The new airline thread

[xaarman]

18 hours ago, HuggyU2 said:

Which airline?  

Dies their FOM address it to?  If so, Does it expand the options?

AA

Nothing in the FOM about it, based on my 15 second Control-F.

[matmacwc]

2 hours ago, SocialD said:

    

 I used to be the biggest hater of technician status.  However, the 25% bonus and alert are game changers.  If I'm a young guy who thinks they're going to go to the airline anyway I'm going technician, cash is King!

Do not go Tech, for Tricare alone.  Catastrophic illness?  It will break you no matter how good Blue Cross/Shield look day to day (financially).  Trust me, I’ve seen it.

[Guardian]

True. If I stay 20 it will only be for that benefit alone. Nothing else. As the quality of life ain’t worth it.

[Jaded]

1 hour ago, matmacwc said:

Do not go Tech, for Tricare alone.  Catastrophic illness?  It will break you no matter how good Blue Cross/Shield look day to day (financially).  Trust me, I’ve seen it.

My out of pocket max for Blue Cross is like $4k ($8k for the family). We could each have a million dollars in medical bills and never pay more than that. 

When was this that you saw someone with insurance who was broken financially because of catastrophic illness? 

[MooseAg03]

My out of pocket max for Blue Cross is like $4k ($8k for the family). We could each have a million dollars in medical bills and never pay more than that. 
When was this that you saw someone with insurance who was broken financially because of catastrophic illness? 

Lifetime or annual?


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[Jaded]

Annual. 

[Gazmo]

My out of pocket max for Blue Cross is like $4k ($8k for the family). We could each have a million dollars in medical bills and never pay more than that. 
When was this that you saw someone with insurance who was broken financially because of catastrophic illness? 

My Fed BCBS paid for a $200,000+ surgery and only had maybe $1,500 out of pocket expenses. Tricare, while free, can be a PITA sometimes if you have to use it alot. A lot of providers don't take it.

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[matmacwc]

Get real sick, run out of all leave, lose health insurance after a grace period.  Have fun.

Dont be an ART

Edited September 18, 2018 by matmacwc

[Jaded]

56 minutes ago, matmacwc said:

Get real sick, run out of all leave, lose health insurance after a grace period.  Have fun.

Dont be an ART

Why wouldn't this someone just sign up for different insurance if they knew their plan was expiring? Especially if they were sick? 

[HossHarris]

5 hours ago, Gazmo said:

My Fed BCBS paid for a $200,000+ surgery and only had maybe $1,500 out of pocket expenses. Tricare, while free, can be a PITA sometimes if you have to use it alot. A lot of providers don't take it.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
 

With the Recent advent and popularity of super high deductible catastrophic insurance plans .... lots and lots of places are real happy to take tricare. Especially independent docs and specialists. They know they’ll get paid. 

 

We haven’t had any issues using tricare standard everywhere 

Edited September 18, 2018 by HossHarris

[matmacwc]

1 hour ago, Jaded said:

Why wouldn't this someone just sign up for different insurance if they knew their plan was expiring? Especially if they were sick? 

With what money?  Medicare has a 6 month wait to receive insurance.

[Jaded]

Just now, matmacwc said:

With what money?  Medicare has a 6 month wait to receive insurance.

 

23 hours ago, matmacwc said:

Do not go Tech, for Tricare alone.  Catastrophic illness?  It will break you no matter how good Blue Cross/Shield look day to day (financially).  Trust me, I’ve seen it.

 

2 hours ago, matmacwc said:

Get real sick, run out of all leave, lose health insurance after a grace period.  Have fun.

Dont be an ART

I thought your original argument was that Tricare is worth consideration because of coverage during catastrophic illnesses. 

Now I have no idea what you're arguing. If you lose your job and lose your insurance and have no money the bills will "break you"? I agree. Isn't that the same on Tricare? 

[matmacwc]

I’m trying to say don’t be an ART, but you beat a dead horse about insurance.

[di1630]

And I used to think this thread was about airline stuff.


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[matmacwc]

9 hours ago, di1630 said:

And I used to think this thread was about airline stuff.


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It is, the ARTs at my base are hitting the $180K a year mark which is a good rival for a lot of young first officers in the airlines.  I’m saying don’t do it and have one example why.  

[MilitaryToFinance]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-fedex-pilot-shortage/ahead-of-holidays-fedex-leans-on-special-bonuses-to-keep-pilots-from-retiring-idUSKCN1ME0C8

[JeremiahWeed]

On 10/4/2018 at 10:05 AM, MilitaryToFinance said:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-fedex-pilot-shortage/ahead-of-holidays-fedex-leans-on-special-bonuses-to-keep-pilots-from-retiring-idUSKCN1ME0C8

Completely inaccurate article.

