Reaching out to the public about pay and QOL

[Brenda]

Originally Posted by czechmate

"regional/bottom feeder "

Wow - I'm totally offended.

My DH hired in with every intention of moving on - and will someday. 9/11 has affected alot of the "regional/bottom" feeder pilots. I'm so tired of the mine's bigger than yours and I'm better mentality. Someday my DH will move on and he will NEVER forget where he came from!
Jen

Hmm, I'm there with you. Bottom feeder? It is a job. His job paid for all his trainings and to a certain point has treated their employees pretty well. For the most part.
These days my hubby really has no desire to move on with a major. Our quality of life is great. And we will soon ahve 3 children and me able to be at home with them. Does he want better? Sure, but is it really? There will be complaints everywhere he goes. To US, staying where he is is just perfect.
I know I'm rambling, not realy making sense, wasn't going to post a reply, but it was eating at me

[rgphib]

Originally Posted by czechmate

Southwest is the ONLY company he would leave for now. He interview with them in Sept. 06 and was turned down. Huge bummer but he's never going to give up on trying. If he stays at Comair then it would be ok - he's got the world's easiest job and great seniority. But that's not his dream.


Did your DH have his type before the interview?

Jen

No, he is actually in Denver right now getting it. The only bad thing is that puts him behind all the people who interviewed with a type prior to July 10 (when he will have his type). You go in the pool based on your interview day if you have the type, and your type date if you don't have your type at the interview. We were hoping for a Nov. class date but they only did one class in July instead of 3 (they usually slow down classes in the summer) so that might now put us at January.....

A friend of our interviewed back in 05 (I think) and after DH get an interview he finally started updating his application there again. He interviewed again last month (but too late for the July DB so he has to wait for the August). I know they are calling people for second interviews and that the chances go way up of getting the job. I think people are saying it usually takes about 18months from the last time you interviewed to get a second one (our friend was longer because he didn't update his stuff at all we think). Does your DH have the type?

[christykay]

Originally Posted by Kristie

I think that's one of the reasons that i'm an advocate of "waiting" until your out of the regional/bottom feeder area before getting married/having kids...

Originally Posted by christykay

Because my husband didn't begin his career in the aviation field, waiting until he was out of the "regional/bottom feeder area" before getting married and having kids wasn't an option for us. What a bold statement for someone to say!

Originally Posted by czechmate

"regional/bottom feeder "
Wow - I'm totally offended.

Originally Posted by Brenda

Hmm, I'm there with you. Bottom feeder? It is a job. I know I'm rambling, not realy making sense, wasn't going to post a reply, but it was eating at me

Ok...I am so glad that I wasn't the only one that was thrown by that particular statement. Because I was one of the first to respond- I suppose I got the brunt of it. But I am strong, I can take it.

May I just add that not ALL regionals are created equally?! My DH loves working for Air Wisconsin and has been treated very well. VERY rarely do I ever hear complaints re: crew scheduling or management. It is interesting how a lot of pilots flying for Air Wisconsin also retire with Air Wisconsin. Now I'm not saying that he will stay with the company until retirement, but for now it works for us. I would hate to wish all of that time away to get to point B when right now it works- and it is working well. It will definitely happen when the time is right.

You know it is a shame that more regional carriers aren't more family friendly and supportive of their pilots.

[czechmate]

[ Does your DH have the type?[/quote]



No - not yet. He's been trying to butter me up and go and get it.

He was supposed to interview this past January (2 weeks of vacation) in Dubai, but he cancelled it. Then he thought about using his two weeks off to get the type. But then I freaked out-- spending that amount of money with no guarantee of a job was crazy to me. But then again if it would help him out.......

[rgphib]

Originally Posted by rgphib

Does your DH have the type?

Originally Posted by czechmate

No - not yet. He's been trying to butter me up and go and get it.

He was supposed to interview this past January (2 weeks of vacation) in Dubai, but he cancelled it. Then he thought about using his two weeks off to get the type. But then I freaked out-- spending that amount of money with no guarantee of a job was crazy to me. But then again if it would help him out.......

That is why DH did not get the type....he did not want to get a type just to get an interview. We have heard of tons of people who got the type so they could interview, and then not get the job.

He is going to FTI out in Denver right now. He is doing a really quick course (he had to do a lot of computer based home study before he started). He is doing it from July 6-10 and it is costing 5k (plus room and food).

[Amanda]

Originally Posted by czechmate

Southwest is the ONLY company he would leave for now. He interview with them in Sept. 06 and was turned down. Huge bummer but he's never going to give up on trying. If he stays at Comair then it would be ok - he's got the world's easiest job and great seniority. But that's not his dream.


Did your DH have his type before the interview?

Jen

Hey Jen- Just wondering why SWA is the only company he would leave for. Just curious is all. Nick thought for a long time he wanted to work for SWA (his personality would fit in!) or a large cargo co (Ups or FedEx). He wasn't looking forward to paying $7k for the type but was ready to do it to work for such a top notch company.

