Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilots...

[EDUC8-or]

Good luck XJET guys and gals, sorry to hear about this.

[FlyChicaga]

Since it was discussed earlier, I thought I'd share... I flew two flights today for ExpressJet, 100 percent load factor.

I'll have to respond to the other posts when I'm actually at a computer.

[Captain_Bob]

Originally Posted by Chris_Ford

And in those three months in a foreign country, how are you going to pay your rent back in the states, let alone afford to be able to live somewhere else (europe? exchange rate kills you...)

Contrary to popular belief... not every fresh, wet behind the ears First Officer is up to his/her ears in debt. Some have their perspective sugar momma's/daddy's, and some can just afford things because they... *gasp* planned for occurences like this since they knew they were getting into a volatile profession.

Backpacking across Europe can be done on the cheap... and those that are simply "living" in crashpads right now wouldn't have to worry about paying "rent" while they are gone.

If this were happening in my first year, heck... even my second year... I'd be all over it.

Bob

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by Chris_Ford

And in those three months in a foreign country, how are you going to pay your rent back in the states, let alone afford to be able to live somewhere else (europe? exchange rate kills you...)

eh, let the individual figure that out... there are ways and means (hostel anyone?) and it's a GREAT opportunity to do just that.

[SpiraMirabilis]

Originally Posted by Chris_Ford

And in those three months in a foreign country, how are you going to pay your rent back in the states, let alone afford to be able to live somewhere else (europe? exchange rate kills you...)

I don't have any student loans I have to pay every month which helps. If I had to, and I probably wouldn't, I could setup my apartment as a crashpad for a few months to offset the rent. I might return to find it totally destroyed though (and all my food eaten from the fridge) so that would be a desperation move. I also put a little aside every paycheck for miscellaneous expenses. Wouldn't be too difficult. Europe might be a bit much. But China, Russia, Japan -- all doable.

[DE727UPS]

"Thanks for the card. That's two in the last month or so. I am really on a roll here."

Merit, we love you. Just keep it here and you be da man.

[ChrisH]

Well, the pilots aren't the only ones who are dealing with this. I just found out some bad news today. I am a CSA for XJT in BTR. The "official" meeting is not until tomorrow, but, basically, Continental is offering our station, along with all of the stations in Louisiana, up for bid. Looks like XJT is out, and someone else will be working the Continental stations in Louisiana. I am out of a job, unless I want to transfer to another city, which I do not.

This is the second airline I have worked for, and the second time this has happened in the last two years. I am not even a pilot yet, and I already have been dealt two blows from the airline industry. It certainly makes me question working for the airlines as a career.

To be honest, it is a catch 22. I love the people I work with, as this is a VERY close station, but I hate the day to day tasks of the job. Dealing with angry passengers, and the other BS the airlines constantly throw at you. I think I'll take this opportunity to look for a non-airline related job, get back in school, work on a degree that will be worth something, and continue my flight training.

I don't know if XJT has a bid out to keep the station (I assume they do), but this will be another financial blow to XJT, considering this means they will probably lose five stations. Not to mention we have a contract to work Frontiers flights in BTR, and Frontier has just decided to pull out of BTR, so XJT will lose that.

[ILSstud]

Best of luck to all you guys at XJet...

[crashmbern]

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080310/lam037.html?.v=101

[Kristie]

Hey guys... what's the source of the Mesaba COLA?

[Captain_Bob]

Originally Posted by Kristie

Hey guys... what's the source of the Mesaba COLA?

Originally Posted by JBUCREW

Mesaba is offering COLA's its posted on there crew room door in DTW... I found it hard to believe to, I had to stop and read it twice. Its something like 15 Capts 10 FO's and 15 F/A's. I guess they are going to lose some saab cities out of DTW due to load factor and wgt rest... CRW is going RJ's and I hear that CHO will be next, but there must be more to that story.

[Kristie]

Does anyone have a copy of the info that's posted on the door (scanned)? So they didn't send out an email or some type of inter-company mail? cuz apparently, there are a few mesaba folks walking around that know nothing about it (say my sources).

I would think if it's just something posted on a door, then maybe it's not a serious matter?

[kellwolf]

What's the scope in the XJT contract? Skywest management would HAVE to know the kind of storm that having two militant ALPA groups under the company banner would start. So, the question is, would Skywest buy XJT for their equipment, routes and code shares and then shut the operation down? They could potentially merge ASA and XJT, so then there's another headache.

[surreal1221]

Consolidation. . .the wave of the future!

[777forever]

Originally Posted by Kristie

lets not keep this running... i already carded merit, would rather not have to dish out more for not playing nice on the Living Room floor.

Yes maam. Im proud to say I've never been carded here and would like to keep it that way, although I've had some kind words of wisdom from Dough on a couple occasions. Like Jack Sparrow so eloquently put it, I wash my hands of this madness