shadyops

Re-read the first sentence of my post.

shadyops

OK. Re-read my post. More attractive salaries AND ban commuting. Then people can afford to live in domicile. And why would I care if flights get canceled?

MEMA300

Guys nothing is going to change until we (pilots) change. As long as there are guys willing to work for nothing or next to nothing it will never change. I worked for very little but had a plan. When I got close to 30, if I was not real close to getting hired at a major I was going to get out of the aviation business. Fortunately it worked out for me. I was at my commuter for three years then moved on. I was not willing to commute to work and be gone around half the month for what regionals paid at the time.

The regional pay has increased since I left the regional industry, you however, live at the mercy of your regional's contract with their major airline affiliate. Look at Comair and ASA, as soon as you get a good contract they make your airline smaller.

We are our own worst enemies. I know a guy who live out of a truck and his luggage was friggin black garbage bag. He was 30ish and divorced and lived in a truck but he had a job as a pilot. Know any doctors, bankers, lawyers, or insurance agents that would agree to work for that little pay because they loved their job. He!! no. You work to make money unless your independently wealthy. How many bankers are hot bunking in the bronx so they can say they are a NY investment banker? Not one.

Guys we are the problem.

sig598

Completely unrealistic. My regional opened and closed bases at LAX, SLC, and DFW all within a two year period. Sure the company pays moving expenses, but thats it--just the expenses. Within that time period, try buying and selling and packing and unpacking and 9 new schools (3 kids different ages X 3 schools each X 3 cities X a bunch of teachers per kid). Moving may as well have been a full time job. Ive spent more time waiting for the cable guy than anyone I know.

Dont try to tell us that we knew what we were getting into.

mnpilot

I just emailed my local congressman, both state senators and the president asking them to do something about this. I work at the company under investigation and I am tired of them taking advantage of us. Something has to be done.

lionflyer

OK re-read mine! No airline is going to offer attractive salaries voluntarily. Feds can't force them too without re-regulating the industry. ALPA?? HA HA HA!!! What's "attractive" on the east coast?? I would say 60K just to get by living in a dump. Regional CA's make around that. It would take a hellavalot more than 60K for pilots move to domicile. If they ban commuting(I don't see how they could), there will be massive attrition.

sig598

Here's a wacky idea:

How about an unpaid deadhead to start your trip which arrives just prior to check-in? And "just prior to checkin" means you dont have to take the 5am departure to get to Atlanta for a 4pm check-in. This deadhead would be included in duty time. Even a guaranteed cockpit or flight attendant jumpseat would be ok. This really wouldnt cost much more than the seat youre taking up. And either way, youre going to be taking up a seat for your commute.

sig598

And to even further resolve my novel solution, the company could negotiate some restrictions. That way, some knucklehead cant say that he wants to live in Guam with a same day commute to Scranton.

Lab Rat

I do not intend to rain on anyone's parade, but I would like to make a comment. The ability to live anywhere you choose and commute to work is a privilege afforded by the nature of the industry and not a right that your employer is obligated to provide for you.

What many people have forgotten is that you go to where the jobs are and work your lifestyle into the demands of it. Yes, NYC and L.A. are expensive places to live, but if that is where the job is you make it work. If you can successfully commute into your job then that is a good thing. If not, you better have an alternate means, and demanding your employer adjust their schedule to meet your needs is unrealistic in most career fields - especially when supply and demand is not in your favor.

This just lowers your bar even more. I don't know about anyone else's contract, but if my work schedule includes a deadhead per the construction of the pairing, then I am compensated at 100% my hourly rate to be there.

What you need to concentrate on is not volunteering yourself for free dh's, but rather negotiate a better contract which includes better trip construction and QOL issues.

Lab Rat

Or you can just come in a day early.