In all seriousness, this was the one thing I kept thinking about when I made my decision to not go to 00. If they don't offer a single occupancy room when even the lowest bottom feeders were at the time, what else will they not offer that everyone else does? I dodged a bullet and sincerely wish you folks there good luck in securing industry average or better.

You're so dramatic don't ya think?

They do it so you get use to living in a crash pad with ten dudes..:D

I’m an exSkywest guy with friends still stuck there so occasionally I read some skywest threads. FYI: At FedEX new hires get....nothing. No paid hotel room at all, it’s entirely on your own. We also don’t pay for anything at all for the interview either. No hotel, no paid tickets, nothing.

Yeah. And second year FO pay is only$141/hr in the 757. $172 an hour in everything else? Plus $8 an hour for international flying? And over $3/hr per Diem.

Skywest starts paying those rates they have an excuse for not buying you a hotel room, which under their contract would cost them maybe $60 a night. Right now they don't.

The fact is, they aren't competitive with the regional competition. That's what counts.

Half the complainers probably have no intention on working for SKW. If your family is in a SKW base and you want to work there, $60 isn’t going to make you go to Republic to commute to a outstation base on the east coast...

Nor will being a Skywest pilot guarantee you won't sit reserve in a crash pad in LGA as an FO, and for damn sure not as a junior captain.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing about Skywest that is uniquely bad. Uniquely cheap, maybe, but not uniquely bad. It's just that they could play the SkyWEST geographic basing card a lot more effectively before so much of their flying moved east.

And the percentage of pilots that voted down the last proposal pretty much shows that even their own pilot employees realize the company is being uniquely cheap in the current competitive environment.

Locked in by their own seniority, the current pilots may want newbies to keep coming to Skywest anyway, to keep the place going at least long enough for them to get their upgrades and TPIC until they can get out, but they clearly know the money isn't really competitive any more.

Hotels
 

The double occupancy is only for the first 3 weeks. I’m 51 and did it and am retired Army so if anybody should hate it it would be me. You can purchase your own room and Skywest will contribute. Once I found out it was only for the first 3 weeks I sucked it up. You get your own room for FTD and sims. Unless I am wrong, I have been told at Delta you have to pay for your hotel the entire training footprint. Bottom line is this - I came to Skywest because it IS a good company ran by shrewd and successful business people. 46 years of operating proves that. I could have went anywhere but I chose here. I came here after 29 years of helicopter flying (20 mil and 9 civilian). I started in fixed wing in the mid 80s but there were NO jobs. If you don’t like it go somewhere else. I can say that the good here far outweighs the bad. We are ALL underpaid in this industry. Like working at a fast food joint for minimum wage, the regionals are meant to be a stepping stone to cargo, corporate, or the majors. If any of us were running this show we’d do the exact same thing. We are still recruiting and filling classes so until that well dries up why would management change? Like all publicly traded companies throughout the world they are trying to maximize PROFIT. I took $100K pay CUT to come here and I’m glad I did. It will get better. This is still the best job in the world. I’d rather do it for $40K than sit behind a keyboard ANY DAY.

Now that's a realistic and positive attitude to have of the regional industry as a whole. Your CAs are lucky to fly with you.

The regionals are a steeping stone, but it’s not the same stepping stone it was in years past flying 9-19 piston or turbo props. The current environment has provided the current generation of pilots maximum leverage to get paid top dollar (non legacy money). There is a shortage of pilots incoming, there is forward movement in the industry, you’re flying jet aircraft on 4 hour flights with first class. Don’t sell yourself short. This isn’t the 80’s, early 90’s or mid 2000’s. Now is the time to extract QOL and money from the regionals and set the bar higher for the next downturn. If you look closely, Skywest is making record profits.

No argument from me! My main point is YOU ALL have a CHOICE on where you decide to fly. Go where it is best for you, your family, and your career goals. The MAIN reason I came to SkyWest is because (at age 51) I am comfortable staying here for the next 14 years until I reach age 65 if I cannot get on with my chosen Major, LCC. I chose to come here despite the lower pay because of the company's reputation, pilots I know here, and what I stated above. I have a military pension and retired military healthcare so I chose COMPANY over pay but that's me! Do what is BEST for you!

Increasingly, Skywest captains are lucky to have ANY FOs. Not their fault certainly. Many of them went to Skywest back when it was still the regional to go to. They've paid their dues and now are FINALLY getting the TPIC they will need to eventually be competitive for a job at the majors. Within a year or two, they have every reason to expect that they will finally get a good return on what has been a long and difficult investment.

Except to get those next 1000 hours of left seat time, there has actually got to be someone in the right seat, and to do that recruiting has got to be competitive. That's EXACTLY why the management floated the ability to pay new hire signing bonuses of up to $30K in the TA that was recently turned down overwhelmingly.

And management, despite record profits, are just plain chintzy, not just with hotel rooms but with training pay, overall pay scales, and with everything else. We understand that. They'd like to recruit people by just giving them a big bonus and once they have them trapped by a couple year's seniority, just continue to under pay them like they are already doing for everyone else.


