Seniority Is Everything, Right...
 

Believe it or not, I've tried to search for this question, but either I don't know how to search, or it hasn't really been discussed much. I am building time right now hoping to get on with SkyWest (I live in SLC), and I was thinking of going to work for them right now on the ramp. Assuming I get the time and make it through the interview as a pilot, would my seniority date be the day I got hired on as a ramper, or as a pilot?

Thanks to all!

Get on the Ramp then Captain...Seniority is from Date-Of-Hire, no matter what the job title! (disclaimer: from my understanding)

I ramped for XJet for awhile, with the same idea as you, then decided I didn't want to fly for them, but it was the same deal there, and definately a great experience!!

I don’t know how skywest does it but your seniority will be the day you got hired as a pilot. You longevity for things such as benefits and non-rev priority usually goes on your initial hire date. At least that’s how it is at the company I work for.

I am not with SkyWest but the way it works at my carrier is your non-pilot date of hire applies for things like insurance, vacation time and boarding priority. As far as your seniority as a pilot, when you get hired as a pilot you will be on the bottom of the pilot seniority list. This makes sense otherwise you could be a ramper for 2 years and then get hired as a pilot with a seniority that would allow you to hold captain. Other companies may treat date of hire for benefits and boarding priority differently but I can say almost with certainty that your DOH as a pilot is the only one that matters on the seniority list.

:confused: If that was the case more people would want to be a ramper then upgrade to captain. That doesn't sound right.

That doesn't sound right. Maybe for benefits, but not for bidding.

So a guy could work the ramp for 5 years and move over to the pilot group and bid into a CA slot? Not likely.

I hope that was sarcasm in Experimental's voice. Because I know that is in fact NOT how it works at XJT.

hope so too.

You keep your hire date for non-rev. pass travel and possibly 401k, etc... other than that you start day one at day one pay and seniority. You're obviously not operating under a pilot contract when you're working the ramp so you're not entitled to seniority rules until you're actually hired as a pilot. You'll just be a pilot with a strange employee number.

pilot
 

This is the way it is at SKW. There were SEVERAL prior (and current) people in my class who started with me. I was JR to the guy who was a current employee but SR to the guy who was a former ramper. The guy I am JR to is only 2 above me...so I guess the 6 months did not get him that much ahead...he just went to the top of the class. Pilot seniority date is off the date you start as a PILOT ONLY. SKW uses the last 4 of your SSN as the way to assign your class senority. The lower the last 4 the better (0398 is SR to 9803). Some other airlines go by birthday...hope this helps.