WARich

True that.

A320ULCC

Actually, Spirit thrives in a down economy with high fuel prices. Management was a bit disappointed with lower fuel prices.
I can never non rev with my family on our flights because we run at capacity.
We are the most profitable airline in North America.
We offer an alternative to the other overpriced carriers.
Now we have B6 copying our business model and SWA following us to all our South American, Caribbean and South America destinations. Non of them can compete with our prices in those places and in fact are operating on thin margins for those destinations.
What is the business model of the Legacy airlines when the economy tanks? Seems to me they like to declare bankruptcy, furlough and take your retirements away.
This industry is a huge crap shoot. Apply to the companies you would like to work for and go to the first one that calls.

JustAMushroom

No. I have not. But I have a few friends at each and I wouldn't feel right asking them to go to bat for me if I knew I wouldn't go if offered the job. Call it due diligence.

Southerner

IMHO you should try for both and go for whichever you get first. Both are good places to work. I'm very happy at JetBlue, but I'd be happy at Spirit too.

XForces

This

And This.

Get your stuff together, apply at both. When you have two job offers the question regarding the choice between the two will become relevant.

I am not trying to be a smart ass or Debbie Downer, but it is just like watching a thread where someone is asking "Now should I win the MegaMoney, or the Powerball? I can't decide."

Many guys on here would like to be with either, and can get on with neither. If you are honestly not going to even attempt employment with one of the two because you think one is a lock, you're already at a disadvantage.

Just my .02

Good luck with whichever route you go.

Al Czervik

APC says you have 60 aircraft and 1066 pilots. Lets say you have 100 planes and 2000 pilots. The cost advantage you exist on is small scale. When the company builds a decent infrastructure that cost advantage will disappear. Legacy FO money is the same or better than your CA payscales. I agree the industry is a crap shoot. I think you may be over estimating your hand though.

full of luv

I love it when pilots chastise the high pay, work rules and retirement of the legacies. Your right that's the problem with the industry. You don't have to go bk if your pay / retirement is already substandard.

A320ULCC

Did I strike a nerve? I was just merely responding to Warich and his post that basically called us bottom feeders. Well we are. I would rather have 20-30% profit margin and the solid foundation to negotiate a fair contract from than be at lets say United. In a decent "airline" economy, United isn't all that profitable. The first hiccup and the next quarter is in the red.
So, yes Luv, we do have substandard pay and retirement, but this place is great to work for and the future is very bright. I can gaurentee we will not have a concessionary contract.
Just for the record, I was not chastising the pay and work rules of legacies, I love that you guys hold yourselves in such high regard because it makes it easier for us bottom feeders to get better contracts by pointing at you. Btw, didn't SWA go through this same thing years ago on its way to becoming the largest domestic airline?

sulkair

Why would building a larger infrastructure cause the cost advantage to disappear? Growth and investment beget greater revenues - that's kinda the whole point. Making the ULCC big or small doesn't change the paradigm.

My question is at what point does low oil change the whole dynamic? Talk of putting 50 seaters back out there is already getting bantered around.

Plane Ramrod

You sound more like a glass is half blew kind of guy. I'd concentrate efforts there.