The problem is that this all comes down to either paying people what they are worth or somehow tricking junior people into signing on for far less than they are worth, then stringing them along as long as possible for that proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, which is Skywest management's preferred option.

Right now there is sort of a game of chicken going on between the pilots already at Skywest and management. The only real card that the pilot group has to get industry-matching pay scales is to hold new hire salaries hostage - most of us understand that and don't really blame them. It's the only card they really have and their pay is lagging so badly that they have to play it.

But it's also important for the pilots currently there to be honest with the newbie's too. They too are playing you. Management is entirely willing to sweeten the pot for you guys to get you in the door so they can get you to work for below industry rates later, but your senior pilots are holding you hostage too. And while none of us really blame them for doing that, it's hypocritical as hell for them to also chide you for complaining about wanting things that are industry standard - like single hotel rooms, or 74 hour guarantee during training, or per Diem in training when not in your base, while they are both holding your pay and signing bonus hostage to them getting what they want.

If the senior pilots in the group - whose own careers depend upon keeping a constant inflow of FOs - are going to chide applicants for expecting industry standard conditions, why should the pilot's group expect to get industry standard pay and work rules themselves?

More to the point, if both sides don't see anything wrong with treating new FO applicants with disrespect, why would any one want to apply to Skywest at all?

Are you Ok? Or did skyw do something to you?

I'm fine. Is there some part of that posting you disagree with?

Piggy-back this....

When folks stop thinking of only themselves and realize Skywest record profits are off the backs of regional pilots. The industry (pilots) are watching you guys more closely! Please don’t sell yourself short for short term personal gains, at the expense of various regional carriers trying to get the bar higher for ALL OF US in the same PROFESSION.

making you pay for hotel
 

If mainline pilots and other regional pilots had let the bar of soap fall post bankruptcy era, we’d all (industry wide) remain bent over trying to pick up that bar of soap! While Big INC comes stepping into the shower and finds a treat!

Don’t give him the treat! Stand up! Tighten up ur butt cheeks.


Skywest shareholders are making a killing off your a**es, you perform mainline duties unlike the commuter puddle jumps of the past age! How the company decides to farm you out as a low bidder is your business because you allow them! Set a higher expectation! You earned your position as a regional airline pilot flying damn near the same route structure, hubs, airspace and altitude!

Take pride in yourself and profession and demand the wage and QOL you deserve! Stop picking up the soap for Big INC! You don’t owe INC squat! It’s a two way street and relationship. Implement what ever leverage you all need to make it change happen, or stop complaining. The whole regional industry is watching you guys wondering if your going to keep bending over picking up the SOAP for shareholders.

Skywest management is the Frank Lorenzo management of today. Union busting management that cares nothing about you.

Plenty of much better regionals to work for with better pay and better work rules.

If you want to come to Delta it helps if you come from an ALPA regional. Same with United and FedEx. Skywest pilots don’t get that preferential scoring.

Great point 2toFly, and I am in the same boat. I retire from the military in another year, will be 50 when I am ready to start, and SkyWest in my number one region of choice due to a domicile location that is shared with just one other regional. My military retirement with 28 years, Tricare for Life, and the ability to finally move home after 28 years makes it a simple choice.

It must not be much of a preference, plenty OO people going to all majors, esp. DL and UA. As much as some regional pilots would like them to, majors don't care.

If regional ALPA was truly effective, all ALPA majors would hire only from ALPA regionals.

Let's assume that with 28 years you are AT LEAST a CW5. With 28 years, you are going to be pulling in right around $72,000 a year retirement pay before taxes and yeah, Tricare for life has an annual 'catastrophic' cap if $3,000 a year which one ER visit will max you out at, plus you are entitled to free care at any uniformed services medical facility.

So yeah, for those of you who COME IN TO SKYWEST with a pension equal to what a Skywest six-year captain makes (only better, because the military retirement us inflation adjusted) and essentially no worries about medical insurance costs...that us, if you are already set up for retirement and simply want somebody else to fund your recreational jet flying, Skywest's low wages simply aren't that big a deal.

And I am personally delighted that works for both iof you.

But for those who are not in those particular circumstances, that is MOST OF THE PROSPECTIVE NEWBIES, wages that at least meet the industry median woukd sure be nice.

So you’re going to use your military retirement to subsidize a subpar compensation package? And advocate others do the same?

For others who may be in a similar situation, why not? There were four or five in my new hire class who had a similar background/situation. Clearly that's not everyone's scenario, but the CFI-fresh-out-of-college scenario doesn't map to everyone either.

Surely you're not advocating a one-size-fits-all approach for everyone?

Actually, that's how it works in this line of work.

No I’m not. What I’m pointing out is the (IMO) flawed rationalization of accepting substandard compensation (money, qol, bennies) because of previous wealth, and then justifying the subsidy.

It’s detrimental and counter productive to the industry as a whole to give up the good fight because you may have a pension. Your personal wealth should be irrelevant to compensation negotiations.

Once you go down that rabbit hole, you’ll find yourself paying the company to fly their airplane again during the next downturn.

