Spirit

E

endeavor

New Member
Obviously this is my first post but i have been a long time lurker.
I was recently lucky enough to get an interview with Spirit - I had placed my app in a long long time ago and I do have 2 recs, I think one of them triggered it recently.
A background on me so you can give me advice on a decision i have to make if hired.

I currently work for a regional based in JFK. I am making descent money for the first time in my flying career. I have 2 kids at home and my wife is able to work an extremely part time shift. With my schedule I am only gone 8-9 overnights a month right now. I am also in my young 30s

If I go work for Spirit - I will be taking a huge paycut the first year and will probably not be able to make up my current pay until year 3 which means my wife will have to go back to full time and daycare etc..........
I have family that lives in DTW so I would probably just move back there, I know the base is small but i am thinking baby sitters.
My whole life I wanted to work for American United, or Delta but as I look at the current situation I have no idea when I would even get that chance, let alone get hired.

My questions to everyone on this board would be:
Would you go to Spirit?
Do you think Spirit Will merge with anyone in the future? (I dont because their business model is so different)
For those who would stay and hold out for delta american, or united, why would you?
I dont find it necessary to waste spirit and my time just going there to get a type rating to get more qualified - its not worth the risk involved.
Another thought i have is this , even though they have 106 aircraft on order they are not actually real until on property, whereas retirements at the legacies are for certain and there are a lot more than the 1200 pilots or so that spirit will hire. Also where will spirit get pilots when the others start hiring?
I am asking all these questions because I am not 100% certain i want to work for Spirit, and if I go there thats probably going to be my career because i dont want to go through training 2 more times unless i get furloughed..
Also, What do you think about this? Call it shiny jet syndrome if you want but I have spent so much time in this career and effort that i would eventually like to fly a dreamliner or 747 not just an airbus, im sure i could look past that but right now its one of my thoughts.
Only serious responses please and thanks ahead of time!
 
It's hard to say what is going to happen in the industry tomorrow. Go where you think will be better for you and the family in the long run. With that said pilots I've known from Spirt have loved it there.
 
Nothing says you can't bail on Spirit for an opportunity somewhere else in the future. The question seems to be if it's worth sending your wife back to work/ moving/ commuting in the short term.
 
These are the toughest of decisions. I know how difficult they are to make, and that you are probably up at night stressing about what to do, how you will commute, the money, and change in general.

It's easy for me to say, but go to the interview, do your best. You have no choice to make until they offer you the job. In the meantime, congratulations on the interview! In this environment that in itself is an accomplishment.
 
endeavor said:
If I go work for Spirit - I will be taking a huge paycut the first year and will probably not be able to make up my current pay until year 3 which means my wife will have to go back to full time and daycare etc..........
I have family that lives in DTW so I would probably just move back there, I know the base is small but i am thinking baby sitters.
My whole life I wanted to work for American United, or Delta but as I look at the current situation I have no idea when I would even get that chance, let alone get hired.

My questions to everyone on this board would be:
Would you go to Spirit?
Do you think Spirit Will merge with anyone in the future? (I dont because their business model is so different)
For those who would stay and hold out for delta american, or united, why would you?
I dont find it necessary to waste spirit and my time just going there to get a type rating to get more qualified - its not worth the risk involved.
Another thought i have is this , even though they have 106 aircraft on order they are not actually real until on property, whereas retirements at the legacies are for certain and there are a lot more than the 1200 pilots or so that spirit will hire. Also where will spirit get pilots when the others start hiring?
I am asking all these questions because I am not 100% certain i want to work for Spirit, and if I go there thats probably going to be my career because i dont want to go through training 2 more times unless i get furloughed..
Also, What do you think about this? Call it shiny jet syndrome if you want but I have spent so much time in this career and effort that i would eventually like to fly a dreamliner or 747 not just an airbus, im sure i could look past that but right now its one of my thoughts.
Only serious responses please and thanks ahead of time!
Click to expand...


It's hard to say after all it's your decision but Anywhere you go for the first year is going to be a paycut if you've been somewhere for a while, so I wouldn't let that be a big factor in it.

I have no idea about the DTW base I know that there are a few guys on here who work there so they might be able to help on that one..

I always wanted to go to American, but when I got offered a chance to get out of the regional I was at I took it (so far I'm glad I did). With that being said my wife and I thought "Is is worth staying where I am at forever because this might be my Only chance to go somewhere." I would definately ask your wife and include her in your decision after all it's a group effort.

Now for the questions I'll try and answer...
-If I would have gotten an interview and an offer (at Spirit) I would defiantely have gone.
-I figure someday if Spirit merges with anyone it will be us (Allegiant) models aren't exactly the same, but they do some type of things (again thats just my opinion/guess)
-If your not sure 100% if you want to stay or go try making a list of con's and pro's it does help
-As for SJS, I think everyone (deep down) would love to fly a 787 or something of that nature, but that being said there aren't enough of those jobs for everyone who wants one, so sometimes you have to set that aside and make a decision.

