My husband is considering applying to Frontier airlines. I was wondering if anyone could answer a few questions for me. How is the airline doing? Do they treat their employees well? How is Southwest going to effect them in Denver? What is the union like? Thanks in advance for your help!! Any comments would be appreciated!!

 

Nice to see another wife supporting her husband and staying on top of the industry.

This is what I found out not too long ago...hope this helps

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Frontier is running about 1 class per month (avg size: 10 pilots). Next class date is October 10th. Hiring approx. 80 total between September and April 2006.

Currently new-hires are being drawn from the hiring pool, but soon will be interviewing from apps on www.airlineapps.com.

(Airbus training at Frontier is done in Denver at CAE.)

Minimums:
2500 TT fixed-wing
1500 ME
500 PIC
500 Turbine; Jet preferred
1st class medical

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Local?

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I have heard that Frontier is more partial to local Denver guys. Any truth to that?

Thanks (this was my question)

PilotsWife

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Frontier is like any other company, they like people who are well connected. Two years ago they hired a guy who was working as a CFI and had a little turbine SIC time. With only had 1600 hours total time he was well below the untold thousands of experienced applicants. He was well connected. At the time, the companies stated minimums were 6000 to apply. Most likely local people are the friends, sons and daughters of management. Your husband could be a Space Shuttle Captain but the bottom line is that to get hired anywhere one needs to be well connected.

Skyhigh


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True Story

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When Frontier started, or more accurately, before it started, I was on a layover in DEN with a former Eastern Airlines captain. He was good friends with the new Chief Pilot of Frontier ( also former Eastern ). In the bar the chief pilot very specifically said that he had a list he was going to hire from. When they started all of the former Eastern pilots at my company went to Frontier. Later some of the guys at that same company also went to Frontier using their friendships with these former Eastern guys.

I'm sure it is a little different now, but that does illustrate how hiring is done at airlines, especially small ones and start-ups.


Typhoonpilot

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That is all the information I was given when I asked about it.

A captain there told us to walk in a resume if possible.

Good luck!

 

As the wife of a Frontier pilot hopefully I can give some feedback to your questions.
It's really tough to determine truly how any airline is doing. F9 did post a profit last quarter, but due to fuel costs remaining at historic levels and the devastation of the recent hurricanes they are not expecting a profit next quarter. Does that mean they are unstable? No, it's pretty typical to have ups and downs. They are expanding rather than downsizing so that would be a key indicator for me.

I can honestly say that yes, I believe they treat their employees with respect and care. They are a company who really believes in communication. There are memos and newsletters issued all the time, and they seem to listen to their employees.

To quote Jeff Potter (CEO) You're going to hear a million opinions on this, but keep in mind they are only opinions and if they are coming from someone who works for a competitor they will always defend their own airline. They have to, they must believe their airline.

Truly only time will tell what's going to happen in Denver.

From what I see and hear this union believes in both the pilots and the company. In other words, they work very hard to communicate on both sides and take any and all feedback. It's really refreshing for me to see after experiencing a nationalized union. They work with the company and negotiations are just that, negotiations. It doesn't appear to be hostile in any way, shape or form.

Be careful what you read on that "other" board. Albeit there is some good information to be found there, most of the posters like to throw daggers without knowing all of the facts. Having said that, it is true that F9 likes locals and in the past gave preference to Denverites (is that a word?). But it has changed significantly. I don't remember the exact figure but somewhere in the neighborhood of 1/3 of the pilots commute. Honestly, I think any airline is partial to the local pilots as they are more readily available for short call-outs and emergencies. But it is not reality that you can staff your entire airline with locals and I think Frontier has realized that.

They are hiring mostly from internal recommendations right now (just like most all of the other airlines) but as they continue to hire over time I'm sure that will change. Internal recommendations have always been extremely important in this industry and I'm certain that will continue.

I hope all of this blather makes some sense and helps with some of your questions. All-in-all I have found Frontier to be a great group of people who look out for each other and the future of their company. They seem happy. I know my Hubby is and that's what matters to me.

Good luck to your Husband!

 

Frontier just started to make money again this past quarter. Now that Southwest is coming I wouldn't be too interested in Frontier if I were you. They survived UAL's bankruptcy but I am not too encouraged about them weathering SWA. Start requesting and reading the stock prospectus of each airline that you are interested in.

In addition; after years of studying and working for the airlines my wife hates the idea of us even buying airline tickets for a vacation. It would be a fight if I ever wanted to work for one again. It is a bad life for families.

SlyHigh

 

Interesting opinion - would you mind expanding on it? Do you honestly think SWA will be the end of F9...or Ted? I've seen a lot of people throw opinions out there without really saying why - do you really think the big, bad SWA will damage F9 that much? It just seems a little alarmist to me.

 

Jetalc,

Like everyone Frontier has weathered the past 4 years and is a little weak right now. They just started making money again after a long period of losses. They were placing thier hopes that UAL would go away but instead were unfairly assailed by UAL while they were in bankrupcy protection. SWA took a look at their fair structure and routes and claims to be able to do the same at half the price. Inorder to compete Frontier will have to halve its ticket prices and I don't think they could survive that for an exteended period. I have a few friends there and I am very interested to see how the future plays out with them.


SkyHigh

 

Well, so far, F9 has ALREADY matched SWA's fares, and I don't believe anyone at F9 ever placed the future of the airline in the hope that UAL would go away. I'm there, and have never heard anyone say "Wow - if UAL would just go away, we might actually survive." UAL offers a different product - even than the ridiculous "Ted." I believe just the opposite - if UAL did go away, it might open the door for SWA to come in full-bore. Unlike SWA, F9's business plan doesn't hinge on perpetual growth - we could stop growing tomorrow, and the business plan remains intact. We have already learned how to compete with UAL, and SWA is just another roadblock in the process. I believe it is an over-reaction to say that F9 will be THAT affected by SWA's presence. The real meat and potatoes of F9's income is the Mexico stuff, as well as the routes into airports where SWA appears to have no interest in flying. We'll see - it should be interesting, but to say that F9 is weak is, I believe, an uninformed conclusion. Just my $.02 worth.

Take care.

 

Jetalc,

For your sake and for my friends as well I hope you are right.

ShyHigh

 

Thank you - me too!

 

I'm sure everyone in the airline industry would be very happy to have to implement that action!

I still believe it will be an interesting to see if the dynamics evolve such that SWA's Denver traffic actually feeds F9's international/Alaska service. If F9 operated Boeings instead of 'buses it might be the beginning of something beautiful!

The bottom line, I think, is that SWA is coming to DEN for the opportunity that characteristically meets most of its requirements, not to put anyone out of business. Yes, the fares will fall and that usually generates additional traffic for everyone. Instead of having to split the pie with SWA, the situation usually results in the creation of another pie and everyone gets to have seconds!

Frontier will do fine as long as they take care of their own business and don't spend their entire time trying to outguess the competition.

(Personally I don't fly Frontier because I dislike being stuck with an assigned seat and inflight entertainment systems -- give me open seating and a video iPod! )