Is the seniority number on the vacancy award the Flica number? If so, my number is higher than people being awarded captain upgrades, but in the "what if" bid it says I would not be awarded. Also looking at a random person that was just awarded with a lower vacancy award seniority number, they are higher than me on the July 2017 seniority list posted on comply, which is completely different than the award number. What am I missing? How do I figure out when I can upgrade? Do I go off the comply seniority list?

 

Flica "seniority" number means nothing. Look at the comply seniority list. Also, be aware there are still a bunch of folks that have bypassed - if they decide to bid, that could knock you out, so you never really know til the bid runs.

 

Report from the front lines in MSP. Talked to a recruiting pilot. Struggling to fill classes with qualified people. Getting 5 apps a day but they are still trying to find the right talent and not resorting to...other airline's standards (we all know who I'm talking about). Apparently there is a big regret that they stopped hiring all together. Having difficulty playing catch up. 3 classes a month but they aren't all full. Averaging 5-6 guys per class, 8 would be full. Attrition is higher than expected and they are falling behind on the upgrade train as well. 50 some LCAs left within the past year. Just figured I would give an update from the training department to y'all. No mention of that dang MIA base I read about on a yoke clip...yet...

 

I do remember someone posting on here that it was a bad idea for them to freeze hiring in this market, but I guess it was just some dumb pilot and they know better.

Some airlines are lowering standards (and I will call Mesa out) while others are offering money and, or flow/pathway programs. I am pretty sure there will be a cash incentive soon if they cannot continue to fill classes.

When the upgrade train stopped here, they forgot the movement continued elsewhere. Recently there was even a 3 month upgrade at Envoy (obviously it is not the average, just like the 4 month longevity pilot at Delta). A lot of people came to Compass for the quick upgrade, but when that slowed down so did some of the incentive to fly for a west coast airline unless you really want to live or be based in LA or Seattle.

Long story short it is a great time to be a pilot as we watch the conditions improve.

 

agreed completely and been saying the same thing for months. Recruiting is going to have issues. Literally the ONLY compelling reason to come to Compass is if you live in LA or Seattle. That's it...and that's a very niche target audience. Every other selling point is gone. Don't get me wrong, I like working here and I'm happy with my job. With that said, I would hard pressed to come up with a way to sell the airline to a bright eyed CFI.

If we want new blood something has to change. Flow is not going to happen... So we can stop talking about that. Fast upgrades are dependent on growth,and I don't know where that's going to happen... Might as well stop talking about that. Pay and retention bonuses is about the only thing that can be easily and directly controlled. FUPM has to happen if they want this company to survive... Unfortunately I've got three little letters for everyone... TSH.

 

I might be mistaken but I thought that the 4 commuter rooms a month and a couple of other things I can not currently recall were the result of the the union grieving new hire bonuses and winning. The thought process being that it potentially benefited the entire pilot group and not just new hires so I'm pretty sure that new hire/retention bonuses are not even an option.

 

I think you are right, new hire bonuses are not an option right now, however a retention bonus I believe is allowed since the whole pilot group would get it not just new hires. I feel like the company will be forced to go this way at some point, hopefully soon!

 

Hi guys what is the current upgrade time? I'm thinking about applying. What is the base out of class?

 

Yeah, that's what I remember being the big thorn in the pilot group's eye. I interviewed about two days after the bonus was announced, then started a few weeks after that. There was certainly a fair bit of animosity. Not towards me, but the situation. The bonus was a pretty hard line in the sand. You start after this day you get $10k. You start three days earlier you are SOL.

I don't THINK the pilot group would have a problem with a retention bonus. Who knows, though? That's really the only front we can keep up with out peers. It's the only thing we can do to get fresh faces.

 

Sitting at ABOUT 2 years right now. LAX out of class, with an option to move to sea relatively quick.