I was in your position in April I had been at XJT for 10 years and was pretty senior, pretty good lines, decent qol. I got a call from AAY to interview I wasn't 100% sure I wanted it but I went anyway to see what they had to say. The offered me the job 2 days later so my wife and I made lists (lots of lists) pro's and con's. We decided that it seemed like a good move for me. Yes first year pay is awful...but in April (1 year) I'll only be a few dollars short of what I was making at XJT after 10 years. No flight bag for me to lug around or overnight bag, since I've had back and knee surgery this was a big factor! I actually have more days off (most months) now than I did at XJT. So all in all I'm happy I moved. Is it all sunshine and puppy dogs? No, but I am over all happy I made a move out of XJT. Good luck with your decision it's not an easy one.
 
Thanks for the replies, I think there def. is some upside to spirit, their business model unfortunately works, I say that because the back of their airplanes are super uncomfortable, but the seats up front are fine!
 
I remember reading somewhere that DTW is pretty senior for Spirit.

As far as the interview, the advice I give is take the interview, show up and do your best. Worry about taking the job or not after they offer it to you. Good luck!
 
Congrats on the interview; just remember if you don't know that you are certain about wanting to work there it will show through in the interview. It's no longer a "it's your job to lose senario". Good luck either way.
 
I think you need to sit down with your wife and figure this out. It doesn't matter if it's Spirit, AA, UAL/CAL or DAL. The decision is the same. You will give up seniority, pay and QOL to go.

I can't comment of QOL or attitude or opinions at other airlines. At Spirit, the 3 yr FO's who hated the contract and voted no in 2010 are now upgrading. Even without upgrading they are making more now than my husband ever did as an FO. Yes, there is less attrition because the company is no longer just a stepping stone to the "majors". Most are staying because QOL is much better with the 4 day off rule and other sweet provisions in the contract that the "majors" don't have.

If your dream is to fly for AA, UAL/CAL or DAL then you need to figure out how to make that happen!

Just like many at SWA are happy flying what they fly and the destinations to which they are sent, DH is very happy flying the Airbus and flying to the destinations flown by Spirit, domestic or international. If you want more, then you need to pursue that.

Spirit is in business to make money. They don't care about market share.They care about making a profit on every single route they fly. If the route isn't making money, they move to another. So far, it's working because they continue to make money.

Best of luck to you in whatever decision you make!
 
I also heard DTW is senior and all the new hires go to FLL. Thats what a Spirit guy told me about a year ago. In the past I had no desire to go to spirit, because I live on the West Coast. But now that they will be opening an LAS base, I put my app in. For me QOL is about getting rid of my commute. If not entirely, at least down to a 1 hour flight. I currently commute from LAX to DTW. Its ridiculous. So for me if Spirit called, I would be there in a heartbeat. However if I was LAX based at my company (which doesnt exist) I would stay. To me, having to commute or not, is huge for my QOL. Pay will go up, your seniority will go up....but DTW will never get any closer to LAX.

I wish you the best of luck at your interview and on your decision, if you're fortunate to have to make one.
 
blee256 said:
I also heard DTW is senior and all the new hires go to FLL. Thats what a Spirit guy told me about a year ago. In the past I had no desire to go to spirit, because I live on the West Coast. But now that they will be opening an LAS base, I put my app in. For me QOL is about getting rid of my commute. If not entirely, at least down to a 1 hour flight. I currently commute from LAX to DTW. Its ridiculous. So for me if Spirit called, I would be there in a heartbeat. However if I was LAX based at my company (which doesnt exist) I would stay. To me, having to commute or not, is huge for my QOL. Pay will go up, your seniority will go up....but DTW will never get any closer to LAX.

I wish you the best of luck at your interview and on your decision, if you're fortunate to have to make one.
Click to expand...
DTW is very senior. The spirit captain in my glider club has ten years there and just this summer was finally able to get DTW based
 
That's another issue I am having with this I want to move to a base and I have family in dtw, if I am going to be gone for a trip I want my wife to be around family. There is no point in moving to FLL I might as well stay out east. I'll have to ask them about dtw in the interview. It sounds like I might turn into a senior fo there if it is going to take 10 years to hold as a captain.
 
Inverted25 said:
DTW is very senior. The spirit captain in my glider club has ten years there and just this summer was finally able to get DTW based
Click to expand...

Please read the other thread: http://forums.jetcareers.com/threads/spirit.131447/

DTW is, indeed, very senior for CAPTAINS! That is because, way back when, the company was formed out of DTW. So the most senior people at the company are from DTW.

It is now going junior for FO's. The opening of LAS drew most who lived out west. Recent hiring has caused upgrades as well, moving the FO's who could still hold DTW out of the mix. According to the seniority list, some new hires are getting DTW.
 
I'm short the mins by a few hundred hours, do I apply and keep the updating game going every couple weeks? "I am very eager to work there! vs. I cannot follow directions and disregard your minimum request."
 
Endeavor, sorry for jumping on your thread! I think there was a general Spirit thread last week and I assumed I posted there.

Congrats on your interview, as others have said. That in itself is a huge achievement. That 4 day off guarantee is something that has more value to me above any compensation concern. Guaranteed quality time with my family, a working business model, and a Florida base... I'm in! Keep us posted.
 
blee256 said:
I also heard DTW is senior and all the new hires go to FLL. Thats what a Spirit guy told me about a year ago. In the past I had no desire to go to spirit, because I live on the West Coast. But now that they will be opening an LAS base, I put my app in..
Click to expand...

It's funny. I've flown with a handful of guys in the past few weeks that said they are now actually going to apply to Spirit, just because they are opening a LAS base specifically. I hope they all get hired, because I need some movement here at SureJet :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top