Cargo Or Passenger

nyk

nyk

Well-Known Member
I have been in this industry for almost 4 years next month. I have been at a passenger airline and at a cargo airline and have been contemplating which I like better. Obviously I cant ask for someone to choice for me but was wondering if you had a choice what would be your choice and why. If you care to share. Thanks.
 
I think the biggest advantage of passenger is non-rev benefits...of course, that's not the benefit it once was when planes were rarely more than 2/3 full, but it's still a pretty valuable benefit. CASS helps but it's not a complete replacement for it.
 
With me the only thing really pushing me to pax is this. Flight Benefits. I would like to travel in the future not just alone but with family and friends. Seems to be easier to non rev on your own airline than to jumpseat on others being in the cargo side.
 
For me, it is definitely the passenger side, because I don't want to spend the rest of my working life on graveyard shift.
 
Thanks for all the responses so far. On the non rev side I understand both side of this but the more I think about it I probably used CASS more than actual company non rev to get to my destination. Nowadays I prefer to pay for my tickets instead of bothering my buddies for a buddy pass or two.
 
Flying Saluki said:
For me, it is definitely the passenger side, because I don't want to spend the rest of my working life on graveyard shift.
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You do realize it's a 24 hour operation? ;-) You wouldn't spend the REST of your working life on midnights. It would definitely depend on the average age of a given dispatch group and upcoming retirements. I actually work all shifts on a relief line, which definitely keeps it interesting! But it gives me a chance to work days and 2nd shift as well.
 
Flying Saluki said:
For me, it is definitely the passenger side, because I don't want to spend the rest of my working life on graveyard shift.
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Common misconception as womanpilot so kindly explained. But on graveyard shift, I can't recall the last time any of my flights were affected by GS/GDP or ATC Reroutes. Plus even if we do get caught up, I'm sure the boxes don't have to comply with the 3hr Tarmac rule. Thus far it's been enroute and destination weather to deal with, but the holiday season is knocking on our doorstep.

Every operation has its pros and cons (as with choosing the school to obtain our certificate), it's up to the individual to find the best fit.
 
MT said:
These days Non-rev is one of those little perks that the airlines say you have but don't really.
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While it's definitely not the benefit it once was, it's still a benefit. One of my co-workers, along with his wife and two kids, has managed to travel to Hawaii, Europe, and Latin America and back within the past year, all for free. He is very flexible on where he goes and sometimes has to change plans at the last minute based on where there is availability - but that's still a pretty good deal.
 
MT said:
These days Non-rev is one of those little perks that the airlines say you have but don't really.
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Maybe you use to have issues. At least when I worked at US between 2007-2011. It was a breeze to fly. Always seats available. The MBA's have figured out "capacity" is all.
 
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womanpilot73 said:
You do realize it's a 24 hour operation? ;-) You wouldn't spend the REST of your working life on midnights. It would definitely depend on the average age of a given dispatch group and upcoming retirements. I actually work all shifts on a relief line, which definitely keeps it interesting! But it gives me a chance to work days and 2nd shift as well.
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I am well aware of that. I'm also aware that because the large majority of freight flies at night, so too will the large majority of freight dispatchers work at night. I spent a year working a night freight operation. Two-thirds of our dispatch staff worked graveyard. It wasn't for me.
 
Flying Saluki said:
I am well aware of that. I'm also aware that because the large majority of freight flies at night, so too will the large majority of freight dispatchers work at night. I spent a year working a night freight operation. Two-thirds of our dispatch staff worked graveyard. It wasn't for me.
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I was bustin your chops a little bit there ;-)

I'm wondering if you worked at a domestic night freight operation? That would make more sense that 2/3 of your dispatch group worked midnights. Being a worldwide carrier, our group is pretty equally split between the different shifts.
 
Flying Saluki said:
....the large majority of freight flies at night.
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I wish I had the video segment to post but this triggered NTSB Chairman Hersman's question to the UPS panel "why do your flights occur at night?" o_O:confused::rolleyes:

Stay safe out there my friends! (regardless of what kind of operation you're involved with)
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Most of the time working at the big cargo companies pay enough where your family wouldn't have to non-Rev as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
nyk said:
With me the only thing really pushing me to pax is this. Flight Benefits. I would like to travel in the future not just alone but with family and friends. Seems to be easier to non rev on your own airline than to jumpseat on others being in the cargo side.
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Passenger. Even if you make 90k at a cargo, youll still be making relatively the same as a major passenger, why not have the extra benefit of flying free if its open?
 
womanpilot73 said:
I was bustin your chops a little bit there ;-)

I'm wondering if you worked at a domestic night freight operation? That would make more sense that 2/3 of your dispatch group worked midnights. Being a worldwide carrier, our group is pretty equally split between the different shifts.
Click to expand...

I guess my reply came off sharper than I meant. Yes, I have worked a domestic night freight operation. As I say, the hours were not for me. And while I know that FedEx UPS et al have daytime flights, the majority of their flying is still at night. I supposed if I were younger it might be a different story. But, at my age, were I to go to a freight carrier, it's likely the only light I'd see is the one you walk towards on you way to judgement. :)
 
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