PSA Compensation Improvement Rumors
 

PSA pilots have been churning out some interesting talking points via the rumor mill for a couple months now. It's worth discussing here because what's coming around for one of the three wholly-owneds is likely to take similar shape here... eventually.

There have been whispers of improvements to their compensation package to decrease the hemorrhaging of captains to LCCs. The rumor seems a bit wild if true, but with AAG needing to staff their regional feed in light of the biggest hiring spree in decades, it doesn't seem beyond implausible.

Improvement to compensation includes captain's pay rates in the $134-$138 per hour range, 16% defined contribution to one's 401(k) [unsure if it applies to both CAs and FOs], and an undisclosed rate increase of flow to AA.

It seems absurd, but PSA pilots keep parroting similar information. It seems absurd, but desperate times call for desperate measures in terms of recruiting and retention. Now apparently there's going to be strings attached which, depending on what actually gets implemented, might make the offer actually too good to be true at face value. The pay rates and 401(k) contribution may be some form of retainer pay in the form of a minimum commitment to fly as a captain with the company (or until one's flow date). PBS could replace SAP. Perhaps a PSA pilot whose more well-versed in what's allegedly going down could fill us in.

Seems more than just far fetched to me. If AAG is willing to go that far, what's the point of keeping the regionals separate from mainline?

Agreed.

10/char

These rumors get crazier and crazier every time I hear them. Do you actually believe this nonsense?

Captains at ALL regionals are under compensated for the amount of responsibility they have.

It's truly absurd if you think about the difference between a 175 and an A319.

I've really got to hand it to some of the guys and gals in our industry and their seemingly psychotic optimism.

The last two major changes at PSA (the AA pay raise, and closing CVG) both occurred without a peep from the rumor mill, so take from that what you will.

JetBlue ERJ-190 year 2 captains make $191/hour. The jet has 100 seats. 16% DC.
Envoy ERJ-175 year 2 captains make $79/hour. The jet has 76 seats. No DC.

To your point, yeah, we're severely under compensated.

I think THkooj, aka Rev Jones the KoolAid meister, or one of his personas, has been on the PSA thread as well.

I’m surprised he hasn’t already been dropping that here himself as well.

I did some napkin ciphering a while back, even after the raise, and figured we are compensated about half of the rough formula used by mainline.

That was direct compensation. Not taking into account QOL or profit sharing and 401k contributions.

Umm lol, this is a rumor I haven’t heard about. The only rumors going around like fire at PSA is a flow increase (I believe it when I see it) and a DFW base (I don’t see this happening).

I wouldn’t mind a compensation increase though.