Probably includes per-diem.

 

You're really not getting it are you?! You even quoted the guy who mentioned work rules and you're STILL confused!? Once again, *cups hands around mouth and speaks loudly and slowly* WORK RULES! Like getting paid 150% for working over vacation, like 100% deadhead pay, like minimum pay for each duty day (trip rig), like 100% cancellation pay, like 150% pay for any trip that extends beyond originally scheduled termination time, redflag pickups, being FBOd (check airman trips pulled off your schedule for others who need training) etc etc. You know, all those things that make a contract worth the paper its printed on. Reference my earlier post, I made roughly $53K (gross pay minus per diem) my second year at XJT flying 988.7 hours. That means I averaged about $53.60/hour. But how is that possible...it says year 2 pay is $34.45/hr!? WORK RULES! I saw one FO last year who credited 217 hours in one MONTH! Now THAT'S working the system! So as you can see, hourly rate x hours worked does NOT equal yearly pay. Your mileage may vary but read your contract, there might be some interesting stuff in there. Talk to guys who are good at it. If your negotiating committee is worth anything they probably put some good stuff in there for you to game the system.

 

1400 hours of credit... not really. Maybe 700-750 flight hours for the year.

Think Getting paid 100 hours at $34/hr = $3,400/month = $40,800
Add $600 per diem/month = $7,200/year (I've made over $700 in some months)
All equals = $48,000
Don't see why I shouldn't include per diem in that amount, it's compensation and its tax free!

Funny thing about the 100 hours of pay is it is probably around 70-80 hours of flight time. Work rules did that. As Saab does it, he can pull in over 120 hours a month due being a line holder. This is with at least 12 days off and only seeing about a 5 hr/day average credit for the month. If I were a line holder I could get my credit up to 6-7 hr/day average.

This is all without our 401K contributions either. As of right now the company gives us 2.5% for putting in nothing. Then they match up to 4% of what we put in. This equates to 6.5% from the company for putting in 4%.

After talking to some pilots at the majors, they can really jack their pay up with their work rules.

 

I see what you are saying and believe me when I say I understand work rules, but Perdiem is not INCOME. If the IRS does not dip their hand in it then its not income. I also did not think on reserve you could play the system and consistently break guarantee (to the point of 100 hours of flight credit).

 

ummm....

I guess that $4,000 I've made so far hasn't gone into my bank account?

I'm confused why you don't think per diem doesn't count towards income. So if airline 'A' pays you $6/hr for per diem and $32/hr flight time vs. airline 'B' that pays you $1/hr and $35/hr, you would go to airline 'B'?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but per diem does count towards your income and it is the best kind, It's Tax Free!

A lot of regionals get paid per diem for day trips. Some however don't pay per diem for day trips, so their income is drastically lower.

For some reason you are very resistant to the fact that some of us are making $40K-$55K on 2nd year pay and get 12 days off/month, why?

 

no such thing as rewinding in ANY hotel room. That same hotel room will irk you someday rook.

 

Because the numbers you put up are not realistic with all the other BS you claim. You claimed in a previous post to hold 17 days off a month, now you are on reserve. You claim to be able to make $48K/yr on second year pay yet you are still on reserve and somehow seem to get 100+ hour CREDIT months and fly 700-750 a year. Thats first off ALOT of flying on reserve and second, thats almost 2x the credit for the work (we have established the need for well over 1000 hours of CREDIT even if you want to count perdiem. I understand work rules and such but for it to come across as 2x the flying for the ENTIRE year is a bit much. I understand 150%, trip rig, duty rig, but 200% of everything you do ON RESERVE with 17 days off... umm.. other XJTers have already raised the BS flag. If you make $48K great! If you are on the charter side and a lineholder/ "air wh*re" who loves work and no social life thats all your decision.


Perdiem- Travel Expenses and Per Diem Update

here is the short end:

The employer may exclude from the employees' taxable income all amounts that the IRS deems substantiated (i.e., amounts up to the applicable federal M&IE rate). Amounts excluded do not count as taxable wages on the pilot's Form W-2.

If you have an overnight is not-taxable up to the M&IE rate (which every regional is below- just look at perdiem for the mainline folks), day trips are income and taxed. If you want to pay taxes on all the money that hits your paycheck then GO AHEAD, but if you do some research before you type things you may find that just because it hits you checking account it is not "income" to the IRS. Example: Do you count your uniform allowance (company gives you money each month for drye cleaning,etc) as income?

 

Where did I quote in this that I had 17 days off on reserve? I did state when I held a line I had 17 days off, but when I stated I could credit up to $48K/yr that was with 12 days off on reserve. And that was stating if "I work hard". I stated I am on pace to easily break $40K/year with 90 credit hour months. Saab is on pace for the mid $50K/yr, which is very believable.

100 hrs of credit * $34/hr = $3,400 + $600 per diem = $4,000/month * 12 months = $48,000/year

As for really thinking we can't credit 100 hrs/month at ExpressJet on reserve, think again, most of the reserves right now are in the 80's to 90's. With a little perseverance, you can get yourself up to 100 here. We have lots of trips that credit 5-8 hours a day. Remember, this is what we fly at ExpressJet, on the COEX side, not what you fly at your place. Calling my statements BS, while you don't work here is quit hilarious, since I am making $3,500-$4,000/month right now.

I don't really know where you are coming from stating per diem isn't income. If a company paid you $30/hr for per diem and $5/hr for flight time, would you say that person makes less than someone making $1/hr for per diem and $25/hr for flight time?

Per Diem is income. It's actually super income because its tax free

 

Well I don't know anthony.. You seem to get most of the pinnacle threads LOCKED and you don't work here. Read the ALPA page on perdiem. Congrats on your work rules and good contract. How far down on the list are you?

 

Oh I get it. This has nothing to do with how much we make at ExpressJet, but you some how getting on me for the Pinnacle threads. I have stated it before and will state it again: "I am rooting for Pinnacle to get a industry leading TA". I never was angry with Pinnacle pilots, I was just disagreeing with a post with regards of some things said towards a major airline group.

It appears you guys are all about going after those you think you know. You do realize a screenname is a screenname? Have you ever thought people used alias on here for a reason? We are all in this together, this recent movement to attack people personally needs to stop. Things said on a message board can come off so many ways to different people since they are not said in person.

Back onto the per diem issue. If I was offered $100/hr per diem and no pay per flight time, I would think that would be a sweet deal, wouldn't you? It's all compensation no matter how you define it.