Real Answers from Real Pilots

June '17 Schedule

Schedules Tory's Schedule
#1

June '17 was my first month flying the line. 85 hours of flying.

  2. SEA-OAK-SEA, SEA-STL
  3. Layover
  4. STL-SEA
  7. SEA-SFO-SEA, SEA-PDX
  8. PDX Layover
  9. PDX-SLC-PDX-STL, Layover
  10. STL-SEA
  13. SEA-SFO-SEA-PDX
  14. Layover
  15. PDX-SEA-ONT-SEA, Deadhead to YYC (Calgary), Layover
  16. YYC-SEA-SBA-SEA
  17. SEA-SFO-SEA
  20. Deadhead to PDX
  21. PDX-SLC-PDX, Deadhead to SEA
  22. SEA-SJC-SEA-PDX (Line Check-PASS!), Layover
  23. Deadhead to SEA, SEA-SJC-SEA
  25. SEA-SJC-SEA
  26. SEA-YYC-SEA
  28. SEA-STL
  29. Layover
  30. STL-SEA-YYC, Layover
4 Likes
#2

Tory,

I am curious. I thought that most airlines, even regional, had a guaranteed number of days off each month. My understanding was it was around 12. By my count I found 9. Did you volunteer for extra flights? Were days like the 20th where you deadheaded counted as well? Or am I misinformed?

Carl

1 Like
#3

@carlhines I picked up the SJC and YYC turn on the 25 and 26. We’re hurting for pilots so badly right now. Scheduling calls me multiple times a day on my days off begging me to pick up extra trips. I did the ones I could. Always nice when they offer premium pay! $$$

2 Likes
#4

Thank you for the insight. I imagine it is easier to say yes for those who live in base than commute. If I may be so intrusive, how does the premium pay work? Is it a set differential for the hours flown, a percentage like overtime (1.5x) that I would be familiar with, can it be exchanged for comp time (extra vacation days)?

Carl

#5

@carlhines Yes. Living close to base helps. That’s one of the reasons I moved to Seattle.

This is my first airline. So, I’m not sure if premium pay is the same for all airlines, but for us it’s a percentage of what we currently make per flight hour.

#6

Carl,

As Tory said it can vary from airline to airline but at mine it’s based on supply and demand. If you pick up a trip on a “red day” from “open time” (day when they’re below reserve coverage aka they don’t have the min reserves for that day) you get 150%. If THEY call you the day before it’s usually 200%. On rare occasions when it’s the day of and no one is answering their phones it can be 300%. You can also sometimes bargain for an extra day off. Kinda like Let’s Make A Deal :slight_smile:

Adam

1 Like
#7

Carl,

At United the premium pay is simply 200% of your normal hourly rate.

Chris

1 Like
#8

Triple pay sounds nice, I may have to reconsider my thoughts on commuting vs. living in base.

#9

Carl,

Not sure what you need to reconsider? While some people have to commute do to family or other factors I defy you to find a single pilot who can say anything positive about commuting. A good portion of the pilots I know do commute but if they didn’t have to they wouldn’t and simply put, as someone who doesn’t, it’s almost as if I have a different job.

Adam

#10

I’m quite fond of living in Orlando and, with the exception of Jet Blue and South West, it isn’t a big domicile town. Miami would be an ideal situation as its an easy commute and I can drive it if need be.

#11

Hi Tory,

What equipment are you flying? Thanks.

Ron

#12

Ron,

E175