Majors with Best Commuter Policies
#41
It's first-come, first-served within different priority levels. Southwest pilots come first. We will, however, happily take the extra cabin jumpseat to get you on if that's what it takes.
For example, 3 OAL pilots list for the jumpseat and a SWA pilot shows up after, here's how this plays out:
In this case, a SWA pilot gets the cockpit jumpseat over OAL regardless of when he/she checked in as SWA pilots have priority for our jumpseat. Given that we have access to cabin jumpseat as well, I'd say 99.99% of us will happily take the cabin jumpseat to get OAL guys on. The priority between the 3 OAL guys is determined by their check-in time.
Bear in mind that at Southwest, all employees have access to the 4th FA jumpseat so that can be a little tricky on packed flights.
For example, 3 OAL pilots list for the jumpseat and a SWA pilot shows up after, here's how this plays out:
In this case, a SWA pilot gets the cockpit jumpseat over OAL regardless of when he/she checked in as SWA pilots have priority for our jumpseat. Given that we have access to cabin jumpseat as well, I'd say 99.99% of us will happily take the cabin jumpseat to get OAL guys on. The priority between the 3 OAL guys is determined by their check-in time.
Bear in mind that at Southwest, all employees have access to the 4th FA jumpseat so that can be a little tricky on packed flights.
He mumbled some crap then stood there until he was certain I wasn't moving and issued the passes as requested.
Some people...
#42
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2017
Posts: 218
Alaska you need two flights. They probably aren't going to help you out in any shape or form. As they recently emailed saying "you choose to commute, Alaska isn't a commuting airline". Hopefully our negotiators are reading this thread.
#43
The best commuter policies are the ones that don’t require commuting. The DH is company provided and part of your duty day.
Kalitta, Omni & ATI. Other ACMI do home basing as well, but those three are closest to mainline pay and decent work rules. Never a crashpad, always get a hotel. Keep all airline miles and most hotel points.
That said, the single long trip each month isn’t for everybody. There are schedules with it broken up, but it’s still more than 4 days in most cases. I have a 4 day this month, then the other 12 all at once for example. In all 16 days I’ll do 6 flights. The rest is long/short call in cities most folks run to for vacations. If you can deal with longer trips, you also get your time off in much larger chunks too... which makes taking multiple family vacations each year a breeze.
It’s not for everybody, but for those who won’t/can’t move and hate commuting it can be a great deal.
Just some extra info to process.
One thing is for sure, it’s a great time to be a pilot. Oh, and no commuting excuse required, you have a real seat, and if the flight cancels they just rebook you. Zero stress ever.
Kalitta, Omni & ATI. Other ACMI do home basing as well, but those three are closest to mainline pay and decent work rules. Never a crashpad, always get a hotel. Keep all airline miles and most hotel points.
That said, the single long trip each month isn’t for everybody. There are schedules with it broken up, but it’s still more than 4 days in most cases. I have a 4 day this month, then the other 12 all at once for example. In all 16 days I’ll do 6 flights. The rest is long/short call in cities most folks run to for vacations. If you can deal with longer trips, you also get your time off in much larger chunks too... which makes taking multiple family vacations each year a breeze.
It’s not for everybody, but for those who won’t/can’t move and hate commuting it can be a great deal.
Just some extra info to process.
One thing is for sure, it’s a great time to be a pilot. Oh, and no commuting excuse required, you have a real seat, and if the flight cancels they just rebook you. Zero stress ever.
#45
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2014
Position: fifi whisperer
Posts: 1,255
The best commuter policies are the ones that don’t require commuting. The DH is company provided and part of your duty day.
Kalitta, Omni & ATI. Other ACMI do home basing as well, but those three are closest to mainline pay and decent work rules. Never a crashpad, always get a hotel. Keep all airline miles and most hotel points.
That said, the single long trip each month isn’t for everybody. There are schedules with it broken up, but it’s still more than 4 days in most cases. I have a 4 day this month, then the other 12 all at once for example. In all 16 days I’ll do 6 flights. The rest is long/short call in cities most folks run to for vacations. If you can deal with longer trips, you also get your time off in much larger chunks too... which makes taking multiple family vacations each year a breeze.
