Tattooedaviator

it’s always one of the first questions I get asked (how soon am I going to upgrade?). My answer is always that I am in no hurry and I have no plans to commute. That always seems to make the grumpiest TWA-er happy.

TallFlyer

Yep. I'll take the first Bus upgrade in CLT, but there's no way I'm commuting for that shizzzz. I am somewhat tempted to just wait until WB FO in CLT, but stacking some mad cash in the 401k has some utility too.

thrust

Don't need to be a NB CA to max out the 401k. Takes a little bit of discipline, and it's certainly easier at NB CA/WB FO pay, but with 2nd year NB FO pay now at $178ish (185ish 2025) and 17%/18% DC... very doable.

I too spent too long as a NB FO, by choice. The schedule control and premium opportunities were too good to give up. That said, I didn't have the standard upgrade reasons to consider- sick family member, 3 ex wives, 2 boats and an RV-8, etc etc.

JulesWinfield

Hard to max that out, even on 2nd year FO pay. My quick calculation shows you would have to credit 130 hours a month. That's tough, especially with our staffing situation being much better and there being less premium overall. If you have decent seniority in your category and know all of the imax tricks, it is possible, but still tough.

FlyyGuyy

agreed,

i am a very junior capt. 5 year pay. cant hold anything but short call. 401k will be maxed in august. already passed the personal max contribution. I have only one time bid for or gotten an OG trip and it was a one day.

thrust

Year 2 NB FO @ $178.45. LC reserve, 73 hours a month, does nothing extra and never flies beyond 73 hours. About $13000/month before taxes, union dues, etc. Not including any distance learning, holiday pay, per diem, midnight release, etc etc.

Company 17% DC on that is about $26500/year.

$69000 overall 401k limit (company+pilot) means the pilot needs to contribute roughly $42500 (using after-tax option after $23k limit reached, which we have) to reach yearly max. That's about $3550/month (roughly, pre/post tax considerations, etc). Doable on $13k/month pre-tax? Yes. Easy? No, but depends. Spouse work? Mil income? Pick up an OG trip every now and then? Bid a line and credit "more" (not work harder)?

Just saying you don't need to be a NB CA to "stack mad cash in the 401k", although it certainly makes it easier, as does a yearly pay increase and eventual 18% DC. These are absolutely first world problems. Not sure where you get 130 hours/month though... what am I missing?

JulesWinfield

I was referencing maxing out the IRS limits.

joepilot50

Final Awards are out.

Quite a few changes. 737 and 320 saw more CA's awarded with the lowest seniority getting the award dropping about 200-300 numbers from the prelim. Still ~2 year upgrades.

A lot of the DCA 737 CA awards got changed to withheld.

Lifeson2112

how’d you do on the final?

thrust

So was I. Unless you're talking about beating the company to filling up the $69k entirely with your earnings (mostly, can't stop the 17%/18% DC while you're working) and then having the DC become cash over cap for more than like two weeks at the end of December. Yeah, that's gonna be difficult on second year NB FO pay, no doubt.