cvltdriver84

Looking at airline pilot central I am seeing the average per diem for a regional guy is about $1.50/hr that you are away from base. I have never been paid per diem this way... as in by the hour. How much are you guys averaging a month in per diem? I am wondering how much per diem helps as far as total "income" goes.

Besides income from your hourly pay + per diem are there any other sources of income? (i.e. bonuses for flying over a certain number of miles in a month)

andy171773

haha we're frequent fliers..that's for sure..but a pilot getting paid extra for miles flown..nahhhh

You receive per diem at the airlines for every second you are "on duty".

If you have to sit ready reserve at the airport..you're considered on duty.
If you're on an overnight at some hotel..you're on duty.
If you're flying, you're on duty.
Deadheading..etc.

Things not paid..are travel to and from work that's not deadheads (commuting)...sitting just plain reserve at a crash pad in some crappy city..or playing xbox on your days off.

You can NEVER plan on per diem..but figure you'll spend anywhere from 150-300 hours "on duty" in any given month..depending on your schedule (reservist/line holder).

If you know your schedule in advance (line holder) you can do the math and figure it out. Hours from check in, to check out of a trip are paid per diem.

If you're on reserve..it's almost impossible to predict, so don't go budgeting for it..just figure it as pocket cash when it comes.

If it helps, when i was on reserve i'd make 200-300 extra a paycheck in per diem..the good months it was 400+.

There may be bonuses paid to pilots based on certain things. If you pick up open time flying on days off..you MAY be entitled to 150% of your regular pay. If your company hits all targets operationally for a quarter, you MAY receive profit sharing.

Check the contract of whatever airline you're interested in to get specifics on that stuff...there are many differences in the airline world.

Spoilers

Why do people count per diem towards their income? Per Diem is money for you eat, drink, etc. while on the road.

dosbo

If you are counting on per diem as part of your income you are underpaid and screwing yourself. Especially on reserve where you may get very little per diem.

NEVER CONSIDER YOUR PER DIEM AS PART OF YOUR INCOME.

cvltdriver84

I would agree it's not "income" per say. But $30 a day extra - or whatever it may be - is worth considering.

dojetdriver

When I was doing four commutable 4 day trips a month, 16 days on 14 days off, my TAFB (time away from base) was usually in the 270-290 hour range. Multiply that by the rate to come up with a number in dollars that per diem would equal. Whenever your "rest" period occurs away from domicile, the per diem isn't taxed. When you are doing day trips (start and end in domicile in the same duty period), that per diem is taxable.

True. But the sad, pathetic truth is this. On first year regional pay, the per diem that is tacked onto your paycheck can account for between 25-30% of the money that goes into your bank account. Sad fact.

dosbo

Budgeting per diem as income allows management to justify lower wages. Don't budget per diem to pay bills or living expenses.

dojetdriver

Absolutely it shouldn't, especially on reserve. However, being on reserve for July, my per diem for the month was $650.

cvltdriver84

Wow they tax per diem. That is a new one for me as well. It gets taxed when you buy your food and drink... why is it getting taxed again?

dosbo

Which sound like barely enough to make life on the road and being seperated from your family, for how many days, bearable.

I never expected my family to rely on my per deim to pay bills.