Potential new-hire here. Interviewing at the end of the month.

I'm currently flying in Japan and would be interested in the Guam base. Couple of quick questions:

How junior does it go?

Besides the extra $3k a month any other contractual advantages to basing there? Extra vacation, travel days, housing allowance, etc?

Thanks in advance.

 

GUM is not that junior. You'll have to be based elsewhere first and certainly have to be on the 737 (not a given for future classes). There are a few pilots waiting for positions to open there too. So it could be a while. Not sure about the other questions.
Good Luck!

 

You get international override on each leg with Guam. Also several scheduling provisions allow you to compress both lines and reserve. Other smaller things, but not worth mentioning. Best perk is Guam flying is prob the easiest and most productive narrow body flying a US Guy can get.

That said previous post is correct. Guam is prob an unlikely new hire destination for the forseeable future. Vacancies are a trickle and usually get snapped up by somebody who has been around a few years.

 

Guam FO bids are starting to level off. A 12000 number held it on the last vacancy. No extra contractual items besides the $3k.

 

DG1000...I sent you a private message.

 

I was one of the last new hires to get Guam (almost 2 years ago). It's pretty senior now, as more folks from L-UAL are coming out here. The $3000 is taxed as income, so the net is about $1500-1700, and the rest is more than eaten up by the cost of living. The main contractual advantages have been listed, except for the paid moves, and those need to be handled judiciously, as the penalty for leaving early is quite steep.

If you have kids, you need to think twice. The schools here are awful, and not everybody is cut out to home-school.

If you have the right personality, it's a great base. I have no desire to return to domestic flying.

 

Thanks for the replies.

How's quality of life there? Recreation? Boating, diving, surfing?

 

Might be better to ask around about the available medical care if someone you care about gets hurt or sick. There is an up and down side to everything and it's best to have a full picture, especially if you have children.

 

Not true, if awarded on first year pay and agree to 18 month commitment you get a paid move out there and 2nd year pay.

Chairman

 

Close. You can take the second year pay, and incur an 18 month commitment. You can also forego second year pay, and bid back at any time. OR You can take the one-way move and also incur an 18 month freeze. The freezes will run concurrently, not consecutively.

That said, a one-way move for a full home will run almost $100,000, and if you leave early, you have repay all of it. It is NOT prorated.

As far as health care goes, Guam definitely lacks in some of what the States have. The company clinic here is quite good, but it's not a full-blown ER ward. If you have a serious problem, you are either going to Manila (there's a first class hospital there) or HNL. There are provisions for emergency transport out, but the reality is that some of the health care leaves a lot to be desired, and there are some specialists that the island does not have, such as a pulmonologist, and there is only one anesthesiologist.