We are about a year or two out as we just started mediation.

 

Apparently Mediations "appear" to be productive and word on the street is that some believe that many parts of the contract will be TA'd in the next few meetings. But make no mistake, it's still going to take time. With the company's joint venture scheme with VIVA (Mexican ULCC), and while they wait for approval, they're in no rush in signing squat. I mean, they'll sign probably most of what we ask that's industry standard, BUT ONLY if we can keep our current TRASH SCOPE.

Our current scope has no real protections for this joint venture. There's no guarantee as to how much flying we do, or they get to do. Based on what they want, they want all international Mexican flying done flying by Viva. Yes, they have grand plans to expand domestically, but they can't do that without the proper work force. So everything is a stalemate. Mark my words, if they get the Viva deal approved, they will expand to other joint ventures later and Allegiant Pilots will do NONE of the flying. Meanwhile the domestic side doesn't grow bc of their incompetence and lack of contract. So they'll just make up any losses on the domestic side through the international side.

Without serious SCOPE we won't have a real airline or any real expansion. So best thing would be for the DOT to shoot down the joint venture. When will the DOT make a decision? That's anyone's guess at this point. So like Tom said, a year to two at best. Not bc of the mediation, because of this Joint Venture.

 

Sounds like the company really wants to give us a new contract as long as we are willing to remain the lowest paid airbus pilots in the industry and keeps our industry trailing work rules. In other news...allegiant is hiring. Come join the party.

 

They’d give us Alaska rates & retirement today….but no changes to scope or scheduling of course.

They’re making money. They’re (barely) keeping up with attrition. They have among the lowest pilot costs in the industry. Sunseeker’s about to open. Lot of great things for the C-Suite to brag about. Why rush into a deal?

2025 when the mediator finally declares an impasse.

 

No, the money and retirement are simple. It’s the work rules. Scheduling and reserve and scope which will force us to be released from mediation after a year or two of back and forth. Right now there is no motivation for the company to change anything.

 

How do you survive your first year here? Take out a loan?

 

This is not a place for a young career pilot. If you are older and established and looking for a part time flying gig and live in one of our larger bases and don’t mind staying an FO (all of Florida) this is a great place to come.

If you are just getting started (fresh out of the military or a year at the regional) this isn’t the right fit for you.

 

Just like the old regional day, by God's good graces and generous Captains.

 

Where do you guys come up with this stuff?
Even the Union, which obviously wants to try to make the glass sound half empty, isn't suggesting multiple years from contract.

No one is going to pretend the pay isn't crap, comparatively. But you're still making 45-50k a year. Millions of folks pull it off in this country.

 

MG has zero incentive to raise pilot costs. Airline is profitable, coping with attrition. He’s not going to agree to overhaul the way Allegiant runs things until the pain of not agreeing to sweeping changes is too great. Study the past history of mediated negotiations & how long it takes to finally reach self-help.

We’re just getting started.