ZapBrannigan

Not to be too much of an Eeyore but…

Do you ever wonder if the fantastical rumors pitched by Chief Pilots and Check Airmen are floated just to see how long it takes for the rumor to get back to them? And how much it’s morphed by the time it does?

I like a good rumor as much as anyone, but I also think there’s some psychological gamesmanship at play.

Only 232 more upgrades forecast this year. They’ll have hired about 1200 pilots total with the training center supposedly bursting at the seams. And yet they think they’ll be able to recruit, train, and retain another 2300 next year? From where?!

The American wholly ownds just agreed to at 50%-57% pay increase to stop attrition to ULCCs. New hires at Piedmont will make more than they do at Spirit. They’re offering a cradle to grave career path that 23 year old me would’ve jumped at the chance to sign up for. But somehow they’re going to find a couple of thousand people to come to WN? For what? A transcon commute to lousy reserve rules, a single fleet type, and a lengthy upgrade?

Rumors are fun, as long as you remember the old axiom. Until it’s sitting on the ramp, and the bids close… don’t believe it.

-Eeyore

KelvinHelmholtz

Seniority is king. Wholly owned regionals will never retain anyone unless you get a mainline seniority number. I say this as someone starting soon at SWA coming from the Delta wholly owned, being years away from flow.

WHACKMASTER

BUT, those massive pay raises at the wholly owns will have the effect of those pilots being more picky with what career airline they hold out for. I’m gonna venture to guess that this move will be somewhat successful in slowing the bleed to the ULCCs, & LCCs like JBA & SWA.

There’s no way in flipping hell that we’re recruiting 2000+ pilots next year. Bologna.

RJSAviator76

I think SWA is gonna have to throw A LOT of money at the problem. I heard the number $295-300/TFP thrown around, and if that's what's offered, that's probably the second quickest NO vote I'll cast. The only quicker one will be if they don't fix the STD/LTD/Benefits section. The inflation is through the roof and we have some seriously economically ignorant people in the White House who appeared to have been toked out of their minds during basic economics classes; I hope it's that, and not the alternative, but I digress.

Our compensation and this contract must match the market reality and ensure that we can attract appropriate talent willing to fly 737's for the rest of their career. That's gonna take a lot of improvements.

CA1900

I dunno, $300 isn't terrible... for a new-hire. What was the rumored second-year pay?

arbalist1

$300 tfp is only 82% of what regional check airman are going to make now. Don't sell yourself short.

TransWorld

It appears regional check airmen can make as much hourly rate as a wide body senior captain on American. Let that sink in, and the unintended consequences for them.

Wide body senior CA age 63 hires on with a W.O. Regional as a DEC and check airman on a regional plane. And, no time shift. Let that sink in.

mulcher

$300 would be way low!!! I will have many reasons to vote no but $300 would be a no brainer.

WHACKMASTER

$300 a TFP is a friggin’ joke. NO

CA1900

I was saying that it sounded good, tongue-in-cheek, for a first-year FO, where it would be a 396% raise from current rates. As a top-end? No freaking way!