That’s it? Then you’re one or the luckier ones.

I don't think that most Spirit guys, and certainly none of our union guys thinks we still don't have a ways to go...but, our last CBA was our 4th as a pilot group. Considering where the NK pilot group was and where they are now, its impressive, and representative of both management attempting to run a good airline and the pilot group (along with other employees) doing the right thing day after day.

Additionally, we've showed the company that stuff like reserve day drop can be win-win, as long as they allow it, and the rules are set up to act as a traditional reserve. Honestly, I'd love to know how much our 1 flight commuter clause has been used compared to our two flight clause in our CBA. Again, that's a new normal improvement that the NK guys can point to in the midst of COVID. For those of you listening in Rio Linda, not a lot of major pilot groups can point to improvement to much of their lot in life during this period.

Its easy to do the airlinepilotcentral airline profile deep analysis and say "well that first year pay sucks." Well, yeah, but this isn't a one year job. Its a twenty to thirty year job. Personally, I think health care from day one is a reasonable thing, and even if they keep training pay, up the per diem so people can reasonably eat.

Otherwise, I think Spirit is doing the right things, and plenty of metrics are showing that. Now, this is a fragile business, but I know plenty of people personally who are now kicking themselves they didn't take that class when they went to the interview for practice.

Well put.

A side note; those who complained how bad 1st year pay is, how many of you would be furloughed right now if you had your way and it was $90 first year? Because we wouldn’t have been able to absorb those costs with EILs if first year pay was that high.

Facts are costs matter and it comes down to dollars and cents. The next downturn is always around the corner and there is a reason we were able to not furlough anyone(yet), while positioning ourselves to be one of the first to come out of this.

People always forget the big picture, and how much more there is to a job, than pay. The big picture being, first year pay is a small, insignificant, snapshot of your career. This coming from someone who took a $120K paycut to be here. A price can not be put on QOL and schedule flexibility. If first year pay is that important to you, then apply somewhere else. That doesn’t mean that this job isn’t a great fit for others.

Actually, not all of them do. You are right about first year pay being a small insignificant snapshot of your career, but that argument cuts both ways. We are differing on allocation of resources of - most likely - less than 1/2% of a career in the majors, but that doesn’t necessarily make it inconsequential. In a competitive hiring environment ( which granted is not now) having to take that cut will deter some good people you otherwise might have gotten who would have been valuable adds. Some people might just feel like easing the economic transition for those people would be a good thing BECAUSE, yeah it’s just a half percent difference (not even less, because everybody has a first year) in the grand scheme of things.

It doesn’t mean they failed Finance101, Economics 101, College Calculus, or can’t count to eleven with their shoes on. Some people just have different opinions than you do and - again in the grand scheme of things - someone thinking a half percent different than you really isn’t ALL that different from you.

While I agree that the first year pay could be higher, you won’t catch me complaining about it, or about anything else here. I consider myself lucky beyond belief to even be on the seniority list. I did before Covid-19, and I still do now.

Second point, circling back to that discussion in 2019, who in their right mind would stay at a regional and turn down an unbelievable career here because they couldn’t “rough” it for 50/hr for 12 months before hitting our (then) 3-year upgrade? That idea was as absurd as not cashing in your winning lotto ticket because the drive was too long.

excargodog I’m not sure what you’re trying to accomplish here

geeezus, it doesn’t take much for me to remember why I don’t post much here. Have fun out there.

I’m going to be somewhat of devil’s advocate for Excargodog...I think I’m using term correctly...here we go.

I came from the same regional to NK. Pre covid, everyone over there (including myself) had nothing but unicorns and rainbows in their mind when it came to career progression. When it came to talking about it on trips, most of the time it was “I should upgrade here in “x” months and after being in the left seat for “x’” months I should have “x”00 hours of TPIC get hired at “x” legacy and retire as a wide body captain making $x00,000/year working 12 days a month.

Ugh it made me want to vomit.

I understood the thought process because it was possible with the state of hiring at the majors pre covid! So I get why some turn their nose up at training and first year pay here. But what I took as allegations that the pilot group doesnt care for the first year guys by signing that contract couldn’t be farther from the truth. And their actions throughout covid prove that.

A slowdown and shrinking fleet at that regional was the best kick in the butt and take your career seriously I could have ever gotten. Basically I realized dont just apply to the big three and hope to get a shot some day. Know your worth, do your own research and apply!!!

Spirit was the ONLY place I found that every pilot I met had great things to say about working there. No grumblings about mergers, bankruptcies and concessions.

Contractual QOL considerations such as 4 days off between duty periods, mandatory green days per month (you can actually drop!!!)for starters.

And you get to fly a SWEET airbus for a growing, profitable company.

No brainer and this is coming from someone who will be commuting throughout their career.

I hope if Covid taught any of the regional guys anything, it is to take the GREAT opportunities you have in front of you...

Anyone who only saw the hiring forecast, the hourly wages in the industry, and did not realize it was built on a house of cards, has not been paying attention to this industry. Time and time again the industry bites people hard and yet "this time is different." Recessions, 9-11, Rona....all shapes and sizes to take a career and throw it off the rails.

Look at ol Excargo...had it all figured out....UNTIL his regional CLOSED SHOP and he went to the airline that was once his "never in a million years..." because he would "make more at Compass"...so a free history lesson for him on how this profession continues to smack big mouths in their face.

Excargo is in a world of his own, wish he would have held to his guns and not came to Spirit. Combative to the core, he will disagree, but his history speaks for itself.

Sounds like an entitled hipster douuuuuucccchhh—-eee I had the privilege of flying with before Covid hit... ugh!!

How did HR miss the screening on these few unfortunate souls that make a 4 day trip seem like 4 weeks??