It’s not for everybody, but for those who won’t/can’t move and hate commuting it can be a great deal.
Just some extra info to process.
One thing is for sure, it’s a great time to be a pilot. Oh, and no commuting excuse required, you have a real seat, and if the flight cancels they just rebook you. Zero stress ever.
Kalitta, Omni & ATI. Other ACMI do home basing as well, but those three are closest to mainline pay and decent work rules. Never a crashpad, always get a hotel. Keep all airline miles and most hotel points.
That said, the single long trip each month isn’t for everybody. There are schedules with it broken up, but it’s still more than 4 days in most cases. I have a 4 day this month, then the other 12 all at once for example. In all 16 days I’ll do 6 flights. The rest is long/short call in cities most folks run to for vacations. If you can deal with longer trips, you also get your time off in much larger chunks too... which makes taking multiple family vacations each year a breeze.
It’s not for everybody, but for those who won’t/can’t move and hate commuting it can be a great deal.
Just some extra info to process.
One thing is for sure, it’s a great time to be a pilot. Oh, and no commuting excuse required, you have a real seat, and if the flight cancels they just rebook you. Zero stress ever.
I mean, the pay is better than Endeavor (with a artificially low guarantee), but no where near a major-- or what that job should pay.
Shoot for better. You are worth it.
#46
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2016
Posts: 66
I’m a 4th year kalitta guy. I grossed $300,000 for last year. New hires are grossing over $100,000. So what are you getting at?
Someone offered a point of view regarding our commuter policies. I agree with them that we have the best commuter policy. A few days before I go to work I look on Expedia and pick a flight I want to take to work, and I'll normally request the hotel I want. I have enough points and miles that I normally get upgraded to first or business class. If either of them are full I get economy plus. I normally avoid 2-3 airlines for personal preference so that helps me put the bulk of miles on a few airlines. So I if I miss my flight do to mx, wx, act of God, I call travel and they either put me on another flight or get me a hotel. That in a nutshell is how our commute goes.
#47
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2014
Position: fifi whisperer
Posts: 1,255
I don’t really post much but I saw this.
I’m a 4th year kalitta guy. I grossed $300,000 for last year. New hires are grossing over $100,000. So what are you getting at?
Someone offered a point of view regarding our commuter policies. I agree with them that we have the best commuter policy. A few days before I go to work I look on Expedia and pick a flight I want to take to work, and I'll normally request the hotel I want. I have enough points and miles that I normally get upgraded to first or business class. If either of them are full I get economy plus. I normally avoid 2-3 airlines for personal preference so that helps me put the bulk of miles on a few airlines. So I if I miss my flight do to mx, wx, act of God, I call travel and they either put me on another flight or get me a hotel. That in a nutshell is how our commute goes.
I’m a 4th year kalitta guy. I grossed $300,000 for last year. New hires are grossing over $100,000. So what are you getting at?
Someone offered a point of view regarding our commuter policies. I agree with them that we have the best commuter policy. A few days before I go to work I look on Expedia and pick a flight I want to take to work, and I'll normally request the hotel I want. I have enough points and miles that I normally get upgraded to first or business class. If either of them are full I get economy plus. I normally avoid 2-3 airlines for personal preference so that helps me put the bulk of miles on a few airlines. So I if I miss my flight do to mx, wx, act of God, I call travel and they either put me on another flight or get me a hotel. That in a nutshell is how our commute goes.
I had no idea Kalitta guys made that much these days. Apparently this isn't the same Kalitta from years ago.
#48
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2016
Posts: 831
Kalitta pay used to be pretty bad. They signed a contract a couple years ago and Omni followed suit. Pay ranges from $110 on 1st year to $296 topped out. Jetblue took a 6% raise on E190 rates.......
#49
As I said, Kalitta, Omni & to a lesser degree ATI are certainly comparable. Add in the never commuting and never needing a Crashpad, never commuting on days off for early/late shows/finishes, getting status on most airlines, hotel points up the yazoo and it’s really a pretty good gig.
Last edited by Cujo665; 07-26-2019 at 10:53 AM.
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