For anyone who's been using travel benefits for a while, how does the "imputed income" work? I'm trying to fly down my niece on buddy passes and my sister who is a registered companion, and the thing says 3,080 dollars of imputed income, is that added up and taxed at the end of the year as if it were actual income? If so, does anybody have horror stories of having to pay ludicrous amounts of money to the IRS during tax return season and regret their decision to use these passes?

 

No, they do it a pay period or two after the travel has been completed. So, they will add 3,080 to your check, tax it, then deduct the 3,080. So you're left with being taxed as if you earned an additional 3,080.

 

Where are you seeing this? You pay for buddy passes' fee when you book the flight. Your companion's fees will be deducted from your paycheck. I think the fees are computed so that you're in a lower bracket for tax saving purposes.

 

Doesn't that mean the 3,080 is taxed already? So essentially you're paying taxes on something that you will be paying for anyway. Higher potential for return since the amount taxed will be greater than what your income should be.

 

I think the calculator is broken. A trip from Pitt to Orlando was estimated at $500 but the Inputed income Chart from Airways shows less than $.04-.07 per mile

 

Is the 2-4 month reserve in CLT for nonproior 121 as well as previous 121 guys? I'm realistically looking at applying, or actually meeting req's by the end of April, first of May. I think you can actually apply if you are within 3 months of mins?? I just lack about 15hrs multi. Trying to get a realistic timeline of number one, reserve length, and secondly a general idea of upgrade time. I think a previous post said around 2yrs, wasn't sure if that was for folks already in the pipeline.

 

Go fly the 15 hours of multi over a week - if that is the only thing that is holding you back from applying, then that's crazy. Apply. It'll take 2 weeks for you to arrive for an interview and an additional 2 months for you to get a class date. I applied within 2 months of meeting minimums and had no issues.

 

I like this post the best. I think ANC (Anchorage) - PHX- CLT - ORF and back, though a large trip, according to the chart, 180$ bucks or so. Messed up, I'm gonna call tommorrow. Thanks!

 

Reserve time has nothing to do with whether or not you have prior 121 turbine time or if you are a 1500 hour CFI. It only has to do with your seniority number. The more senior you are, the more likely you don't have to sit reserve. It usually takes guy a few months in CLT to have the seniority to bid a line and not sit reserve. It's actually not long at all considering guys are sitting reserve for 3+ years at some regional airlines right now. And if you do not have the prior 121 time then you will likely wait 18 or so months to upgrade. Again, not a long upgrade compared to most places. We have airplane deliveries scheduled through 2017. That combined with attrition will keep the movement happening. They will be hiring and upgrading for the foreseeable future. It's a good place to be and a good time be here.

 

If there are currently 1100 or so pilots in the seniority list as of now, that should take care of staffing 100 airplanes.....and PSA, according to their info graphic won't have those 100 airplanes until the end of 2015. As of now they have 76.

So, doing the math....with the 20 pilots being lost due to attrition, it seems as if they already have the staffing they need on property right now to be good until the end of 2015.

I think that at some point in the next few months, if not already, all those hired will be looking at extended periods of reserve, until they catch up with more airplanes or the rate of people leaving rise.

If they are taking delivery of 3 per month and you need 10 pilots per plane - they have already been hiring double that every month.

Not sure if my math adds up here....but those numbers are on their website.