Everyone gets paid the same, yes, but individual net worth varied from people paying off student loans to pilots just retiring out of the military with a pension to people who own successful businesses with a significant net worth. Their reasons for joining the airline varied considerably. So no, a one-size-fits-all justfication doesn't actually fit because some of those people would value basing over hourly rates, while others would value hourly rates over upgrade times, and so on.

When I went through training I did the shared suite at the Candlewood and I also had sims in STL which was just your normal 2 queen hotel room which me and my sim partner shared. I didn't mind the Candlewood but St. Louis sucked. I've heard they no longer have sims in STL though.

You can say the same thing for rich kids where mommy and daddy helps them pay rent or feeds them while they go fly shiny jets and tell their friends they’re a pilot. The point is, no matter your situation take a look at the industry and realize going to SkyWest right now is aiding the bottom rung of the industry. It may work for you, but why accept that knowing there are far better offers out there. It is similar to the guy that has 25k in pocket so he spends 24k on a sh*tcar with nice wheels and window tint because he justifies it by having the money.

You would think at 51 with a (hopefully) successful military career, one would have accumulated enough wisdom to not justify subpar wages. Ok, we get it, you made the right decision for you. Congratulations on your optimistic attitude and narrow-minded view of the world. This is one of the best markets in the history of aviation for pilots. Take a look at the rest of the regional industry, then take a look at the industry as a whole. There's no excuse for Skywest pilot pay to be as low as it is, just corporate greed. That's everywhere, and you are saying "Thank you sir, may I have another!" The truly despicable part is you are trying to sell others on that. I hope you are a management troll, because I'd like to hope pilots aren't dumb enough to sell other pilots on subpar pay and benefits.

Lol. How many of you would live in base for a few bucks less? We have some issues, but give the guy a break.

I mean, shared hotel rooms ARE industry standard... if you're using the standard from like 1995. But if a west coast base means that much to you, I guess it's your choice.

As for the pay rates, it's a pretty weak argument to say... I don't need the money, whatever. If you don't need the money then maybe you should just stay home and enjoy your retirement.

Truth! Skywest is the largest regional pilot group. What the do for their pilot contract affects every other regional. Can you imagine what an Endeavor or better contract at Skywest would do for the all the other regionals?

Get out of aviation then Green Needles
 

I hope I never have to fly with you because it’s going to be a very sterile flight deck. Get out of aviation now.

Most likely BK a couple of them..

Awww, that's cute, you're fired up now. Channel a bit of that energy into bettering our profession rather than justifying subpar pay.

And EXACTLY what are you actively doing to better the profession?

I went to the highest paid regional to start my 121 career. I actively lobby our union reps to continue raising the bar on regional pay. I refused to work for the airlines when starting pay was in the low $20,000s.

Don't forget, you are selling your labor to the company. Why sell yourself cheaply?

2tofly doesn't have to worry about a "very sterile" flight deck with me. We'll never fly together, because I won't subject myself to Skywest. I'm worth more than that.

Exactly. No one is making you go to SkyWest. It worked for me. Watched my kids grow up (witch I didn’t get to see the 4 years i was at Envoy) Was a good ride, Made friends, now time to leave.

I’ve been a advocate of go to a regional where you have family, close to home, QOL for you... for me that was OO or QX...

The highest paid regional changes a lot. What about the pilots that were at Comair?


I wanted a Chicago base because I live there. SkyWest paid $10 an hour more than Envoy when I started. Republic was still emerging from bankruptcy and was far from a sure thing. I never considered TSA or GoJet. I'm not going to bounce around regionals chasing bonuses. I've done what I can do to try and get better QOL by voting no for every contract since I've been here and if there's an ALPA drive I'll be on board with it.


Could things be better at SkyWest? Absolutely and with how cyclical the regional industry is I'm sure in time it will.

Like I said, he's welcome to go where he wants, as am I. What disgusts me is trying to make excuses for Skywest's below industry standard compensation. He's welcome to say "I'm willing to sell my labor for far below market value because of other mitigating factors." Coming on here bragging about how Skywest is a good company (it's not for the pilots) and bragging about how he took a $100,000 pay cut to fly for the almighty Skywest shows how strong the Koolaid is. Do us all a favor and stand up for what you're worth. Then, hopefully the regionals can all die along with their lousy contracts and work rules.

I'll also add that it's the SJS attitude like this guy has that has allowed the regionals to treat pilots so poorly. You don't see doctors saying "Oh Emm Geee! Look at this really cool OR! I'll happily operate on patients for nothing because it's soooo cool!" Truck drivers don't salivate saying "Wow, that Peterbilt is so cool! Since (my my naively formed opinion tells me) the company that owns it is so cool, I'll accept far below industry standard compensation just because the company is so gracious to allow me to work for them driving such a cool truck!"

Pilots are idiots for buying into the mindset that because we get to fly airplanes, we should grovel at the feet of our overlords. No other profession sells themselves short like we do. So yes, I take it personally when people further that attitude. Stop making excuses for the company and stop undercutting the profession.