And what about Skywest's benefits? That hasn't been addressed yet.

I do understand the Seniority system, and unfortunately I am not sure how one would go about circumventing it. Obviously top sales producers in a business move up quickly and are given more responsibility and more money, but as far as flying an airplane . . . You are not producing anything. You are basically a glorified taxi/bus driver. An obvious professional though. How do you rate someone on ability? It takes the same skill to land a plane empty as it does full.

In regard to wages . . if you don't like it go somewhere else (airline or completely different career) It is a valid argument. We as individuals have many many choices where to spend our time in return for dollars. (Sell Real Estate, become a doctor, Work as a sales person, etc . . ) They too require learning and time investment but they could offer greater financial rewards, even possibly better QOL as well.

A few other comments not addressed in my previous post include:

WHAT THE GOVT. WILL DO?
They just relaxed the age requirement to 65 vs. 60. Here is a very current real time example of how Govt. is getting involved today. This will offset the pilot shortage by about 3,800 over the next 5 years. Just a small amount.

and I definitely forgot . . . .

OVERSEES COMPETITION
Many oversees airlines are hiring US pilots at far greater wages, they include free housing, no taxes, allowance for a car, etc. It's happening already. And U.S Airlines are NOT reacting. They are not going on the offensive to retain pilots with better wages, QOL, benefits, etc. They are trying to trim fat where fat doesn't exist, change regulations, merge, and do all sorts of other things instead paying an acceptable wage and focus on GROWING the business. Right now airlines are trying to keep the business that they have vs. concentrating on setting themselves apart from the others.

RETENTION OF EMPLOYEES
This trickles down to all areas of the company from management, to Flight Operations to In-Flight, to Gate Agents and CSR as well as Rampers. . . . These companies are now spending more and more money on training and retraining and hiring and doing exit interviews and hiring and training, etc . . . than if they just would step back decide to up the ante a bit (wages and benefits) and hire and train only once. Employees are QUITTING for greener pastures. Airlines are not firing employees. They cannot afford to. So what happens when everyone quits???


I fly many miles a year for business, many different airlines (purposely). Family has been involved in aviation and I am an avid Stock Market player skilled in the transportation sector. This site gives me inside knowledge to the state of the industry with regards to the people who are front line.

Ellen,
You mention that the public doesnt realize that pilots have to have an extra job and therefore that may compromise safety.

Well, I am a police officer and did you know police officers have to have extra jobs as well and that too can compromise the publics safety as well as the officer

I would have to agree with you ELLEN on most of your principles as well. I am going to SkyWest for many reasons and know I WILL be taking a huge paycut for my first year. I am not out there chasing the ever so great JET JOB! I have put in my time and Years to flying. Rest easy someday if your flying on SkyWest and I am in the cockpit there wont be a 300 hour pilot but an 3800 hour ATP. Remember not all of us on here are young kids. You will get to your destination safely so I can go home and spend quality time with my son! Happy travels! Anybody have some idea on how good the benefits may or may not be at SkyWest? :)

What kind of travel benefits do skywest pilots get?

To answer the original question, the reason it's difficult to find info on benefits is because there's a 20-30 page long book to read on all the options that you have. Even different domiciles have different plans..... for ex. mine has a copay for the medical. But there's many many options that any person could potentially have.

Travel:

you get free travel on Delta anywhere in the US and south america. you get 3 free international travel days on Delta to all other destinations.

You get travel benefits on United which are almost worthless. most people jumpseat because its free. if you nonrev united, you pay a fee based on the length of the leg.

you get benefits for you, wife/domestic partner (official paperwork needed), parents, and kids. they can nonrev on SKYWEST flights for free (not asa, not any other carrier at all). on united and delta, they nonrev for a price that is not as good as other airlines (including mesa surprisingly).

hope that helps. our benefits are nowhere near as good as ASA by the way. they get to name anyone at all to be their beneficiary for free travel, not just a spouse. and they get a lot more international travel on delta, and their parents fly free on delta.

Medical: United

Dental: Delta

Vision: EyeMed

It's only an excellent post if you are anwsering the question this thread was originally posted for, which it still does not.

-B767 - If you ever get an answer, please let me know, as SkyWest is top on my list.

Are you sure that wives don't get unlimited on Delta domestic for free (like the employee) ??

I thought I read that somewhere...

Wife & kids free on DAL, north, south america & caribbean. 3 days/year each for other international travel.