As they say, things happen for a reason and he got the chance to interview for CAL. His dream was to fly 757s internationally, but he kind of put that aside when he was thinking of going for SWA.
He got hired at CAL and although the 1st year pay is horrible, we can deal with it. It brought us back to the east coast where we are from. I am slowly getting used to things, and being near family and old friends is nice, especially once we have kids.

Again, just wondering why he doesn't look at other large carriers that are hiring.

P.S. Nick will never forget where he came from either. Flying the Beech, CRJ, and ERJ has made him an awesome pilot, and he has made some close friends who are still there.

[czechmate]

Originally Posted by Amanda

Hey Jen- Just wondering why SWA is the only company he would leave for. Just curious is all. Nick thought for a long time he wanted to work for SWA (his personality would fit in!) or a large cargo co (Ups or FedEx). He wasn't looking forward to paying $7k for the type but was ready to do it to work for such a top notch company.

As they say, things happen for a reason and he got the chance to interview for CAL. His dream was to fly 757s internationally, but he kind of put that aside when he was thinking of going for SWA.
He got hired at CAL and although the 1st year pay is horrible, we can deal with it. It brought us back to the east coast where we are from. I am slowly getting used to things, and being near family and old friends is nice, especially once we have kids.

Again, just wondering why he doesn't look at other large carriers that are hiring.

P.S. Nick will never forget where he came from either. Flying the Beech, CRJ, and ERJ has made him an awesome pilot, and he has made some close friends who are still there.

He has looked and applied with everyone.
He believes that Southwest is different -- in a good way. He wants to work for a company that actually cares. (or seems to really care). When he interview with them last year, he said it just felt right. That everyone from the pilots to the receptionist actually seemed happy and had fun on the job and that would be refreshing.

Since he works for Comair now (and went on strike), we know that DL would never call, he doesn't know anyone at CAL, UAL or FEDEX so that probably will never happen. UPS would be nice because we live close to SDF and are willing to move to ANC-- but I doubt they will call anytime soon.

We've learned alot over the past year (since he started applying). We've learned it's not what you know or what's on your resume but who you know.

His dream is to fly a 757/767 (which Southwest has none) but he also wants to work for an employer who cares more than where he's at now. That's why he like Southwest so much.

Hopefully it will work out.


Did Nick have contacts inside CAL? How long did he have his application in with them until they called?

Sorry this is so long. I think this is the most I've ever written!
Jen

[rgphib]

Originally Posted by czechmate

He has looked and applied with everyone.
He believes that Southwest is different -- in a good way. He wants to work for a company that actually cares. (or seems to really care). When he interview with them last year, he said it just felt right. That everyone from the pilots to the receptionist actually seemed happy and had fun on the job and that would be refreshing.

Since he works for Comair now (and went on strike), we know that DL would never call, he doesn't know anyone at CAL, UAL or FEDEX so that probably will never happen. UPS would be nice because we live close to SDF and are willing to move to ANC-- but I doubt they will call anytime soon.

We've learned alot over the past year (since he started applying). We've learned it's not what you know or what's on your resume but who you know.

His dream is to fly a 757/767 (which Southwest has none) but he also wants to work for an employer who cares more than where he's at now. That's why he like Southwest so much.

Hopefully it will work out.


Did Nick have contacts inside CAL? How long did he have his application in with them until they called?

Sorry this is so long. I think this is the most I've ever written!
Jen

Your DH and mine must have been seperated at birth! DH wanted to go to Southwest for the same exact reason....they care about their employees. After working at ExpressJet for 8 years, DH thought CAL would have at least called (he has had his app in for over 3 years) and nothing. He knows tons of FO's that get calls, but for some reason they are not calling anyone from around the time DH was hired at Express. He hasn't felt welcome by CAL when he flies on them, whereas Southwest always goes out of their way for him (and when his parents non-rev). He has had them hold planes for him as a jumpseater, and he didn't even work for them!

He wanted to fly the 757 ever since he interned at United back in college. He wanted to fly international. Now, he has no desire. He would prefer to always be overnighting in the Northeast in case I need him......that won't happen, but he does like the fact that he will be in the US at least (for now.....who knows what will happen with Southwest in a few years). He doesn't care that he will fly the 737 the rest of his life, or if they pay the most. He wants to go to a company where the employee is treated as number 1.....so I know exactly where your DH is coming from....I hear it all the time at my house

[czechmate]

My DH is from Rhode Island and lived outside MHT while at Daniel Webster. I wonder if they've ever bumped into each other.
Wouldn't it be funny if they knew each other!

[roz]

You ladies are right to take a look at the corporate culture. That is so important and drives the way in which employees are treated and is a whole different business model. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of your shareholders and customers. Southwest has always gotten that fact--and it shows in the bottom line.

Our good friend at NetJets is a Daniel Webster graduate. He also proves the point--you don't have to go to a major to be happy. He's got friends at FedEx and all the majors who keep bugging him to walk in his resume. But he's a captain/checkairman, lives on Cape Cod and is based in Boston. If he has to start a trip from somewhere other than Boston, he gets a space positive ticket. He gets to go to exotic places and meet very interesting people on a whole different level than flying 121 service. He has the 7/7 schedule, so he can plan his life well in advance. He's happy.