[flyin_sooner]

Originally Posted by lunchbox

You're a bad, bad man...

Hey now I kept it to myself...somewhat. And yeah I'm really not sexist or racist or anything I just find it all really funny.

[Rosstafari]

Originally Posted by chilibamma

Agreed, but I was hoping you would go on a big rant about how my thought process of picking a state with a number of lower level towers was ridiculous and I was amazingly stupid 'cause that would never work. That way no one else with pick it.

Oh, right. Yeah. Stupid. Amazingly so.

I almost ended up at BTR, actually. Got in good with someone who could get me into ZSE before the panels, and that happened instead (and now, ZLA). I'm excited to head there and all, but part of me still wishes that I was headed to Baton Rouge instead. So if you make it there... live it up.

Originally Posted by lunchbox

contract should be your starting point. no one i know (i know people from 3 different contract companies) likes working for one. gain as much knowledge and experience then try to get in with an airline. 13.40 is way more than i make. enjoy it.

Soon it'll be a little bit harder to get in with an airline... we're about to hit slow season. If a contract is hiring, Mike, jump on it. It'll boost your app for airlines later, like lunch is saying. Just be prepared to be hauling a whole ton of snowbirds' bags this winter if you're at HPN, cause all those flights are headed down to Florida.

And yeah, contracts can suck, but the hard workers go to the top fast. At least they do up here in Seattle. It's easy to stand out from the guys just doing enough to get by.

[lunchbox]

Yeah you're right, Ross. Hardworkers do move up fast and a S ton of our Canadian flights start this month. Aye?

[mikefsfr]

Originally Posted by Rosstafari

Oh, right. Yeah. Stupid. Amazingly so.

I almost ended up at BTR, actually. Got in good with someone who could get me into ZSE before the panels, and that happened instead (and now, ZLA). I'm excited to head there and all, but part of me still wishes that I was headed to Baton Rouge instead. So if you make it there... live it up.



Soon it'll be a little bit harder to get in with an airline... we're about to hit slow season. If a contract is hiring, Mike, jump on it. It'll boost your app for airlines later, like lunch is saying. Just be prepared to be hauling a whole ton of snowbirds' bags this winter if you're at HPN, cause all those flights are headed down to Florida.

And yeah, contracts can suck, but the hard workers go to the top fast. At least they do up here in Seattle. It's easy to stand out from the guys just doing enough to get by.

Ya I'm all over it. This october will be my first panel so Im hoping for the best and planning for the worst like everyone else. My interview is tomorrow so we'll see. Thanks for the info. Why is getting in with the airlines so desirable as opposed to staying with a contract group? I was pretty pleasantly surprised about the starting pay, the lady also mentioned something about it becoming a union job after 5 months of employment.

[lunchbox]

Higher pay and benefits with an actual airline. Simply put.

[mikefsfr]

you guys get free flights anywhere? and you think any chance of someone like me working at a contract place getting any? wishful thinking..

[lunchbox]

We get some benefits but nothing like a real airline. Ex: I can take one person with me to the Bahamas and just pay taxes.

[Cirrus12]

The crap we put up with getting on and off an airplane - The Oatmeal

Definately worth a read

[Rosstafari]

Originally Posted by mikefsfr

Why is getting in with the airlines so desirable as opposed to staying with a contract group? I was pretty pleasantly surprised about the starting pay, the lady also mentioned something about it becoming a union job after 5 months of employment.

Lunch nailed it. You're paid more, insurance/retirement/etc are better, sometimes there're stock options, and your flight benefits are better. And as much as I like some of our ramp guys, I'd much rather hang out with the airport ops crowd. I don't have a problem with blue collar, but... you know.

You have to watch airline job listings like a hawk, though. Check every week, if not every three days. Jobs go up and down REAL fast. Just bookmark the Careers section of all of the airlines pages you're willing to work for (you can find out which airlines serve the airports you're willing to be at via Wikipedia on airport articles), and get in the habit of checking them regularly.

[Rosstafari]

Originally Posted by Cirrus12

The crap we put up with getting on and off an airplane - The Oatmeal

Definately worth a read

Brilliant. Printing it to post up on our wall right now.