If your commuters' bag & uniform storage room is like ours was, there will be a good selection of old dust-covered hats on top of the coat racks. Just pick one. The owner, if still living, no longer wants or needs it.

 

What's it like having one of those???

 

LOL - yeah, my last airline had one of those. Not so much at F9. We barely have a crew room...

But good suggestion nonetheless.

 

What?? Will they have to special make one for you? Have you got a super big head or a pin head?

Phone call on Monday. Hat on Thursday (unless you get mail by pony express).

 

I feel very disappointed with F9, i actually started working here with a good attitude and high hopes, unfortunately i have acquired lots of debt just by coming to this place. I still have 2 more months to go on first year pay and honestly it has brought me great trouble in my life. Morals in the flight deck are low, and its the first time in my short career that i am not enjoying what i am doing. I am posting this for all the guys and girls who read this forum, it has been said before but really THINK ABOUT THIS DECISION! unfortunately i have car payments, student loans, rent, crash pad, bills and a baby on the way and it is literally impossible to do it on 2200 dollars a month. I will have to take advantage of my a320 type rating and seek opportunitues overseas where im sure things wont be great, but at least my family and i wont have to live on a 100 dollar a month food budget. Feeling dissapointed at F9 management, guys we are all professionals and come to work to fly safe, just as our other fellow airbus pilots do at other carriers. oh well, let everyone start hating on my post.

take care guys.

 

I think this is a very honest and reasonable post. Thanks for sharing.

The year 1 compensation needs to be addressed. I too ended up having to use credit cards to make the ends meet and it's going to take some real discipline to get those paid off before interest starts accruing. I'm sure we have hired a bunch of great guys, but I guarantee we are missing out on many really good, highly qualified pilots with families not because they aren't willing to "sacrifice" a little for their first year, but because they literally are unable to keep the lights on for 1 year at the current rates. These first year rates are ancient and they are and always were garbage.

Not to mention that they don't even pay for a hotel room during initial training. I mean overall I like it here and enjoy the day to day work, but come on.

 

I doubt people will start hating. We'll see.
This is a rare expression of honest disappointment that completely lacks animosity. It's very refreshing. Good job!
If you don't get hired elsewhere, I promise that it gets better. It's just unfortunate that, at least for me, the first six months of second year pay I was just as broke as first year, while I paid off the credit card. Mean while, our CEO and friends are taking hundreds of millions to the bank.
Personally, I have never regretted coming here. I've always been able to have a distant perspective. Leaving the regionals was a healthy thing for my family despite the difficulties of the first year. But most of us understand that every situation is different.
Good luck in your future endeavors pal!

 

AirBUZ,

I'm curious, during your interview were you asked "how you feel about" or "are you aware of" the first year pay? I'm not trying to be antagonistic, it's just that I was asked no fewer than 3 times throughout the process if I felt I could handle it. I wonder/hope they're making a concerted effort to make sure people are making the decision to go to F9 with eyes wide open.

As for your situation, best of luck. I hope a new contract keeps you in the states closer to your family and gets you in the black quickly.

 

I wasn't. Only questions about leaving for other airlines.

Like most recent hires, we are shown slides on how a CA can make $30k in a month by working the system. Or that 1st year guys can make over $55k. Right.

We aren't told that on reserve you'll be locked out of open time, get no per diem, never break guarantee, and have to claim 6 dependants just to clear $1000/check.

And I'm afraid the training hotel issue isn't even on the union's radar. Sad.

 

I feel for you man! I truly do, but statements like this really annoy me. Have you ever asked? And this goes for everyone on here!

[email protected]

It takes 2 minutes to send an email, and they respond quickly!

Hate on management, not our fellow pilots who sacrifice their home lives and free time for all of us! And for the record, I'm just a line guy with no union role.

Also read your union emails!!! Not necessarily the ALPA ones, but the F9 Union ones. People constantly ask stuff on here that they would already know, if they just read these.