Regional sign on bonuses
 

How often has the sign on bonuses changed. Should I expect once a regional airline renegotiates a contract then they can offer a higher bonus than what they currently offer?

What drives an airline to increase the sign on bonus in this climate.

The bonuses tend to be temporary in nature. This allows companies to take it away when they are not needed to attract applicants. A step up from that is when the bonuses are incorporated into pay rates like Endeavor. I’d expect to see more regionals follow suit in some way in the next year. The bonuses will likely give way to higher pay rates, better work rules, etc. In the current climate, I’d say, on average, most regionals will have to make some sort of contractual improvements to attract pilots and stay competitive. The X factor is the language that is negotiated and the timeline for it to be implemented.

With the intent (one of them) of the Regional model being to save and make mainline money, I don’t see how the $20-50K bonuses are sustainable. Once the cost outweighs the benefit, then changes will most likely be made. Just my opinion...

Also worth noting that these bonuses are generally implemented outside of negotiations. They are offered, technically, as pre-employment so your union has no say on it. Can be yanked away at any moment, but I'd expect them to stick around for carriers not in negotiations

Thanks for the insight. I wonder what will happen around 2020/2021 when the mandatory retirements will be at its highest.

DL, AA, and UA will be going to ERAU and UND offering sign on bonuses for CFIs as well as guaranteed B787 positions if they sign on today. :D

Apparently march 1st the program is being rolled out... my app into embryo is in.... fingers crossed..

To avoid the frowned upon technique of asking the same question in multiple forums, I’ll ask this one here.

Are there any regionals that offer part or all of their listed signing bonus free of a contract?

For example: say I take a job, get one or more of the scheduled payouts, then get an offer 4 months in at X major...are there any regionals that don’t require repayment of the paid up to this point bonus?

All of the AA WO have some version of a contract.

I see go jet raised their new hire bonus

26,000 FIRST OFFICER NEW HIRE BONUS
All new hire First Officers are eligible for a $26,000 New Hire bonus, paid over one year.