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-   -   Spirit Benefits Comparison (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/spirit/117539-spirit-benefits-comparison.html)

WhiteMorpheus 10-23-2018 05:20 AM

Spirit Benefits Comparison
 
Is there a comparison of the benefits package at Spirit under the new contract to other Major/LCC airlines?

I saw in another thread that someone mentioned paying $18 per paycheck for health insurance, which sounded like it was missing at least one zero. What is the monthly cost for a single person, married couple, or family? What does the company pay/provide?

Similar questions regarding LTD. What is the monthly coverage and cost? What is the standard/maximum income replaced? If you are on LTD are you still eligible for company health insurance?

Direct contribution to the 401(k) increases each year to 15% at DOS+4, what is the vesting process for those contributions? What types of investments are available with the chosen provider (funds, brokerage, etc)? To answer my own question, the Majors mostly do 16% direct contribution with some using A/B funds (FedEx, UPS, ?).

Spirit is at/near the top of my list and it sounds like the benefits package is pretty decent, but I would love to hear the insiders' perspectives.

elmetal 10-23-2018 06:47 AM


Originally Posted by WhiteMorpheus (Post 2696258)
I saw in another thread that someone mentioned paying $18 per paycheck for health insurance, which sounded like it was missing at least one zero. What is the monthly cost for a single person, married couple, or family? What does the company pay/provide?

Similar questions regarding LTD. What is the monthly coverage and cost? What is the standard/maximum income replaced? If you are on LTD are you still eligible for company health insurance?

We have 4 insurance options: A PPO (Pos Plan A/B), a HDHP (HSA plan), an HRA plan, and an EPO plan.

The HSA plan for 2019 costs $20/paycheck for a single guy PLUS the company puts in $1000 in your HSA yearly.

The diamond plan costs $18.25 for a single guy PLUS the company puts in $1000 in your HRA yearly.

As for LTD, the company pays for a $5,000 benefit monthly, and you can "buy-up" an additional 10,000 for a total LTD benefit of 15,000 (until 65)

Someone else can chime in more onthe insurance plan and prices, I'm not sure it's something I can post here but I don't see why not

TrojanCMH 10-23-2018 10:02 AM

I think 100% vested in 5 years.


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FlyGuy2002 10-23-2018 11:13 AM


Originally Posted by TrojanCMH (Post 2696412)
I think 100% vested in 5 years.


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100% vested in 401k after 6 years

flyingpuma1 10-23-2018 11:14 AM


Originally Posted by elmetal (Post 2696304)

As for LTD, the company pays for a $5,000 benefit monthly, and you can "buy-up" an additional 10,000 for a total LTD benefit of 15,000 (until 65)


This is still somewhat below Industry standard I know with JB new contract it’s higher (I think it’s 10 and you can buy up from there) also we use a crappy ltd company and not Harvey watt like pretty much everyone else.



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Qotsaautopilot 10-23-2018 03:48 PM


Originally Posted by flyingpuma1 (Post 2696459)
This is still somewhat below Industry standard I know with JB new contract it’s higher (I think it’s 10 and you can buy up from there) also we use a crappy ltd company and not Harvey watt like pretty much everyone else.



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It’s leaps and bounds better than what we had and better than United.

Delta still gets their DC 401k contribution while on LTD which is where we and most others lose out big. In fact I think Delta doubles it from 16% to 32% DC because the LTD benefit it only 50% of guarantee.

We also have offsets for any new outside income. So say you lose your medical for good you can’t even go get another job that doesn’t use a FAA medical because your income will offset your LTD benefit. That’s a big deal imo. I don’t know if it counts if your wife was not working and then got a job when you went on LTD. Not sure if her income offsets the benefit as well. I hope I never find out but those things need to change. Every six months it’s a roll of the dice.

Ducttape 10-23-2018 04:19 PM


Originally Posted by Qotsaautopilot (Post 2696582)
It’s leaps and bounds better than what we had and better than United.

Delta still gets their DC 401k contribution while on LTD which is where we and most others lose out big. In fact I think Delta doubles it from 16% to 32% DC because the LTD benefit it only 50% of guarantee.

We also have offsets for any new outside income. So say you lose your medical for good you can’t even go get another job that doesn’t use a FAA medical because your income will offset your LTD benefit. That’s a big deal imo. I don’t know if it counts if your wife was not working and then got a job when you went on LTD. Not sure if her income offsets the benefit as well. I hope I never find out but those things need to change. Every six months it’s a roll of the dice.

What consideration of the policy's "deductible sources of income" are you referring to; that will offset?

The policy lists 8 deductible sources of income in which it will offset against your LTD payment. Which one do you feel references getting a job, say as a realtor, as a deductible source of income?

Because all I see is offset for amounts relating to social security disability, workers comp, and the such.

RgrMurdock 10-23-2018 05:07 PM

I thought the Ltd was own occupation meaning there aren't any offsets unless you start flying for someone else with the exceptions listed in the contract which are quite limited.

Ducttape 10-23-2018 05:14 PM


Originally Posted by RgrMurdock (Post 2696623)
I thought the Ltd was own occupation meaning there aren't any offsets unless you start flying for someone else with the exceptions listed in the contract which are quite limited.

Own occupation refers to disability from performing ones own occupation, so a pilot. It is why this LTD language was so important, it protects us from medical loss and the insurance company saying "work at Home Depot, you are not disabled"

It isnt a reference to working for another company beyond the obvious that if you lose you medical at Spirit, and cant fly, you would have a hard time flying for another airline.

So if I were to get your medical back and start flying as a pilot again, safe to say, Unum would cancel your LTD payments because you no longer meet the definition of disabled.

But I do agree with you that I can not find any exception in the policy to wages earned in other fields offsetting the disability.

WhiteMorpheus 10-24-2018 02:20 AM

Is the LTD language good enough to cover most loss-of-medical issues, or would it be conceivable that you could be denied LTD if your medical was not approved?

Getting our medical seems like the biggest gamble we take in making it to 65 still flying.


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