NotMrNiceGuy

The point is that this is not happening across the board. I’ve been here four years. I’ve never been offered to extend. I’ve been offered draft about once per year. There’s been less than six months total that I have had AVA for any seat that I’ve been in. It’s all seat and plane dependent.

DirtyPurple

Last year for the MD fleet was psychotic WRT revisions/extensions/AVA/VLT/DRF. I know several FOs who grossed between $400k-$500k, all hired since 2015. I know one FO (saw the pic of the pairing) who had a $70k trip over a 21-day footprint on 4th year pay. 2-day original footprint, extended 19 days @ 200%. And I'd guess that's not even the high water mark.

I agree that the AVA wasn't uniformly applied across all fleets last year, and I've also observed the AVA rate has dried up quite a bit in Jan. VLT still works, but that requires a clean schedule and a bag packed, as VLT is just for the assignment window.

2020 was a unique year in many respects. I hope 2021 isn't so crazy.

dspilot

I'm glad you posted this....I thought it seemed odd. I've only been here about 5 and a half years now and have been home every Christmas Day (sometimes having to leave late in the afternoon or getting home early in the AM)......I'm not a commuter, so that does help.

Noworkallplay

The cliff notes to all this is

1. We don't fly much over holidays due to the nature of our schedule compared to pax airlines. So the odds of you getting them off is BIGGLY increased compared to a pax hauler.

2.) Most of your career is on WB pay rates so even working a min schedule you will make substantially more than your pax friend who works his min schedule.

3. We have a lot of trips that start or end or both with a paid ticket to wherever the trip starts or from where it ends to your house. For commuters this is gold compared to pax airlines. A lot of the time you can leave a day later than the trip is built to go to wherever or you can get home a day or more earlier than it is built on paper. You are still paid the full value of hoe the trip is built on paper. So your getting paid to be home for 1-3 days on those trips.

4. We have a 9% DC retirement and a pension. This is substantially more than what any pax haulers offer.

5. If you work extra a FedEx you will make much more than your pax brother on NB pay. Once again NB vs WB pay.

6. Our vacation rules and pay are tops in the industry and you can use it to get a LOT of time off or make a LOT of money.

7. If you are on a fleet with a open time you can make your schedule whatever you want it and if you so desire make crazy money.

8. If you live in base it makes either job easier and allows you to make extra money by not be gone much more.

FXLAX

I guess that is the scenario where a 19 year pilot could end up working those holidays. But I just need to point out that that is still a choice. Unless pilots are furloughed/downgraded, you only have to be junior once.

Noworkallplay

The biggest thing that’s getting lost in this conversation is how many 5-15 year WB captains do pax airlines have? We are talking about “good” problems we have. Problems most other places would love to have. The fact the guy is a 777 Capt at 15-19 years is in itself a blessing compared to many others careers. Im sure many would give up a holiday now and again to have these “problems”.

Kebert Xela

If some one gets hired on but can’t get in a full 25 years (hired after 40), I’m guessing there’s a proration formula for the pension?

opt0712

Exactly. Only at FedEx are people less than enthused to be assigned the 75. I personally turned down a legacy to come to FedEx. Nothing about commuting to a NB in the NE flying multiple legs enticed me. Meanwhile, here you can be on a WB within 2 years, and if you want, stay in a WB for your entire career. That's the $$ advantage that a legacy or major pilot won't ever have.

Work smarter not harder. You can fly you a$$ off, or you can fly your line. There is something for everyone. Don't let the fear of hub turns or any of the BS standard FedEx rumors scare you away from here. I did a decade of pax flying trying to get here. You won't regret it. But again YMMV.

Noworkallplay

Yes........

IQuitEagle

The pension payout is %2 of your highest five yrs earnings (max of $260,000) x years of service. So assuming you had at least 5 years of pay of $260,000 or more, your annual pension benefit would be $5,200 x years at FDX. You can increase it a little by deferring the start of payments until year or two after you retire.