FirstClass

Training contracts are for regionals. If they have to twist your arm to stay, what does that really say about their corporate culture? It says they are aware of their competitive short coming but don't care enough to make the required changes.

echoaviation

Looks like all the tickets to the FLL job fair in November are sold out for Frontier. I have one I'm willing to part with for anyone interested..

Aero1900

The loooooong rumored training contract.... Long rumored, never implemented. I'm about 90% sure that they talk about the training just to try and weed out guys who just want to use frontier as a stepping stone to United.

I think that frontier has every right to try and hire guys that want to stay there. They mention and maybe even threaten a training contract. They've been doing it for years, and still, no one has signed it.

Everyone has a different opinion on them, I get that. But at this point, Frontier hasn't made new hires sign it.

In regard to the job fair presentation; I haven't seen it, but I've heard about it. It does sound kind of strange. I think that what frontier has going for it is fast growth and a business model that makes huge profits. Our old, recession era contract is not going to attract many people. I think they are showing the big picture, that frontier is growing quickly and this new business model might stake a real chunk of the market in the future..

Bolo

If they are requiring one to sign a training contract then the quality of candidates that we are going to is going to be low. Our health insurance coverage has been getting worse year after year. Sticking the pilot with higher premiums for the same/lesser amount of coverage is really disheartening. First year pay is also abismal! If you are at a regional, you may want to stick it out there for a year or two longer and work on getting hired by a legacy or even JetBlue/Virgin. Pilot morale hear is getting real bad due to the company not willing to negotiate with the pilots and there willingness to step all over our CBA to their benefit. I have never seen so many grievances filed hear since I have been here. Never use to be like this. Company management really believes that the pilot group is happy and content.

Jaww

I have been describing it the same way. I came excited and left underwhelmed to the point where I don't even want to work for them. They made me think I would just be a number for their bottom line. I understand this is the goal of any business, but at least BS me with the QOL stuff.

sulkair

I find these last two reports disturbing. If this is true it means things have really changed in the last 18 months. When I came through it was the exact opposite. If you go back as far in this thread you'll notice many feel as I did. Back then everyone was sincere and real and expected the same from the candidates. Most of us were impressed, not turned off. Too bad.

Anyone have a good impression at the fair?

crflyer

It has become a real issue. The company knows they don't have much to offer people so what they focus on is the future growth potential as the selling point at these job fairs. They're trying to sell Frontier as the place to be, and I'm not sure if they're delusional or if they think pilots are ignorant. Everyone at a legacy makes more on year 2 than F9 FOs top out at... and a few years after that they can out-earn F9 captains. The reality is that F9 is a stepping stone for most new hires at this point, and if the company wants that to change then they're going to have to play ball.

skater3260

That is very disheartening. The way the recruiters/pilots ran the interviews last winter was just like Sulkair described- it made you want to work here and really demonstrated what an opportunity this airline can be. The PowerPoint slide covering the first-year pay and a 'possible' $17,000 training contract was the only moment that gave you poise.
The fact is this place still is a great opportunity, and I enjoy coming to work because we have great flight crews. The real challenge is keeping your sights on the long-term improvements that will arrive in the post-Indigo era.

MtnPeakCruiser

So you would like the pilot recruitment to lie to you? What would make you feel warm and fuzzy? Either you come here for a 2-year upgrade, and the quick seniority that comes with a fleet forecasted to almost triple in size within 6 years, OR you go to a Legacy and hope that the mass retirements shield you from the next economic downturn. Every "career" airline is a risk, sometimes it pays out big if you get in while it's small. I haven't seen the recruiting presentation but that seems to be the sum of it. Think of Bill Franke's little boutique airline, America West; the airline name is no longer around, but their management (all hired under Franke) and pilot's have risen to the top of the heap. If you think you're not taking a risk and making a "no brainer" decision by jumping on at any legacy, then you need to spend some time talking to the guys furloughed at American and United for a decade. Good luck!

sulkair

Between todays litany of dread on this tread and listening to Hillary drone on before the committee all day, I finally resorted to lining up the shot glasses, ready to break the seal on my 1962 Jim Beam decanter. My sorrows were going to wait until tomorrow. ...Then I read this post! Mtn, You saved my $500 bottle of whiskey and had me at America West!