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-   -   Spirit...upgrade time? (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/major/55277-spirit-upgrade-time.html)

A Pilot 12-06-2010 12:45 PM

Many senior RJ captains that are in our mid forties or older find ourselves in this delema. If all the airlines had pay scales as high as UPS, FedEx and Southwest it would be an easy call. When you factor in a commute, and crash pad at the new job it looks even worse.

Sniper 12-06-2010 03:12 PM


Originally Posted by XJT Pilot (Post 912174)
Well im a 14 year captain

In that case, here's your new #'s:
  • Spirit = goes from 11 ->12 years (barely)
  • UPS = stays @ 2 years
  • Delta = goes from 7 -> 9 years (w/o accounting for pay bump)
  • Southwest = stays @ 4 years
  • United = oh man, goes to 17 years!

The 92 hour credits, bidding top 20, great QOL, the Skywest purchase, future prospects of flying 50 seat RJ's and fee for departure as a business model, the chances that all of the carriers used as examples keep their current contract for the next decade (or stay in business @ all) . . . the formula can't account for those.:D

Good luck to all the senior RJ CA's who have to make the same decision.

dojetdriver 12-06-2010 03:37 PM


Originally Posted by Sniper (Post 912256)
the Skywest purchase.

It's nice to know some people REALLY know what went down.

Superpilot92 12-06-2010 04:36 PM


Originally Posted by Delta1067 (Post 911891)
With the upcoming payraises a 2nd year FO at Delta can pull down six figures. No way is it going to take 7 years to break even, maybe a few and it's all gravy after that. What does a 10 year XJT Captain make?

it took me 1 year to make more money than i did at XJT. With that said i was a junior captain but now on 3rd year pay i make more than a 16 year XJT captain. Not to mention more retirement, days off and career progression/expectations etc.

it should be a no brainer for anyone younger than 45 years old imho

obx41 12-06-2010 09:53 PM

With oil on the rise, at what price does Spirit remain profitable? We're likely to see $100 bbl in early 2011 and some analysts say $120 in 2012.

Hopefully $120 bbl is unlikely, based on the Fibonacci retracement, but it is on the rise.

Are they profitable at 100, 110?

XJT Pilot 12-07-2010 12:59 AM


Originally Posted by a pilot (Post 912192)
many senior rj captains that are in our mid forties or older find ourselves in this delema. If all the airlines had pay scales as high as ups, fedex and southwest it would be an easy call. When you factor in a commute, and crash pad at the new job it looks even worse.

bingo!!!!!!

captscott26 12-07-2010 05:17 AM


Originally Posted by obx41 (Post 912407)
With oil on the rise, at what price does Spirit remain profitable? We're likely to see $100 bbl in early 2011 and some analysts say $120 in 2012.

Hopefully $120 bbl is unlikely, based on the Fibonacci retracement, but it is on the rise.

Are they profitable at 100, 110?

From what I understand we are profitable up to the 115-120/bbl range. Above that, well I dont know of any airline that was able to figure that out last time around, so we are all probably f'ed!

Plane Ramrod 12-07-2010 05:42 AM


Originally Posted by captscott26 (Post 912466)
From what I understand we are profitable up to the 115-120/bbl range. Above that, well I dont know of any airline that was able to figure that out last time around, so we are all probably f'ed!


Just curious what you based this on.

unit monster 12-07-2010 05:43 AM

Thanks for crunching those numbers Sniper. You Sir, are a real asset to this community, Cheers!

johnso29 12-07-2010 05:47 AM


Originally Posted by gatorbird (Post 911576)
You're going to make a career decision based on a couple of yahoo's responses on a web forum? Really? Well, you might as well hear one more...

I'm a glass-half-full kinda guy, so I may see things differently here. Based on the a/c the company claims are on order and what years they claim we will get them says the 2015 captains haven't been hired yet. BUT...

Don't ever look to history of upgrades to tell the story of the future of upgrades. I had a buddy that went to AirTran a few years ago solely based on the possibility of a 3.5 year upgrade...oops. So it can go either way. We don't have many people on our seniority list that have DOHs between 2001 and 2007. Our actual upgrade times could go from 8-9 years to 4 years quickly.

Are you the type that is left seat or bust? Then you probably should stay put where you are. How is your pay rate anyway? If it's what I looked up as a senior guy at XJT, then you'll only be $7/hour less within 5 years ($90/hr vs. $97/hr). How's your quality of life? Most would tell you our's beats any regional's- especially for our guys living in base.

I wish you the best of luck, but I'd advise you to do a little more homework before jumping to a conclusion.


NOTE! Don't take any if his to heart. This is just another webboard yahoo. :rolleyes:


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