Schedule flexibility
 

How is the scheduling flexibility at Frontier?
Is there any ability to drop below 60 hrs?

Can you post awarded credit on a swap board and drop below a minimum line value?

Trip trading, vacation etc.

Schedule flexibility in most bases on most days is awesome except the weekends. Most weekends are at min coverage. If you trade out of a trip it’ll likely be a red eye you trade into as that’s mostly what’s in open time. You have to be over 60 hours 6 months of the year and 70 the other 6 months. The company sets the months at the beginning of the year. I wouldn’t come to Frontier if you don’t want to work. You’re probably better off at Spirit since they can drop to 0 from what I understand.

Appreciate the information. From my perspective, Frontier is a bit more stable and palatable to the consumer in the LCC markets. I have always like Frontier's appearance and product which seems a slightly higher standard than Spirit.

Spirit was doing a very good job rebranding, so it will be interesting to see how their recent events affect their future.

In short I would feel much safer at Frontier even if it meant working with less flexibility.

Ok, this response assumes that you have multiple choices of offers (or at least more than just Frontier) so I'll run down quite a few things that you might want to consider in selecting a company to work for:

Frontier isn't an airline. It's an investment company that flies. This is, of course, good and bad. To your point about being "safer" in terms of long term job security, I would tend to agree w/ you as there is a great deal of interest in keeping profits highest (losses lowest). This company does a GOOD JOB at making money and that is something that's quite attractive whenever you think about where you work. However, there is what I would consider somewhat low interest in customer or employee satisfaction. Frontier had the greatest percentage of laid off/furloughed/whatever you call it pilots during COVID. The pilots as well as the backshops (scheduling, ground crew, gate agents, etc.) are one of if not THE lowest paid in the industry and the turnover tends to lead to less efficient operation in the long run. The hotels are decent but not what you might find at "mainline" carriers. And, most importantly, given the "low cost" nature of the business, we tend to fly odd hours (redeye) flights to what I would consider odd city pairings. My main issue isn't the redeye flights themselves; its the instances of circadian rhythm swapping within pairings that include both early/daytime flying WITH a (or more) redeye leg(s). There seems to be more than a few of these for my base and particular seniority level (lineholder). As with flying cargo, backside of the clock flying does take its toll. And when you combine this with the customers we (mostly the FAs but sometimes pilots) have to deal with, it can get to you after a while. It helps to be able to compartmentalize. Of course, this happens at every airline but I have heard this airline (and Spirit) described as the "Wal-Mart of the skies" very often. I don't hear that about other airlines and in fact, tend to think we are more like Family Dollar. The airline doesn't present the greatest value as much as it's just cheap. Our on time performance, baggage handling, etc. are low. There are generally not enough gate agents or ground crews to go around and once one (or more) flights are delayed, it creates ripples within the system. And, this tend to happen a lot as the schedules tend to have inadequate/minimum ground time between flights, don't account for weather as much as needed, international repo times for aircraft, etc. Again, the airline is doing its best to maximize tickets sales (and make up for losses during COVID) - and I can appreciate that.

I'm not complaining about being here. In fact, I'm not leaving. I like the people I work with and I enjoy the fact that the planes are relatively new. For the most part, everyone I've flown with wants to be on time, do a good job and cares about their performance. But mostly, I'm too old and lazy to get out and seek another airline and the process associated with that.

For you and other job seekers, there are TWO main reasons to come to this place - the upgrade time is low and if no one else calls. If picking between us and Spirit, I'd say pick the one with the easiest/quickest commute (if you can live in base, that's a no-brainer). I do feel as if we may be a bit safer (in terms of job security, longevity, etc.) than Spirit but that's solely based on recent news clippings - I haven't read threads or talked to anyone from there to find out the real story. If you are a perfectionist or OCD, this place is not for you.

Best of luck to you.

What are the current upgrade times? My primary interest is Chicago O'Hare.

I am an early morning riser. My prime cognitive and physical is in the 5:00 a.m. to noon range. If the majority of the schedules fall in these footprints or there are ample such pairings to bid for I think frontier would be a fine choice. I definitely don't have preference for red eye or midnight arrivals.

move along.....these aren’t the droids you’re looking for......

Early departures w/late arrivals and redeyes. Lots of redeyes.

wow, he just wrote a novel of info and not even a thank you for his time? Move along brah

Give him a break, it's after noon...

That's what I thought as well. One of our guys gives a detailed in depth response, and all this guy cares about is upgrades and only working mornings.

​Bring those questions up in an interview, see how palatable it is to the guys on the other side of the table.