They called me to do a LGA turn, it was on my day off, I told them I was in Pensacola.

"Oh, you'd never make it, but thanks for answering your phone" is what I got.

 

Yep, lobeaux is correct. You have to go if they call, but let them figure out how to get you there. They may buy you a ticket on someone else (which I've never heard them do). Usually they just say thanks but we'll call someone else.

 

Why do you even answer the phone on your day off?

 

Habit. I get phone calls so infrequently, that I just like to talk to people.

Seriously, sometimes there's no reason not to answer the phone. If I get a phone call from Spirit (or more importantly, I hear the ringtone "Entry Of The Gladiators") I can decide whether to answer or not. Usually, I'll answer.

 

How senior is FLL? Can anyone chime in on the current health care benefits please?

 

I was also wondering about the other bases. I scoured the forums and couldnt get a real clear answer on pairings and commuting.

 

FLL went to the most junior guy in the Jan bid, but YMMV as it is supposed to not grow during construction.

Spirit is self-insured and managed by United Health. Several options, which is good based on the individual's needs. Big network. Dental is Aetna and vision is VSP, both are pretty standard.

 

Base Seniority: The latest vacancy bid (pilots bid for open positions based on seniority) shows you can hold FLL before you even finish new-hire training, and FLL is the second most junior base (the 3rd most junior pilot in the entire company - hired in November and still in training was awarded FLL).

Currently, DTW, FLL, DFW, and ACY can be held directly out of training, LAS takes 1 month to hold (you'd have to be based somewhere else for 1 month), and ORD is the most senior FO base, taking 1-2 months to hold.

Health care = good. United Health Care for medical, VSP for vision, Aetna for Dental.

• Medical: Two PSO plans, an EPO plan, and a Healthfund plan
• Vision: 1 plan
• Dental: A PPO and a DMO
• Health Care FSA
• Dependent Care FSA
• Company Life Insurance (no cost) + additional life insurance from Company and/or ALPA
• Disability (LT Care and Buy-up, both Company and ALPA)

Fully optioned out (most expensive everything), a family plan will cost around $7K a year, and get you a less than $800 total family deductible, around $10 office co-pay, and 100% coverage on anything and everything after your deductible. Obviously, the cheaper plans give you less coverage, but cost less. Lowest way out (employee only, cheapest everything) is about $75 a year, and get you a less than $1600 deductible, and 90% coverage after your deductible on anything and everything. (all figures are slightly off the actual #'s, since I'm not sure if this stuff is confidential).


In general, lines are not assembled to be 'commutable', per se, but most trips are commutable on one end or the other, and some are commutable on both, or neither. Seniority makes everything better, of course. Currently, LAS trips often start with a red-eye flight shortly after 0000 (good = commutable on the front end, bad = red-eye), ACY has the fewest 4 day trips, and FLL, DFW, and ORD all have similar trips, though FLL also has 'stand-up' or 'continuous duty over-night' turns down to everywhere we fly in the Caribbean/Central America that is 3.5 hours or less flying time from FLL.

Commuting policy (official policy, in the contract) is 2 options arriving prior to your showtime on any airline. If you miss the first, call scheduling. They have the option of buying you a ticket, releasing you from duty (without pay), or telling you to try the next one and call back (this is what they do EVERY time it seems). Unlimited use, no penalties. We're professionals here. Pilots make every effort to arrive on time, and call in honest when they can't make it as soon as they realize it's hopeless. The company understands pilots make every effort to get to work, and doesn't waste their time with empty threats and hot air.

What specifically do you want to know about pairings and commuting?

 

DFW would be an easy commute for me since I live in LIT...good to hear it's going junior.

 

Thanks so much for the info guys. considering leaving F9 for spirit. Is everyone pretty confident on scheduled A/C deliveries? 3-4 Yr upgrade is very attractive plus the fact that I would like to relocate to Florida. Although, with that said. it is the Airline business and nothing is set in stone and always subject to change...