RI830

NoSid,

How exactly are you coming up with these astronomical salary/renumeration numbers for 121 guys. I know of a few WN guys who work the system to make flying and max pay. FedEx guys make huge per hour, but how exactly are you getting these numbers up that high? A and B funds are gone, pensions are gone and 401K contributions are simply matches on what you put in.

As for the ex-121 guys getting these glorious jobs, I think that betting on a 777 retiree being able to handle corporate life is like betting on red/black at the roulette table. Some can succeed and others can't hack all the extra work.

biigD

I hate to break in on a good old fashioned APC airline/corporate penis measuring contest, but at least in my case, it's not a match. 16% is what the company drops into my 401(k), regardless of my contribution.

Carry on.

RI830

I stand corrected on that note! Who do you fly for that does this?

cgtpilot

Most major airlines have B funds or very generous 401k matching programs. I can only speak for JetBlue directly. We put in 5% and the company contributes another 13% of your W2 earnings. 18% total per year. A320 CAs easily max out the yearly limits. The average line holding A320 CA easily clears 200k a year worth of gross earnings. Throw in the company 13% 401k contribution, profit sharing, per diem, overrides, and health insurance and the average A320 CA easily has a renumeration package worth 300k a year. Some guys can scheme the system and and clear 300k gross earnings alone. None of these guys are leaving to fly for fracs or corporate.

NoSidNoStar

I was going to answer you, but I see somebody already proved my point. As far as the 777 retiree, he would have so much money by then, that he will not care if he does succeeds or not in the corporate transition.
There are perks in 121 that we don't even understand in corporate.
They can sell their personal time off back to the company for premium pay, that does not mean they don't have days off, just the extra time off (either vacation or PTO) they accumulate each month, on top of the days off. That alone plus 401K contributions, not match, amount to about 30% extra.
Your friend at WN can drop trips, and pick up other trips in days off, getting paid OT, effectively giving himself a bonus and still working the same time.
The list goes on and on.
We have perks that they don't have, all my trips are small vacations.
QOL is a personal choice, subjective in nature, not matter to argue.
But for quantifiable economic gains, we don't stand even close.
At least the most of us. Again, 50% of the airline pilots are Captains. Each Captain makes equal or more than a corporate Chief Pilot.
But only a very small percentage of corporate pilots will hold a Management position sometimes during their career.
Our perks kept me in this side all this time, but I am ready to jump.
I will miss the fancy layovers; but I will enjoy my time off (really off, no phone, not available, no thank you, no!)

NoSidNoStar

Thank you CGT.
My understanding is that you guys also can sell back to the company about 120hr/year of PTO at 150% value of the current pay. I would dare to estimate that is the equivalent if another 15% income.
And nobody is evening mentioning the travel benefits, which are hard to use as a family, but I would personally looking forward to.

NoSidNoStar

Oops, I guess these kind of talks have been here for a while.
I did not realize it, I should have imagined it though.
Sorry, I was just try give my input to the kids, while self reassuring that the initial pay-cut would be well worth it, assuming the major I want to work for is willing to give me a job.

biigD

I'm a US Airways guy. I'm on first year pay, so pretty much every 91/135 jet pilot makes more than I do. My 16% is about the only happy thing in my paycheck at the moment, so I thought I'd chime in. Believe me, I'm not coming on here and tossing rocks!

I used to fly charter and 91 in light jets years ago, and while I'm happy where I am now, there's a lot about that job that I miss.

biigD

The industry is constantly changing, so it's probably good to hash it out every so often - that way the guys coming up through the ranks have the most up to date information. I'm a 'different strokes for different folks' kind of guy, so I don't tend to engage, but I do enjoy reading through the threads, and sometimes it's wildly entertaining!

NoSidNoStar

BiigD, you have been in both worlds then.
You know that your second year pay will be above most 91/135 pilots.
And you know it will get better and better.
I agree with you, there are perks on both side. But those are subjective choices.
The objective part ($$$) is heavily in favor of major airlines.
I am most interested to hear your opinion about his topic:
Would you go back to an average GA job now?