Quote:
Originally Posted by Normann
Yes I was. I was right too as Nedskid pointed it out. He did not even include the soft money into the equation which we have quite some.
Here is a serious question for you: Are you guys at least considering a union? I actually want to know the answer to that. Yes or No will do.
Yes.
Last union drive failed due to a technicality on signatures and dates on the union drive cards. Stupid mistake, and it reset the clock one year before another union drive.
Quote:
Yes I was. I was right too as Nedskid pointed it out.
You really had to go there? Then I'll address it:
BS if you think a FO at my seniority makes 20% more at Spirit. As a second year FO, I had them beat on first year pay. And the guys who started at NK at the same time I started here, they are on reserve at FLL. For May I credit 100 hrs with 15 days off. $70/hr is a little better than the 67.54 /hr my 2nd year friend gets, and he is still reserve 2nd year FO. Reserve is still reserve no matter how you cut it. 3rd year I'll be 80 and he 76.21. Congrats on your conflicts, trip removals, and some guys crediting 115+ hrs. I don't care, I'm happy with my schedule. I never worked a day that I needed off, because I got it off.
As for staffing, the main reason is your conflicts in PBS and removals associated with that. The company has to staff more because of that reason. Otherwise you'd be similar-sized. I'm glad you have the conflict rules, it serves you well and you bank on that $$ big time. Congrats. I don't have conflicts like that, but there are still goodies here. 3 weeks vacation in your 2nd year. No other airline has 3 weeks that soon, so it's a nice perk. 1 week off vacation you can easily get 3-4 days off on both sides so it's really 2 weeks off from each vacation week. I got 2 personal days per year which I pre-assign to guarantee me that off. Those personal days are in addition to 3 weeks vacation.
As for the payscale and longevity comments, of course. VX started flying in 2007 so you have to keep it relative. Most junior CA at VX was hired Feb 2010 and is at $126/hr (a hypothetical 3rd year CA today at Spirit would be at 107/hr yikes). Your negotiating capital was spent at the years 7 and beyond for CAs, because that's where junior CAs were anyway. Capital was not spent on Captains year 1-7. Although it seems now finally at DOS+3, the lower level longevity steps of CAs takes a serious hike. You sold out your FOs first year, 38.50/hr duration of contract = yikes. Your 401k is nice, ours sucks.
Is there really a point to all this? The theme is: a comment is made on Spirit's fees or business practice. Certain (and I literally mean the same 3 of you) NK pilots take it personally, and attack with "I make more than you" comments.
It's all relative. I'm glad you enjoy what you have. I enjoy what I have. Why can't we all leave it at that. So what if one group has one thing, the other has another? As I said my exact counterpart at NK is a FLL reserve FO. He beotches plenty. Hell, I know junior Delta pilots and they complain plenty too.
It's all relative. Who cares. Seriously.