiest months of the year. I live in base though so life is good. As far as making extra money, there is always enough to pick up in my base to 90+ hours on a reserve line if you wanted to, even in the slow months but this can vary drastically base to base. Each base is almost like a different airline in itself.
As far as the FA question. In the past, because commuting to day trips isn’t reasonable, FA’s apply/interview/accept a CJO that is only for a specific base. They can bid to swap around later if desired. I would assume this is still the case but somebody else would need to confirm. Right now they are hiring FA’s into ABE, BNA, CVG and PGD. Hope that helps.

DiveAndDrive

Another awesome reply. Thank you so much!! I appreciate it. So we could, for example, both try to get ABE based and then bid to BNA later?

Also... my original post... I said SDF. I meant TYS. I’m 50% derp.

Squeakygreaser

So I've realized reading through these forums that Allegiant closes bases pretty often. Did the union negotiate any compensation for this? As I figure it, selling a house and moving a family costs about 35k.

Squeakygreaser

Also thanks for answering all these questions I've been asking. The info is much appreciated.

LoFly

Moving expenses are proportional to the distance between the old and the new base, and they top at 10K.

skydisaster

I wouldn’t say that Allegiant closes bases pretty often. Yes, it is more often than perhaps any other major, but it’s not a regular occurrence either. In the last few years, HNL was closed as the 757 was retired, and OAK was closed.


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