Skywest
10-15-2015 | 07:35 AM
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From: I pilot
Talking to lots of guys, the thing about going to the national/LCCs is that the ultimate goal for many guys are the legacies and majors. Going to Frontier, for example, would involve a paycut for anybody beyond second year, and if your goal is to move on to a major or legacy, many guys would rather take a chance and hold out on seniority and pay at Skywest a little longer. Skywest doesn't suck so bad that guys would want to take that intermediary step. Some do want to jump at a chance to fly an Airbus for a slightly higher payscale, so it depends on the person.
10-15-2015 | 07:43 AM
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From: 175 CA
If I was a FO that somehow had the time to go to Spirit (500 TPIC seems to be a requirement) I would do it, I think very few people fall into that category tho.
Frontier is too unstable and apparently a long upgrade, Allegiant who knows whats going on there, so its really Spirit. I don't think anyone considers SouthWest a LCC.
This line of thought isn't exclusive to SkyWest, as much as people think we drink the KoolAid with special sweeter were all just looking to get the best QOL.
10-15-2015 | 08:27 AM
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From: Downward Dog
They are probably addressing the flat compensation value. Going from the left seat at SkyWest to the right seat at some lcc's is a wash in compensation if they are just going to leave in a few years for a major. (That is the key). Might as well stay at Skyw, not hassle with a new job and wait for Major to call.
10-15-2015 | 08:52 AM
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From: Another RJ FO
I thought that United was trying to get rid of CRJs out of Ord in favor of the 175? Or is Skywest flying them for Delta or American? What are the trips like out of ORD? Are there many one day trips and 2 day trips or are they mostly 4 day trips? I was based in Ord with another regional and all they had were 4 day trips, it really sucked. Absolutely no flexibility.
The E175 has 90 targeted line holders and 154 E175 FOs in ORD. Someone hired onto the E175 right now would be on reserve for a very long time unless we get some new flying. There just hasn't been a lot of growth on that plane after the initial 40 came online for United.
10-15-2015 | 08:57 AM
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From: Another RJ FO
For the "lateral move" argument Look at it from a Captain vs First Officer perspective. A First officer who makes $40/hour at Skywest would definitely consider it a huge upgrade to go to Jetblue and start at $49/hour first year, then $76/hour 2nd year.
A captain at Skywest who has some seniority and makes $90/hour is going to probably consider it a lateral move or worse in terms of pay. That captain would have to start over at the bottom of the seniority list and take nearly a 50% paycut to go to a place like Jetblue.
The people you heard calling it a lateral move are probably talking about the pay, not the airline itself. In terms of pay it kind of is a lateral move for a moderately senior Skywest captain to go to Jetblue. I can see why a lot of them aren't making those moves.
10-15-2015 | 11:42 AM
Line Holder
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When you finish IOE you will be on reserve for the first month. If you finish IOE before the 7th, you will have a line the second month and depending how you bid, you might get a commutable line. Otherwise, you'll be on reserve for the second month.
First month on reserve some people found crashpads ahead of time. The rest of us got hotels near the airport and split the cost with someone else. La Quinta is $50 a night, Hampton inn $72 through NuTravel (Skywest online travel tab). We could get a rollaway in the Hampton and split it three ways. Also, you get 3 free hotel nights in your first 30 days off IOE so call crew support and get your free nights to coincide with a reserve period. Get your friends to get their hotel nights to not coincide with your three free nights. Split a room. Put yourself as call first and hope you get picked for a trip with overnights. It's kind of stressful doing it that way but it worked for the first month. Some guys used their free hotel nights to come out in advance and find a crashpad.
Month 2 I had a commutable line and didn't have a need for hotels or crashpad and month three was able to transfer to a base where I live.
First month on reserve some people found crashpads ahead of time. The rest of us got hotels near the airport and split the cost with someone else. La Quinta is $50 a night, Hampton inn $72 through NuTravel (Skywest online travel tab). We could get a rollaway in the Hampton and split it three ways. Also, you get 3 free hotel nights in your first 30 days off IOE so call crew support and get your free nights to coincide with a reserve period. Get your friends to get their hotel nights to not coincide with your three free nights. Split a room. Put yourself as call first and hope you get picked for a trip with overnights. It's kind of stressful doing it that way but it worked for the first month. Some guys used their free hotel nights to come out in advance and find a crashpad.
Month 2 I had a commutable line and didn't have a need for hotels or crashpad and month three was able to transfer to a base where I live.
10-15-2015 | 11:52 AM
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From: I pilot
10-15-2015 | 11:58 AM
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2014
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From: PIC LR35
Personally a LCC isn't my final destination plans, I make as much as a FO and enjoy a higher quality of life with seniority at SkyWest, now if I get stuck as a captain here for longer than intended then Spirit etc because more viable.
If I was a FO that somehow had the time to go to Spirit (500 TPIC seems to be a requirement) I would do it, I think very few people fall into that category tho.
Frontier is too unstable and apparently a long upgrade, Allegiant who knows whats going on there, so its really Spirit. I don't think anyone considers SouthWest a LCC.
This line of thought isn't exclusive to SkyWest, as much as people think we drink the KoolAid with special sweeter were all just looking to get the best QOL.
If I was a FO that somehow had the time to go to Spirit (500 TPIC seems to be a requirement) I would do it, I think very few people fall into that category tho.
Frontier is too unstable and apparently a long upgrade, Allegiant who knows whats going on there, so its really Spirit. I don't think anyone considers SouthWest a LCC.
This line of thought isn't exclusive to SkyWest, as much as people think we drink the KoolAid with special sweeter were all just looking to get the best QOL.
10-15-2015 | 12:18 PM
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From: Downward Dog
It's not bad but these guys are planning/hoping on being at United/... in 3 to 4 years.
10-15-2015 | 01:01 PM
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From: Beach Bum
You make as much as a LCC FO? Maybe first year LCC pay. Might beat even second year depending how long you've been a captain at SkyWest, but I'm pretty sure third year at an LCC (except Frontier) has you beat.
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