You guys are getting too far away from the original point of this thread and are arguing over semantics.

Income is defined by the IRS as the amount you can be taxed upon.

Income is defined by most pilots as how much money appears in their paycheck each pay cycle.

Yes per diem is money that is supposed to reimburse your expenses while on a trip (ie dinner, brewskies, coffee, etc). But most people pay via cash or credit card. Where does that cash or credit card payment come from? Your checking account or something of that nature.

I give credit to someone that can milk $56k (both per diem and taxable income) second year F/O out of their contract.


Back to the original point...as a single person with limited responsibilites (bills ) going and traveling and living out of your roll aboard it's hard to beat. If you like doing that, it kinda reminds me of that commercial about that guy being a couch surfer. (different city different buddy's couch). The only downside is that it may get old fast with friends with "real jobs" that don't wanna go out on a Tuesday night (cuz we're always working weekends).

Such is the life...

 

A regional is what you make of it. If you keep thinking about where you'll end up tomorrow you'll be really p!ssed off with where you're at today. Make a plan for the future but live in the now. I've partied like a rockstar and love it.

 

Really, the only part of this job that sucks the life right out of me is getting paired up with a moron. I'm all about having a good time, but d*mn. Thank god for the avoid fly with bidding option.

 

I don't claim to know XJet, that is why I asked for an explanation!

You want to tell ME about a screen name? I made mine blatantly obvious, in hindsight I shouldn't have because I can't joke around too hard without having to watch who I offend. Of all people YOU should be more worried. The only reason I know your name is Anthony (and have your last name) from UND is because a FEW of your fellow "coworkers" sent me your stuff and seemed quite upset that you made the Xjet group look bad on a public forum. You made the name for yourself by BASHING another pilot with your own name intermixed in the past. We will leave this topic at rest, no sense locking up a perfectly good thread.

All I have asked is to explain how you can make $48K/yr on reserve when getting paid $34. Simple question and you explained it, but counting on 100 hour credit months and counting Perdiem within your income- which is your call and you answered the question. I really was going to say nice things after hearing your explanation but the personal attacks prevented that within my psyche.

You need to look at the perdiem rules because you are covered up to 70% MI&E and the perdiem IS taxable income if you do not overnight somewhere. To be more realistic would you rather have a 10% higher perdiem rate or a 10% higher payrate. The answer to that would depend on how much you are away from home vs. how much flight credit you get. Perdiem is designed to offset the costs of being on the road (mainly food) and is not designed to "supplement income" though many/most do LOOK at perdiem as income.

 

I know of only 1 moron that makes it into my "avoid with". Where ya based?

 

Well, I get paid tomorrow, and as I was looking at my Check, I looked at my YTD pay, (which is the 1st 6 months of this year), My total YTD Compensation, is $29,765.35



Just figured I would share that with you guys........
Its funny I am still broke

 

Well get rid of that car "mr. fast and the furious", duh.

 

2nd yr fo xjt: ytd compensation for me is 26,900... I did not work over my vacations. went to ireland for a week, took two other separate week long vacations, but live in base.

Very possible to make bank here but you have to work the system. To the guy who said only three of his flights have been cancelled here... where the hell are you based? You can trash newark all you want but it is a friggin goldmine with our contract. If you dont expect to be home on the last day on time you will save yourself a boatload of stress but better yet pick up a trip starting early the next day, get a domicile rest issue and keep the RA day + pay.

 

seriously, what a headache, the heat from the Turbo melted my AC line, so now I have no A/C.....what a mess

 

I think there is enough speculation on whether or not the 56K is a real projection of SAAB's pay for this year. There are lots of ways to figure your income, and I think people should stop trying to disprove it...

As far as pay goes, everyone has to realize that what you get paid is a lot/a little only when compared to your lifestyle. There are plenty of people (myself included) who are happy to live cheaply. For the single person, this is very easy to control (if you have a shred of self-control). And when your pay does increase, either after first year pay is over or when you upgrade, you can choose to increase your savings, or up your standard of living. There are a number of choices to make, but make no mistake, the pay is decent (should be higher) and liveable.

Another major consideration is the schedule that many people have alluded to. Airline pilots are NOT home every night, weekend off types. There are times in your career where you may enjoy those perks, based on your seniority, but don't expect it, especially early.

What is that worth to you?

Personally, I think this job is great for single people, and there is a certain level you should probably attain before a family begins if you want to avoid the worst headaches. It may be very tough otherwise, especially if you are the only breadwinner.