SkyWest vs. Pinnacle
- Thread starter Sea King
- Start date
GaTechKid
Well-Known Member
For SkyWest, you'll want to take into consideration something that isn't talked about a lot. Each one of us in initial groundschool is issued two plain looking women aged 16-19 for marriage and four IV bags of SKW patented company koolaid to last you through training. The koolaid is of course payroll deducted and the women have no upfront costs but will incur unknown monthly recurring expenses. For Pinnacle I hear they are charged a monthly cost for ongoing beatings to keep up company morale but I can't confirm that with 100% certainty since I don't work there. Hope this helps.
jynxyjoe
Queso King
It always seems like Skywest and ASA are the favorite child of the Delta family to me. ASA still has a little better contract than us I believe, but total value we may be higher now. I don't know what comparison there is on the Skywest side, their pay is similar but they medical stuff is a lot different and lets face it, pay can sometimes have little to do with the pay rate.
Pinnacle is trying to grow out the -900 and Q-400 fleets going forward. I think our 50 seat contract ends in 2017 I don't know about the Skywest or ASA contracts.
I feel like the Pinnacle contract, with it's one list on contract mentality, will be a bigger win for the pilots than a few extra bucks between the company. I wonder sometimes if you aren't walking into a whipsaw at Skywest/ASA/XJET. I'm not terribly educated about their side of the operation though.
kellwolf
Piece of Trash
I pretty much agree with Joe. Two or three years ago, I'd have said Skywest without thinking. The new contract here at 9E, while not perfect, does put is on more even footing with the other regionals. 'Course then again, we were a decade behind thanks to the eternal negotiations we found ourselves in. If health insurance isn't a big thing, then Skywest may edge 9E out on some soft money issues. I have to say, the 4 hour min day alone has been huge for me, though. The only time trip or duty rigs would have made a difference were during lengthy MX delays. If health insurance IS a big deal to you, I'd say 9E wins out there. The OP said take domiciles out of the equation, but to me, that's exactly what it would come down to. Eliminate that, and it's pretty much a toss up.
kellwolf
Piece of Trash
Yeah, but SKW has the CRJ-900 HEAVY.
Ooooh.
I do have a question, though. For the guys that fly the -900 most of the time over there, do you get paid -900 pay or -200 pay if you call in sick or take vacation time? Since it's an override, I would guess you get the -200 pay.
jynxyjoe
Queso King
Yeah, but SKW has the CRJ-900 HEAVY.
So does Pinnacle.
jynxyjoe
Queso King
Yeah, but which group will get the DVD player? Will the other have to go back to reel to reel?
Skywest. I would rather live out west then down south. I know you said domiciles aren't part of the equation, but for me, that would be a huge factor. Another would be financial health of the company, as well as future prospects, both for me professionally, as well as the company.
The dollar amount of compensation is important, but those things change year to year. 10 years ago, United was the place to be. Now it's Southwest. Enough said.
The dollar amount of compensation is important, but those things change year to year. 10 years ago, United was the place to be. Now it's Southwest. Enough said.
Sea King
New Member
Is the -900 in ATL super duper senior and hard to get? Sounds like nobody gets it right off the back, but how long is the line to get there? Once you get on the -900, do pilots go back and forth between -200 and -900, or just stay on the -900?
Does Pinnacle issue the classic set of Jeppesen charts per each pilot, or each aircraft has 2 copies in it? Apparently SkyWest puts 2 sets of Jepps (in the RJs) instead of having pilots carrying them around.
Pinnacle, initial ground training. Is the hotel single occupancy?
Thanks guys,
~sk
Does Pinnacle issue the classic set of Jeppesen charts per each pilot, or each aircraft has 2 copies in it? Apparently SkyWest puts 2 sets of Jepps (in the RJs) instead of having pilots carrying them around.
Pinnacle, initial ground training. Is the hotel single occupancy?
Thanks guys,
~sk
Baronman
Well-Known Member
I'd look at other contract issues before worrying about who has Jepps and hotel occupancy during training. I'm not trying to be a dick, just saying that training is a relatively short time in your career...And Jepps well....probably not even covered in a contract, more like a "oh neat!" thing that a decision maker/breaker.
Sea King
New Member
Nope, you are right. However, how do I put my hands on contracts? Also, if a company like SkyWest is not unionized, is there a legal contract out there -or would just be opspecs?
Again, I guess I'm just trying to get a feel for both places. I believe I've already made my mind up, since I will probably end up going with the company that offers the shorter commute home. IMHO, it's like shopping for 2 cars, same class, same size, same engine...different brands. I guess I was trying to look for the best deal, but I'll probably go with the dealer closer to home.
Pardon the analogy with car and car dealers.
Cheers,
~sk
Baronman
Well-Known Member
If you wanted to get your hands on a contract, there may be somebody on here who could forward you a pdf version of their's. It's not security sensitive or anything like that....Honestly if you haven't been flying 121, alot of the terms and content of the contract may seem foreign but obviously big ticket items (pay, vacation, days off) would be understandable.
As far as Skywest, you are correct that they don't have a "contract." I think usually it's referred to as an "agreement." In the end their management can change it much more easily then a company with a real contract could change theirs.
As far as Skywest, you are correct that they don't have a "contract." I think usually it's referred to as an "agreement." In the end their management can change it much more easily then a company with a real contract could change theirs.
BEEF SUPREME
Well-Known Member
Bahahaha. Thanks bro that was awesome!
broncoav8r
Well-Known Member
There are some guys who were hired in the last 6 months who are in differences training now. If you want the 900 and ATL you can get it, just be prepared to sit reserve for longer after an initial stint at either DTW or JFK.
Nope Each Pilot gets LIDOs, they are color, and therefore require a third binder because of the thicker paper.... People around keep talking about ipads by the end of the year (which I think is more likely since the LIDO app is now in the app store and according to the instructors, the money for them has been spent) but i'll believe we are getting iPads when they show up in my hot little fingers.
During training you get a single occupancy hotel room (usually can get a suite if the hotel has them...) 75/hr flight guarantee and 24/7 per diem. You are also an employee day 1, so you have Non Rev and CASS too.
Hope this helps
jynxyjoe
Queso King
kellwolf
Piece of Trash
The iPads, if they happen this year, will be LATE this year at the earliest. Even then, it's possible the Mesaba guys will get them first simply because it saves in printing costs. They'd need all new 9E manuals. At least, that's what we heard from the Powers That Be in recurrent a couple of weeks ago.
As for the VHS/DVD thing, it's possible that XJT/ASA might upgrade to DVD, but then again it may not happen until DVD has been replaced by Blu Ray. No contract is gonna be perfect. For me, I put our contract on par with the current ASA contract. Each has somethings that work well and somethings that could be improved. If you ever find a place with a perfect contract, never leave, for you've died and gone to Elysium. Even then, it's possible it won't be perfect 5-10 years later.
Getting the -900 might be a bit easier post-SLI and moving the XJ -900s onto the 9E certificate. You'll have more bases than ATL to choose from then.
As for the VHS/DVD thing, it's possible that XJT/ASA might upgrade to DVD, but then again it may not happen until DVD has been replaced by Blu Ray. No contract is gonna be perfect. For me, I put our contract on par with the current ASA contract. Each has somethings that work well and somethings that could be improved. If you ever find a place with a perfect contract, never leave, for you've died and gone to Elysium. Even then, it's possible it won't be perfect 5-10 years later.
Getting the -900 might be a bit easier post-SLI and moving the XJ -900s onto the 9E certificate. You'll have more bases than ATL to choose from then.