Thedude86

Ive thought about that, but imo, the flying will always be there. Even if the regionals disappear the mainline carrier will still need those pilots. You will just be on a mainline seniority list instead. So not the end of the world. If that flying actually does disappear then something apocalyptic happened and I know I won’t have a job if I’m on the bottom of new seniority list at AA.

So whether you delay 2 years or 5 years… ok, I lost some seniority numbers. But I also gained 2 million. Plus the investing potential to have that now compared to 30 years at the end of my career... That 2 million could easily end up being 5-10 million in 10 years invested properly. Who cares if I miss out on being a WB Captain. An extra 5 years of wide body captain pay at the end of my career won’t make up for that. I’d rather have an extra 2 million in my thirties than when I’m 65.

I honestly believe we might be in a weird 2 year window where it makes financial sense for a few to stay at a select few regionals. Especially for LCAs. Mostly if you have good investing sense. If you’re someone that spends everything you earn then I’d say Legacies are the way to go.

Aero1900

The one thing that seems to be severely lacking at the regionals is retirement contributions.

All the big airlines are doing at least a 15% DC fund. The regionals are matching a few %. That's a big thing to give up.

Thedude86

In June I did fly my butt off because they were handing out premium like candy and I knew I was flowing to AA soon so I wanted to capitalize. My 17-19 days off comment was more in reference to my conservative estimate of earning 1.5 to 2 million more over 5 years. June was an anomaly and I wouldn’t expect that to continue so I didn’t use those numbers with my math. If you were an LCA and there was absolutely zero premium and zero holiday pay… you would still make around 400k. If you then add the premium my buddies are saying still exist… 600-700k easy no problem.

Premium at PSA is strictly first come first serve. Seniority does not help one bit with picking up premium. From the middle of May to my last trip in august… all of my flying was premium. At PSA we call it critical coverage pay. It’s 150% on top of your normal 100% you’d be getting even if it wasn’t premium. So basically for my last 3 months at PSA… every trip was paying 250%. July had some holiday pay also which is 200% essentially making your trip 300%. If I was an LCA I would have made another 19k in addition to my 47k in June. PSA has a holiday pay LOA for November and December every year and those would easily be $30-40k months even without premium and without LCA pay while having 17-19 days off. LCAs should be making $50-60k each of those months if they understand the contract language.

I understand premium won’t always be around, but until the regionals close up shop I don’t see premium going away 100% over the next 5 years.

Thedude86

I agree. I touched on that in a previous comment. If you invest that extra 2 million wisely in the next 5 years… you’ll never make up that investment even with a 15 or 16% DC at a legacy unless you start out at $500k year one.

John Carr

Your soul, you're giving up your soul......

Upntheair27

Ever walked around DFW or CLT and seen the AA pilots? They don't look like they have a soul anymore either. Pretty sure this industry just sucks it out of you regardless.

TwoDaysBehind

The regional schedulers are psychotic. "what do you mean you don't wanna take a junior at 5am after the mandatory extension tonight, you've been notified. Got a problem you can wake up the chief pilot yourself".

Legacy schedulers are pragmatic. Delayed commute? Oh looks a little stressful for your rest period, let's give you a later assignment.

There's tremendous value in being part of a large organization that can afford flexibility.

Minepza

Unless they're 55+, anyone that chooses to be at a regional even with the new pay, needs to have their head checked. To be fair, there's still tons that are part of the lost decade but you need to get out.

rickair7777

Whether or not you think AA is in jeopardy of BK, it's fairly obvious that all the other majors are in even less jeopardy of BK.

So if AA filed and nobody else did, the court would award them an "industry average" contract, so not burned to the ground.

rickair7777

Not forever but longer than many people think.

Retirements and growth will drag on for a while, possibly until the next "black swan" event.