Making plans for class start-ups
 

May be a bit premature, but like to start getting things lined up.

Any recommendations/ advice/ tips for new-hires starting this fall, as far as lodging, study groups, etc?

What are some things you F9 vets would have liked to have known as you started this phase?

Thanks in advance!

WTF
 

Firstly welcome!
Do you have a class date?
HR will send a spreadsheet with everyones contact details a week or so prior. Previous classes have setup a WhatsApp group.
My class had a mix of CrashPad & Hotel stays. Look for an AirBnB in Auora.
Airbus (the training Center) is about a ten minute drive from HQ, so look around there.
You'll get KCM in the first week, some people went home on weekends but be careful about getting back in time.
I understand the new footprint may have reduced groundschool by a couple of weeks.
There is loads of 'Semi Official' material floating around; made with the best intent, but be careful about how its been maintained. Anything with the 'Big 89' in it is past its use by date.
There are some decent Airbus CBTs on YouTube to get you going, and the Airbus WIN & Safety First sites are great resources too if you're an airplane geek.
Training is great, you'll see your check ride three tines before you do it for real, and your instructor will be with you the whole way; even as your CA on the type ride.
Be rested; get everything at home squared away and have fun!
//PL

The other thing is they're changing the training format. It's hard to give advice because we really don't know what to expect.

Thanks, guys.

For someone that currently lives 10+ hrs away from Denver, would you recommend bringing own vehicle, or just depend on Uber/ Lyft?

Having car is always better than not. I drove 17 and it was definitely worth it.

It’s possible that a significant amount of training will be done from home via cbt. Personally, I would wait to see what the footprint looks like. Having said that having a car doesn’t suck.

Thanks!
No date set, just trying to be proactive.
Any suggestions on BnB or longer stay places?
I know that with training footprint not cemented yet, a lot of what was “normal” previously can change, but a few suggestions or stay away froms would be helpful.

You’ll be under the new training format and will probably do all your CBTs (mostly systems) prior to arriving. If you can get through each of them once or twice thoroughly, you’ll be fine there.

IMO, the only thing worth studying early is limitations and memory items. You can memorize them in a day or two. The beauty of learning them early is that when you finish ground school you can spent the majority of your time on checklists/flows. That’ll keep you ahead for the CPTs and sims.

As for lodging, most either lumped into groups of 3-5 and did AirBnb or they went with a crashpad. Private rooms are roughly 600-800/mo.

Definitely bring your own vehicle. I drove from the east coast and it was well worth it.

A couple weeks before you class up HR will send out a contact list with everyone’s info. My class used Whatsapp, texts, and Dropbox to distribute info beforehand. It was very valuable and it sounds like each class does the same thing. The biggest thing is not to stress training. They do a great job preparing you. Aside from the oral, you’ll probably never feel overly busy. There’s no need to do a deep dive on any of the material.

YouTube has some brief systems classes that are painless. Maybe check those out if you’re really bored. I think it’s a United product. Enjoy your time off if you happen to have some before you start.

Thank you!
 

A big thank you to all of you folks. Great pieces of advice, very useful to those of us with a CJO and waiting for a class date.
Good initiative, Odin. Well done!

It’s starting to feel like they will never resume classes...man I hate waiting!

Builds character, LOL.
The next few classes will be full of character(s)!

Yes, thanks for the insights, and as things develop, please drop any nuggets of info to us.

I have a Denver Crashpad that is quiet, a nice house owned by a United guy with three junior frontier pilots. There is an empty room, not shared. PM me if you want the info.

Two quick questions if anyone help:
1) any suggestions for uniform/crew gear for newcomers?
2) how do staff travel benefits work at F9? Standard ID90s from day one for self and 6 mos. for family members? Or other rules apply?

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Welcome...
 

1) M&H visit early in training. You're obliged to buy a basic uniform from them. There's lots of discussion on APC about shirts :-)
2) Online Passes after 30 days, CASS in the first week,30 Buddy Passes at 90 days and ZED/ID90 after 6 months iirc.
EZ20 is a favorite benefit; Positive Space, checked bags et al at 80% of the cheapest ticket offered on that route. (that's 80% of not off..)
//PL

I thought housing was paid for from latest contract? No paid-for uniform either?

M$H
 

I think the company chips in 50%, the rest is a payroll deduction.
Accommodation and per diem is paid only if your (Sim) Training is outside DEN; which with classes <25 is unlikely...

Housing is not provided during training unfortunately. However, word on the street is that you may get to go home for a chunk of time during training and do study at home CBT. That will potentially save some money on hotel or crash pads

Not completely accurate, company gives you $20 each check for uniform allowance and they will also take $20 from each check until the uniforms are paid off.

The $20 is for cleaning. It’s not an allowance. Incase someone is still writing it off on their taxes. You can write off uniform purchases but not dry cleaning.

Federally you can’t write off any business expenses since the tax reform. Even the famous pilot per diem write off is a no go now. I know CA will let you write it off on your state taxes.

Which is why I mentioned IF someone is still writing it off. I wrote off uniform purchases but not uniform cleaning in CA for 2018. Either way it’s not and never has been an allowance. Thanks for clarifying it can’t be done federally now.

Thanks, PL. I appreciate it! [emoji1303]

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Seriously? Who cares if it’s an allowance or for cleaning? Either way they give you $20 a check. You can do whatever you want with it, including go to the titty bar. Can I write that off?

No. Under old tax law (and some current state law) it preserved the ability to write off uniform purchases by separating out cleaning. If it was an allowance and you wrote either cleaning or purchases off on your taxes the chances of an audit are/were much higher. Saved over a hundred dollars a year in tax so yeah some people care about that.The language carried into the new agreement. Contract language lesson over.

Only if she becomes a dependent...

Funny. Should have just said that.

Folks,

Trying to make plans and working out the budget for accommodation: are we doing the training courses at the Airbus Trng Ctr by Windsor Dr or the other one at Tower Rd?

That is, considering we'll be staying in Denver.

Many thanks in advance.

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When is your class date?

For now all training is done at the Airbus location near Windsor. (I70 & Tower Rd)

Word is that you might get to go home for a week of home study computer based training which I believe will be systems. I would also guess that most people will do sim in Denver and they'll only use sims in other locations if they have to.

Don't have one yet. But they told us to expect somewhere between March and April... any suggestions are highly appreciated! [emoji846]

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Thanks a lot!!!

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Class Seniority
 

I know some airlines use age, others SS#s, what does Frontier use to assign relative seniority in the class?

Age.


Filler

If anybody that is in the No ember class is looking for a place to rent, I have a friend that is deployed and his two bedroom house that is fully furnished townhouse is available. Located in Stapleton, it is only 10 minutes from the headquarters and simulator facility. Please DM me if interested!

Dm sent

Filler.

On this note, where is the training done? Anyone have an address? Sims at the same location? I’m trying to find a place that’s not too far away. I found a great place to rent in Aurora but I’m not sure if that’s too far.

Everything is done at the Airbus sim building in Denver. I’m sure the address is online.

Tower Road & I 70

Thanks. Just wanted to be sure.