We signed this contract 3 years ago in fall of 2015.  These were basic provisions in that contract and have nothing to do with the holiday season or any other industry dynamics.  There are two "bonus" payments that really have nothing to do with "keeping pilots from retiring".

One is the $40K if a pilot gives 1 year advance notice of his retirement.  If he has 23 years of service or more, it doesn't matter if he goes this year, next year or anytime after that - same $40K.  As long as he gives 12 months notice.  So, not much going on there to "keep pilots from retiring".

The other ($110,000 bonus) was a genius move by the company.  Again, nothing to do with keeping pilots around longer.  It was all about incentivizing maximum work and min sick leave usage over the last 2 years a pilot works here.  Prior to this contract, pilot approaching retirement would make judicious use of their sick leave over the last couple of years which typically involved draining their maxed out sink leave bank (about 9-10 months worth of pay).  With 6 weeks of vacation on top of that, they could usually take 6-7 months off each year with full pay during their last two years.  Of course, they can still do this.  But, they do so knowing they are turning their nose up at what could amount to another $110K on top of the rest of their pay.  Not everyone values their time off that much. 

However, there are some strings attached - if they want the full $110K bonus, they need to work a full schedule for their last 48 months (i.e. earn at least $740,000 over that same 48 month period - which is pretty busy).  None of that income can be from sick leave and their sick bank must essentially be full when they retire.  If either of those two criteria are not met, the bonus is reduced accordingly.

Again - both of these bonuses really have nothing to do with keeping pilots from retiring.  Most guys are staying until the bitter end now anyway.  But, if a guy has been here 25 years, he can get both of these bonuses in their entirety if he chooses to retire at age 60.  Or, he can stick around another year or two, three, four or five.  No change to the bonus - no real incentive to stay longer other than the pay he will receive for working those extra years.

Just another poorly researched and written article.

[WheelsOff]

Been hearing some rumors about some airlines that have started to not look quite so favorably towards part-time guard/reserve bubbas in the hiring process. I know officially it’s against USERRA to do that, but can anyone confirm/deny this is starting to happen out there?

Also heard rumors that Purple specifically may be “discounting” T-38C time and treating it more like they do T-6 time...even though it’s multi engine, >12.5k GW? Someone please tell me I’m wrong?

[hindsight2020]

2 minutes ago, WheelsOff said:

Been hearing some rumors about some airlines that have started to not look quite so favorably towards part-time guard/reserve bubbas in the hiring process. I know officially it’s against USERRA to do that, but can anyone confirm/deny this is starting to happen out there?

Also heard rumors that Purple specifically may be “discounting” T-38C time and treating it more like they do T-6 time...even though it’s multi engine, >12.5k GW? Someone please tell me I’m wrong?

 

As to the first paragraph, that has been happening for years now. USERRA is a joke wrt hiring in the real world. Caveat emptor.

As to the second paragraph, I haven't heard of it. If true, eh, fvck 'em.

[Hacker]

25 minutes ago, WheelsOff said:

Also heard rumors that Purple specifically may be “discounting” T-38C time and treating it more like they do T-6 time...even though it’s multi engine, >12.5k GW? Someone please tell me I’m wrong?

What's the source of this rumor?

[brabus]

34 minutes ago, WheelsOff said:

Been hearing some rumors about some airlines that have started to not look quite so favorably towards part-time guard/reserve bubbas in the hiring process

I've heard that WOM off and on for a few years now. Doesn't seem to be true since I know/have seen tons of guard dudes get hired over the past few years. Take a look at the ARC in general and tell me you don't see a large portion already at the airlines/soon to be on their way. The airlines would be crazy to bypass any qualified pilots nowadays, let alone "highly" qualified mil pilots. 

Edited November 12, 2018 by brabus

[BADFNZ]

If all goes according to plan, I will be applying to the airlines in 3-4 months.  What should I be doing now to help myself out? 

[Guardian]

If all goes according to plan, I will be applying to the airlines in 3-4 months.  What should I be doing now to help myself out? 

Not an advertisement. But read cockpit 2 cockpit. It will help you start. Ready set takeoff is a good resource once you get your resume together. I will say that 3-4 months is behind the timeline. You will be out of work for several months because of it unless you can stay with the military as a free agent. So save your money, prepare your stuff, and study your butt off.

[xaarman]

Anyone have a review of TPNx?

[Buddy Spike]

8 hours ago, WheelsOff said:

Been hearing some rumors about some airlines that have started to not look quite so favorably towards part-time guard/reserve bubbas in the hiring process. I know officially it’s against USERRA to do that, but can anyone confirm/deny this is starting to happen out there?

Not true at AA.