Macjet

NK 4 year Captain is $200/hr + 2% A321 override= $204 + 11% DC = $226.44 X 4.25 minimum duty credit = $962.37 X 4 days = $3,849.48 X 200% Junior Assignment = $7,698.96.

And we are the 9th WORST airline to work for on pay and benefits.

Take it from a former NJA Atlantic Buck hoarder and cheese tray pillager; the worst airline is far, far better than the best charter/fractional. You should be spending every waking minute on figuring out how to get the hell out of your current situation and into ANY airline.

Macjet

Or say that you only accept move up pay by allowing a contractually early notification or showing an hour early for a trip. 1.5 hours of bonus pay a day for 4 days is 6 hours of extra pay at $226.44 an hour is an extra $1368.54. All for showing 30 minutes early.

And we are the 9th WORST airline. You're a sucker if you're flying charter/fractional.

MOGuy

Would not say you're a sucker necessarily. Maybe you want to be home based or need to be. Maybe the droning of 10k strip to 10k strip doesn't appeal to you and money is not the only olimportant thing in your life....we also have had a consistant flow of captains to Southwest, Delta, and recently United and Alaska. So why settle for the 9th worst when you can be at one of the top 5 realtivly soon in the next few years? Importanlty why haven't you left the 9th worst for the top 3 at this point? Could be many of the same reasons someone would stay at a fraction/charter.

Point is don't rain on their parade. We all have our own priorities dependent on our circumstances. For you that's staying at the 9th wosrt airline and for them it's flying charter and being g home based.

Learflyer

Good post. You nailed it. We all realize that the popular thing to do today is to abandon all where you're working now, and to go directly to the airlines where the money is. We all know it's a "multi-million dollar career" there. But some of us from the "lost decade" are happy to have a steady, albeit smaller (but very livable) income and to stay the course. I could not imaging commuting! I can't stand flying on the airlines even with a paid ticket!

LJ JE

If max pay is your top priority, then I agree that we should be spending all of our time trying to leave fractional/charter. Try not to sound so upset and bitter in all of your posts Mac, cheer up brother.

ViperGuy69

The XOJET website mentions pilots can take on leadership positions such as Safety Officer, Recruiting Officer, Standards Officer, and Standards/Check Captains.

What is involved with these additional duties, and how much extra time/work is involved? When are you eligible to put in for one? Do you have to be a captain? Can you work multiple jobs at the same time?

Thanks

Macjet

Ah yes, the 'ILS to ILS' argument. That's false. I see more variety now than I ever did with NetJets. And that's not an exaggeration, I can promise you that.

For the few that live in Durango, Cedar Falls, Minot, or some other off the map location then yes, you are correct, being a fractional guy is the way to go. Home basing there is a good thing.

I'm at the 9th because it was a better deal for me living in base, upgrading in under three years, and flying something more comfortable than a Model T airplane. For others their 'best' airline is somewhere else. We have a LOT of ex NJA, FX, and Options pilots here. Their story is all the same. We all thought that our fractional life was the best that it could get. And for varying reasons we found ourselves at Spirit. We all now, without exception, can't believe how nieve we were with that line of thinking. Not a single one of us, for a minute, could imagine going back to 91k/135 for any reason. We all now have more time off, more flexibility, better benefits, better retirement, we work far less, and we're making a lot more money. Every single aspect of our personal, professional, and financial lives are better now than they were at any 91K. I spend more time with my SO, have more time with my kids, have more money in the bank, and am living a far better life that I ever did or would have at NetJets. So look at me like a brother who found Jesus and is trying to spread the good word. You are working too hard, too much, and for too little money. And why? To get Ricci or Buffet richer? No thanks.

For those that live anywhere near a major 121 base I would recommend that you spend every waking moment trying to get on. It doesn't matter which one. Commuting sucks, period. So apply to the one with a base near you or the one that you're willing to move for. The worst 121 is better than the best 91K/135 job. For those that are stuck I hope the shortage of aviators gets you the pay and schedule you deserve sooner rather than later.

Macjet

Only come to 121 if you want max pay, may time off, max flexibility, max support, max retirement, and max benefits. Otherwise, keep wiping off the tray tables and scavenging the cheese trays left over from Mr. and Mrs. Howell.

I'm not upset at all. My life, in every aspect, is better now than it ever has been. My only regret is not going 121 sooner. I wasted too many years working too much and for too little money with 91/91K/135. You and I are doing the same job brother. You're just doing it a lot harder and for a lot less money.

A decade ago I was hired at NJA. Of my entire new hire class only 1 remains on the seniority list. Following the herd isn't always the right move but it is at least worth investigating why the herd is running. Nobody is leaving AA, UAL, DAL, AK, WN, or NK. coming to a fractional. Isn't it at least worth looking into why the flow is only one way?

LJ JE

Thanks for your input Mac. No doubt about it that the airlines offer much better pay, benefits, and flexibility of schedule. I’m pretty sure that any professional pilot with more than a couple years experience knows this.

FYI, pilots only scavenge cheese trays if you choose to do so. I never touch that sh*t. XOJET gives everyone $80 per day to spend on food. Most people here eat very well and healthy.

multipilot

Who said anything about my aspirations? The guy simply asked about Atlantic Bucks and I was providing simple feedback.

Good for you and your paycheck. Give yourself a nice little pat on the back.