G550av8or

The beauty about this job, is that there is something for everyone, and there’s something that fits our different stages of life.

The triple is a separate airline within purple. It is gucci and it can have the ability to out earn 75C as an FO.

AdlerDriver makes a great description.

That said, those of us that have had the 10-17 days away in prior gigs, can happily sit reserve in Memphis. With our 2-3 year upgrade. And make soccer practice and dance recitals. I’ll happily trade the hot catered meals (and chocolate cake) for the ability to drop my kid at pre-k every day.

When the kids get older (this is why I came here) I will leave the “awful 75 hub turn” schedule for the chocolate cake.

123456

Not sure you understand what activation pay is? Are you implying that since you bid 75 before any other fleet and someone junior to you got a widebody, that you should be getting activation pay?

BluePAX

I believe we are talking about two separate issues. Would have to look up the terminology, perhaps it is Passover pay. We were told that you would have to bid all WB, then 75 last in order to be eligible for it.

Shaman

I personally think that 75CA vs 77FO is not about money, because if the guy or gal with the higher hourly rate chooses to make more money he or she will. All of that has been presented regarding the extra pay involved with international wide body flying is absolutely accurate, but it also neglects to highlight the value of the higher rate. As an example none of those extras apply for sick time, vacation, or training. Additionally, when working on a day off the higher hourly rate x 1.5 is a significant difference (ie $8 int'l override doesn't get a multiplier for working on a day off only the hourly rate does).


So making the choice based on which pays more $$$$ is a lot more subjective than it seems. That said, there ain't no question that the lifestyle differences are STARK!! (BBQ is good, cake is good, and I assure you I've never left anything in Laredo, Shreveport, or Southbend that I am terribly concerned about returning for) And that can bring us back to the original theme of considering jumping ship.


For those who are I would advise you to just give some heavy thought on what you value most professionally and lifestyle wise and do a quick comparison (ON PAPER) between Fedex and the other potential employers. Trying to time seniority or choosing the most "stable" carrier is fool hearty.


Likewise it is best to ignore all the breathless nonsense about the potential demise of Fedex at the hands of Amazon. Basic economics can show that an additional entrant into a market, doesn't mean other market players must/will exit. in fact additional entrants can in fact cause markets to grow. Is anyone seriously putting forth that what basically existed as a duopoly prior to Amazon becoming a "logistics" company has now become a mature overly saturated market?! Seriously?!! We aren't anywhere close to "Perfect Competition"

E-commerce is an "additional market" for players like Fedex and UPS. Amazon is growing the market not stealing market share and if you think that there's no room for PREMIUM products once the low cost entrant deploys you've clearly not bought a business class ticket on Delta Airlines recently.


So the stay or go decision should be based upon what you want out of your job. The need for what we do isn't going away anytime soon. That's my $.02 YMMV

kronan

Post again in 20-25 years and I'll tell ya which way you should've gone.

Night time isn't for everyone, if you can't manage your sleep. Likely better off at a Pax carrier. (Note-I fly the dreaded 75 double DH schedules. My sleep is usually at the 90-95% of what I get on days off (fitbit tracks), just split into 2 segments)

If you can live in Domicile at your Pax carrier of choice, also a great benefit.

If you want to fly, seems like most Pax lines have a whole lot more flying than I like to do. And every day at work is an adventure in what will the TSA minion say? Will I be randomized or skate. Lots and lots of annoyance\frustrations as I transit through most airports as I get paid to commute to work and accumulate FF miles

123456

Pretty sure that doesn't apply to new hires as your seats aren't part of the system bid? Not sure but when your class was offered, you get to choose from what's available at that time. So if in your class, even if you bid all WBs first and everybody gets the 75 because thats all they offered, and the next class is all 76/77, you are not eligible for passover pay. I could be totally wrong, but if that was the case, then every other class would be eligible for that. I think its more for system bids and if someone junior to you also gets the award, then you get that extra pay if he activates before you? I'm not sure I'm confusing myself now.. lol..

Flaps50MaxBrake

Since we're unable to hit a like button around here, there's a level headed post with future vision.
Sacrifice a little now for the family and the cream will float to the top before you know it.
Family is the priority. 👍

Sluggo_63

You are incorrect. It’s called “New Hire Junior Activation Compensation.”

CBA 24.F.6.d thru 24.F.7.

whataclub

A good point a friend made to me before I started here which I feel is relevant in the pax. Vs. cargo discussion. You can go to one of the big 3 airlines and if you are lucky you might get a widebody as a new hire. If you don’t then you wait a couple of years and you can get a widebody slot and finally make widebody pay, but to earn that wide body pay you’ll most likely be having to fly 6+ hours internationally across the ocean at night in one direction or the other. At fedex, you have a much higher probability of getting a widebody slot and widebody pay right away and while you’ll still be flying it at night it will be on a one hour flight to Atlanta; as your delta comrades are getting to about Bangor you are arriving at your hotel. Now, I’m very aware of the simplicity and all the variable to that statement, but it illustrates the point of how fedex uses their widebody planes as opposed to the pax airlines, the value you earn in your money, and your likely hood of earning the money sooner. Had I gone to a United or Delta I would probably be flying the 737 for 737 money 3-4 legs a day turning through Orlando with 50% of the plane being sugared out kids going to see Mickey.

hyperone

I'll enlarge on the Big 3 widebody discussion. I don't believe any of the Big 3 have more than 20% of their flying in WB seats. And, it seems more and more of their international flying is being outsource to their codeshare partners, so that number is only going to go down.
Also, the WB left seats at the Big 3 go extremely senior. If you were hired on the leading edge of the current hiring binge and you were in your 20's, you might have a shot at more than 10 years flying WB left seat at a Big 3 company.
Contrast all of that with Fedex. Over 80% of our flying is in WB seats. And with so many folks hired directly into the MD, 76, and 77 there are literally hundreds of folks here who will spend their entire career in a Fedex WB seat. A large percentage of our WB flying isn't international flying, but you'll still get paid WB pay. And, anyone hired in the last 5 years, hopefully, should be able to get into a WB left seat within 5-7 years, and remain in a WB left seat for the remainder of a 20+ year career.
Everyone always concentrates on which airline has the highest pay, but they forget that there are only a select few at the Big 3 who will ever get to see that high pay rate for any length of time. I suggest you think about the long-term career earnings impact of all of the Fedex WB flying available before you jump ship.