evanss9550

Hey guys, I'm looking to make the jump from 91 to 121, any thoughts on the idea of commuting from the CVG? What kind of trips does Sun Country run (ie. day trips like Allegiant, or 3-4 day turns)? Upgrade potential? Yearly hours? Competitive for hire?

3400 TT
2700 Turbine
1700 TPIC
3 types

Thanks!

beech1980

You should get hired with the qualifications.

It would take 4-5 years to hold day turns as a FO and 25+ years to hold day turns as a captain now.... the turns are a dying breed at sun country. You can upgrade in 2 years. Yearly hours will vary from maybe 200-300 on reserve. If you hold a line you can fly up to part 117 maximums.

Reserve as a commuter is horrendous. 10 days off a month means you will need to generally commute in or out the day before or after your block of 5 days on reserve. So realistically you will get 5-6 days at home. FO reserve will last about 6-9 months. Captain reserve if you upgrade at first available date will be many years.

With the current contract life as a commuter is not good at all! The current ownership doesn’t care as long as guys keep coming. My guess is you will also take a big pay cut as well.

Have you seen spirit and JetBlue’s new contract? You would be foolish to commute to this dumpster. Look at the legacies, Southwest, Alaska, Fedex or UPS.

No one should consider commuting to an airline like this, with a concessionary contract in this pro pilot market, and management that is so advisarial to its pilots. These guys will lie to you and say what ever it takes to get you in class. They need you more than you need them. Guys have quit and gone back to their previous jobs because it’s so bad.

The CEO blames current pilots for the attrition because they are telling the truth to new hires and not drinking the cool aid that the company forces on you. The current schedules keep getting worse and will not get better if pilots keep showing up for ground school.

Rant over... Please do some research before saying yes to a class date at sun country.

tolipenalpria

I agree to what was said above, commuting for sunny is not recommended, especially on reserve. Even most of our lines have become "blended" mix of day trips and multi-day trips. Worst part of it is they put these trips back to back, so you will likely need 3 hotels in MSP for the 5-6 days you are working, 1 the night before, 1 in between the 4 day and the day turn, then 1 when you get back from your day turn. Another rumor that is going around is Jude wants only 15 airplanes in MSP, not sure what new base(s) there might be in the future. Not to worry though, the company and the union had a meeting to determine they want to have future meetings. Next meeting is set to determine what to have meetings about. With meetings a month apart, don't plan on any information or changes coming anytime soon.
Just my nickel worth of disgruntled advice.

Mciflyboy

Just want some of your opinions.

How well do you think Sun country is prepared in the event of a recession? I read up on some of the companies history and see they almost went down with the last one. Ive been offered a position here but job security when the economy tanks makes me nervous to join. Staying at my regional airline I'm sure would be a lot safer should an event like 08/09 occur again.

What are the odds of me being forced out of MSP should they decide to open new bases, can they even do this to a new hire if I get in within the next 2 months? At our current airline we have involuntary displacement if bases close, but they cannot force us out if a new base opens simply based off the need to staff it. I should add I don't care about being on reserve if I live here, I can deal with that for a few years. Its a lot more attractive than having upgrade and commute to a NY base

Thanks!

RatherBSkiing

I interviewed wed. of last week and still haven't heard anything yet. Should I just take it as a TBNT?

beech1980

The growth of the airline is all outside of MSP. You wouldn’t be doing much flying out of MSP. Depending on contract changes and whatever protections get put in place, you might be forced out. Don’t let them sell this place as a MSP based airline. It won’t be just MSP.

Mciflyboy

That’s fine. I’ll take my chances. If they want to displace me to another base I’ll be the first to put in my resignation.

Voltron12

How about BNA becoming a small base?

beech1980

TDY. They want to be versatile. If it doesn’t work they want quick outs.

MNpilot16

Just curious, on reserve as a new hire, how likely is it you ever credit over 75 a month?