Quote:
Originally Posted by ewrbasedpilot
Well, then what would someone want from a major in the "long run"? What is different about CAL vs the others? We have new planes, after the first couple of years our salary is competitive, fast upgrades, great layovers and we have a bunch of great people to work with. We don't have 12,000 pilots on our seniority list either. Why did we hire new guys into the larger equipment? Expansion. While everyone else was stagnant, we were hiring gangbusters and adding new routes. Due to equipment locks, and bids, those positions needed to be filled. I don't quite understand the staffing requirements, but I'm sure their was a reason for what they did. But one thing that is making the wide body flying unappealing for our senior pilots has nothing to do with CAL, but everything to do with duty times and productivity. That may get worse if they pass the new rest requirements, thereby turning a productive three day trip into a non productive 4/5 day trip. Then you'll see a major migration to other planes. That won't be just at CAL, but all the airlines. But all that being said, I'd rather have crappy first year pay and a great career after that, then be paid a great salary my first year and then be stagnant and unhappy. To each their own, right? 
Some want quality of life. A couple of guys I know left for that. They are based at home and get twice as many days off now by bidding reserve. You can't get that unless you live in base. CAL's bases I always thought, are like NWA's, not that appealing unless you are from there. Some left for the stability of FedEx and UPS. You're probably not going to get that in the airlines.
Has your bidding system been fixed? I heard it wasn't honoring seniority if you were near the bottom? The upgrades I'm sure were fast for the ones that got hired early on. They tend to slow down as hiring continues.
When did you guys get seat locks on bigger equipment? I thought the 2 year lock was for moving to smaller equipment not moving up in size.
I know a couple of senior FO's who won't bid captain because the quality of life will drastically change. They have been around long enough that the pay increase isn't worth their loss of days off. When you were expanding do you think the 50% deadhead pay had anything to do with why people didn't want to bid the 757? I bet base location could have something to do with why things go junior. The NYC area tends to be a junior base for most airlines.
If those new rest requirements kick in everyone should have contract language that won't make those drips unproductive in pay. If you have to stay somewhere you should be getting paid for it regardless if it's mandatory or company induced.
It's like you said. To each there own. CAL wasn't the place for those that left and probably is for those that replaced them. Win win.
If someone was in there 6 month window to get a type before going to southwest and by chance got hired at continental then I would agree that it's kind of a low class of thing to do. I don't really feel bad though considering the way your management has treated your pilots and the Express pilots.
06-05-2022
Part 121 time is all good whether your bored in the left seat or right seat. HR may view this differrently but I disagree. I still believe CAL attracts quality people with or without that overrated number.
I thought our mins were well above that.
If a pilot is getting on at CAL with 1500 hours (which I highly doubt), they'd have either been an intern with a preferential interview or knew our CEO. It's not as easy as some on this forum seem to think, believe me.