Aero and Sulkair,

You two have an awesome and POSITIVE attitude for your airline. Keep it up!! However, please do not set yourself up for an unexpected "gut-punch". Although I am not privy to the happenings at Frontier, I know that ideal, positive and happy employees are the first one to get discouraged and slapped in the face when managers like Franke, Segal or INDIGO start doing their not so friendly work.

Keep up your positive attitudes and do not gloat about making 180K/yr as a 320 Captain when the industry is already surpassed that rate, even for FOs. When you gloat, your managers know you are content thus no need to increase and better your work rules and $$. Be positive and enjoy, but dont settle for stale wags. You are worth more than what you are getting. Your number one opponent, besides your managers, are the senior Frontier Captains that are content with $180k/yr, Denver and their lifestyles. THey do not want change or disruption. You have to remember, most of those top senior guys got hired when Frontier was paying them $50k/yr.

Aero, I respect your views. 180k a year is a TON of $$ compared to whatever a 1900 captain makes. But I am here to tell you that you, especially being so positive and diplomatic, are worth at least 20% more.

Good luck guys,

TEN

 

Although Ichigo has some valid points, it seems like he has been burnt by Frontier, thus the poison he spews.

TEN

 

Just to be clear my positivity is less about Frontier, and more an ongoing effort to think differently about life in general. I was always, and probably still am a glass half empty guy, but I've finally reached the point in life where I realized it just wasn't making things better. So I'm trying something different

No impending gut punch for me. I expect the worse from these businessmen. I hinge nothing of my future, or my current comfort, on their good will. It's up to us, and us alone, to look out for ourselves. Period.

You'll never hear me gloat about the pittance we make at any longevity or seat! I'm an airline pilot for crying out loud and I've never broken 60K in nearly 12 years! I'm ready to make some damn money! 180K for a top 320 captain is unacceptable But as pointed out earlier, Frontier CA's don't really make that.

American 320: 212 /hr to 256 /hr
Frontier 320: 125 /hr to 167 /hr

Something is utterly wrong with this picture!


I'll also just add the quick upgrade phenomena is a terrible tool in the hands of management. The pay disparity between seats allows a growing airline to offer low pay because pilots calculate their earnings based on a quick upgrade and flock to the place. Hence no pressure on execs to offer competitive wages.

Now in keeping with my split personality here we go...

I really like it here. I just had a PC and the check-airman was incredible. So was my partner, never met either gentleman before. They come in late at night - both made me feel like a million bucks. Class acts 100%. Professional, warm, friendly. It was a truly pleasant experience in as much as a jeopardy event can be. And I learned a ton! I thought to myself... This airline has problems, big ones, but man the pilots here continue to surprise me. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it just never does!

...

 

Actually...
Frontier A318/319/320/321 CA: 109 /hr to 154 /hr

And that's after the snapback increase in April.

happy thoughts... happy thoughts..

 

Funny how prophetic my original post was...btw I hear that 2 weeks notice could get your badge confiscated in a flash....stranded to find your way home....all hail the mighty training contract!!

 

Yah, I've heard the Chief Pilot or one of the Assistant Chiefs is likely to meet a resigning pilot in the jetway to make a 2 week notice effective immediately. I'm not really sure why this is necessary or even desirable.

I get it that the Company (and by extension the CPO) might be a little b*tt hurt when someone leaves shortly after he's finished with IOE, but I fail to see where this kind of heavy-handedness is appropriate.

The next thing we'll hear is the Company complaining and making threats when people fail to give the standard 2 weeks notice.

This nonsense really gets old.

So let's hear it Mr. Chief Pilot. I know you monitor this board for anything having to do with Frontier. Give us your side of the story. Why does this happen? Or you could just have Aero1900 post your side of the story. He's angling for your job anyway. Might as well continue to use him as a resource.

 

This whole thread seems to be silly...

Why does a pilot take a job at Mesa? Or Republic? Or any regional for that matter? To build time and hopefully get picked up by someone who pays more, has a better QOL, etc.

Why does a pilot take a job at Frontier? It could be for the same reason OR it could be to get in on the ground floor of something that could blossom into something great. People are saying the same thing about Frontier (and Spirit for that matter) now that they said about SW in the 70s and 80s.

The fate of Frontier is dependent on 1 thing - if the airline can remain profitable. Of course, a big cog in that system is labor. Will there ever be a time where F9 treats its labor force SO BAD that people stop applying or accepting CJOs? I'm sure that has already happened for some but there are still a ton of applicants left.

So, telling someone to stay away makes little sense when F9 is still the best option for them (regardless of how screwed up it may be). Pilots electing to not come to F9 doesn't really help anyone currenty at F9. History tends to show that airlines who can't attract pilots means stagnation, etc and won't lead to a better contract or bonus. What's more likely is the company asking the existing labor to take more concessions.

I just got hired and am glad I'm part of it all. I didn't have offers from anyone else so this is the best option for me at this time. I'm hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. The one thing I do know is that in order to make my QOL and pay better, I need more labor to work here junior to me.

 

Is this rumor or fact?? I was inducted into the "Let's make it effective immediately" club when I gave my notice--but, due to circumstances/timing, the whole discussion was over email & phone. I never even considered the "get stranded" aspect that a commuter could face (and I am one myself!).

As I've said before, I certainly hope the word is out on how the CP is handling resignations--and anyone giving "notice" in the future should plan accordingly....

SMH....

 

Heard from a good friend of mine that works there that a new hire (i.e. someone who has been on property less than a 1 year) recently got a class date with Delta and gave the company a 7-weeks notice. Sounds like the CP responded with something like ‘don’t even bother to show up for your next trip.’
Any truth to this?

 

Seems like a great question for you folks to ask at the next job fair.