Upgrade Seniority Question

[LoadMasterC141]

So I am explaining to someone a little about what I know about the airlines pertaining to seniority. I thought that if an FO moves from that position to CA, and ha sbeen with the company for say 3 years, then he/she is now a 3 yr pay scale captain. He says that is not always true and that Mesa actually starts their captains at the bottom of the year pay.

[Clocks]

I believe there are a few cases where you go back to "first year" pay as CA, but they are the exception. At xjet it goes to your longevity with the company (a 3rd year FO upgrades to be at 3rd year CA pay).

[MDPilot]

You are right for about 85% of the airlines out there, however there are some where years of service for pay starts over upon upgrade. Depends on your contract ( or in the event of a non-union carrier, management's policy).
Another reason to research a employer before deciding to apply/work there.

[SpiraMirabilis]

Originally Posted by LoadMasterC141

So I am explaining to someone a little about what I know about the airlines pertaining to seniority. I thought that if an FO moves from that position to CA, and ha sbeen with the company for say 3 years, then he/she is now a 3 yr pay scale captain. He says that is not always true and that Mesa actually starts their captains at the bottom of the year pay.

No, a three year FO upgrading to Captain will receive pay at the rate of a third year captain at Mesa. There are some airlines where this is the case though. Would Skybus count if they only had one payrate regardless of how many years you worked there?

I believe a few international carriers do it that way also.

[MQAAord]

Yup to the above.

Most airlines do not put you back at 1st year CA pay when you get your CA bid. If you're 3 years with the company, you're on 3rd year CA pay if you upgrade.

[PCL_128]

At Virgin America, you go back to year one when you upgrade. That's the only airline I can think of that has that crazy system.

[Shhhh, not while im flyin]

i was completely misinformed on this. anybody know about eagle?

[SpiraMirabilis]

Eagle is same way. I don't think there is any regional in the US that resets your longevity like VA does. That's one way, I think, you see career people in Eagle. They're a FO so long and then suddenly they're like a 7 year captain making tons of money (comparatively) and get real comfortable.

[WalterSobchak]

Originally Posted by LoadMasterC141

So I am explaining to someone a little about what I know about the airlines pertaining to seniority. I thought that if an FO moves from that position to CA, and ha sbeen with the company for say 3 years, then he/she is now a 3 yr pay scale captain. He says that is not always true and that Mesa actually starts their captains at the bottom of the year pay.

Outside of VA( as stated) I don't know any one who does it that way.

Longevity = your payscale. What year etc.

Seniority = Who you are behind or a head of.

Just trying to clear things up for you if you didn't know. Hope that helps!