Lobaeux

Admittedly I haven't been at Spirit long, but I've yet to experience this.

Every flight, the pax have been very nice, thanking the FAs and pilots as they get off the plane, I've heard nary a complaint. Most complaints filed have been due to being late or lost baggage, something pilots have very little control over.

Complaints about Spirit on social media come in two categories:
1. People who expect gold standard treatment, but only want to pay rock-bottom prices for it, or
2. People who haven't actually flown Spirit, but had a sister, brother, uncle, friend, friend of a friend, etc., who have and can't believe you have to pay all those fees (which, btw, you pay for on other airlines, they're just bundled into the price, or if you actually read any of the small print, or change your behavior slightly, you won't have to pay).

Don't equate flying as a ticket paying customer to flying on Spirit aircraft as a flight crew member. I'm not an expert, but as I understand it, Spirit has a fantastic contract, great work rules, is making gobs of money and the planes have been built in this century.

Best of luck to those at F9 and those getting ready to interview.

JoeyMeatballs

I worked in the CAL system for almost 7 years. Generally speaking the gate agents and FAs here at Spirit are 10x more pleasant to both crew members and passengers. It is an absolute pleasure coming to work and dealing with people like this, unlike the Continental/United word where they treat everyone (both employees and passengers) like the absolute scum of the earth. Also, the complaints are from people who don't understand the pricing. People are very thankful and usually smiling as they get off the airplane.

Worried about F9 becoming like Spirit?, more like Hopeful.

JetBlast77

Randomly got a call last night but didn't get the message until late. I don't know much about F9 but I would love to know more. I have 6K total time, zero TPIC, no internals, and am about to upgrade at my current regional. I've been pushing hard for Spirit, but would certainly love to see what F9 has to offer. I do think it would be a tougher decision than Spirit tho since they are in the middle of a buyout and not growing nearly as fast. I live on the east coast just a few miles from my current base. What do you guys think about going to F9 with no TPIC?

JoeyMeatballs

Does F9 give full A-320 types?

Noseeums

Aren't all airlines required to now regardless of the seat you're in?

JoeyMeatballs

^ I thought just ATPs?

Noseeums

ATP & full type. But in any event, from what I remember they did full types for both seats anyway.

§ 121.437
Pilot qualification: Certificates required.
(a) No pilot may act as pilot in command of an aircraft (or as second in command of an aircraft in a flag or supplemental operation that requires three or more pilots) unless he holds an airline transport pilot certificate and an appropriate type rating for that aircraft.

JoeyMeatballs

Thanks for the clarification

Lobaeux

I thought it was at least a SIC type, but maybe someone who knows better can pipe in.
Second class medicals though, although for the type ride, maybe a first class is required?

yimke

You have to have the full PIC type by next year I believe. So most of them just give it to you now.