flyingpants

Si señor

fillsss

spooldup

yes that is right, you should get it within the 2 bids that you put in during training.

planejoe

Yes but expect MCO to shrink once they open the next round of bases / displacement bids.

dracir1

Ok...

Life as a 1st year FO at F9 living in base is GREAT. It is probably better than MOST OTHER airlines. Why? Because of the relative seniority rise you will experience - you can become a senior FO in 2-3 years. With all the aircraft orders and the latest multibase strategy going on, getting here and getting a good QoL is top 10% of all domestic airlines. Also, the 1st year FO pay is close to most others.

But, then there's the REAL question that no one seems to be asking - what is this place like when upgrade is viable?

And the answer to that is that this place is probably industry bottom. CAs here are paid anywhere from $90-125 / hr LESS than most other airlines. Yes, that much per HOUR. And, FOs at other airlines, who are paid more than you, are then starting to become senior enought to have a similar QoL as well. Since, junior CAs don't have near the QoL that senior FOs do (anywhere), the pay becomes the major factor.

So, the exact same reason for that metoric relative seniority rise as an FO is created by the fact that upgrading is so bad that it's better to LEAVE (and start over all over again) then it is to upgrade. Which leaves the airline in a viscious cycle of stagnation - the more its sucks, the more people leave which creates more suck . . .

BL - this place is pretty good for 2-3 years. And, that's exactly what leadership told us they wanted (an FO that would do at least 3 years). I'd advise anyone who can't get an offer anywhere else to do a 3 yr bid. After that, you're on your own.

TOGALOCK

^^this^^

If you want to be a career FO, you can have a pretty good quality of life. You won’t make much money relative to you peers, but life will be good. Especially if you life in base.

Most people plan to upgrade though. That’s when reality will slap you. As pointed out, you will be paid less for doing more, your seniority will stagnate, and you will be dealing head on with all the other headaches that go along with an airline operating on a shoestring budget with limited resources. Yes, you SEE those things as an FO, have a front row seat, and may occasionally need to handle something yourself, but it’s really the captain that’s dealing with the brunt of it all. It becomes tiresome.

spooldup

Not trying to say you are wrong, but we are in negotiations and others have gotten contracts, was our current contract really THAT much worse than the others 1-3 years ago? I know our CAs deal with a lot here, but I feel like a majority of the emphasis was on the pay, which wasn't too far behind compared to others previously. (Especially given the QOL we have)

TOGALOCK

Yes. The pay was that bad prior to the last contract. We made the largest percentage gains in ALPA history and STILL didn’t make it to the previous legacy rates (prior to the current new round of contracts).

So I’m going to toss your words back to you. I’m not saying you’re wrong, but…

You are still very junior at F9, haven’t been through what many of the senior people have who are throwing words of caution. You’re currently living in your own world of nirvana. You see that the rest of the house is burning around you, but since you’re personal room (ATL FO) isn’t on fire, how bad can it really be?

It’s great that you’re happy. I was too for a long time. Seeing your posts is like looking at my own years ago. Unfortunately, the current F9 isn’t the F9 that I started at nearly 7 years ago. I witnessed cost being cut, operations decline, things become “too expensive” which leads to more cutting instead of fixing the source of the problem (don’t worry. They’re just trying to see how far they can squeeze the operation. They’ll eventually back off a bit.. right? Wrong. The squeezing just continues, but it feels good to say it, right?), my base got closed, constant displacements. It’s all fine until it happens to you.

You would be well served to listen to those that have gone before you. You seem to still be on a new hire high. I’m not saying that you should run for the exit, but listen to those that have gone the same road that you are. Just like parents, we know what you don’t because we’ve already been there and done that.

Im not saying that F9 is a bad place to be stuck. It’s way better than any regional. But you need to stop insulting those that have walked before you. Mouth open less. Ears open more.

hercretired

The most recent raise reflected a 53% pay raise. What was FO Year-1 back then? $40 a hour or something crazy ?

The current contract (the one now) also took 3 years to finalize.

Aero1900

When I was hired 1st year pay was $37. I think second year was $60ish. 12th year FO was $100, and 12th year CA was $166.

LOA 67 (bankruptcy concessions) took 12th year CA to only $144/ hour


Times have changed

spooldup

I have been listening a lot, and to MANY displaced CHI guys, which I understand. I have definitely been torn on what to even consider doing with my career. I know things change in this industry and they can change quick.

and just fyi, I dont really think I still consider myself in that "newhire high" phase, I have weighed a lot of options and talked to my wife, we figured with our current situation, it is best to sit tight and ride out the good QOL and stuff while we can with our baby/s.

(I hope I make the right decision, but I will never know until I retire)