Lmad

Did f9 make the last class or will it make future classes sign a training contract?

I like BIG Bus

For those of you contemplating coming to F9. A little dose of reality to counteract any sales pitches you hear about growth and upgrades. In the two years I've been here we've only added 150 to the list. Growth seems to be coming from utilization. We use the crap out of these airplanes. Some "growth" comes from turning in 319s and getting 320s. The new routes they add seem to come from taking away other routes. Upgrades are anemic now, at best. The most recent upgrades are now 11/14 hires. That's now. There were about twenty hired each month from then on. Plus hold outs from previous classes, means that two years is now becoming three, and will deteriorate to 4, 5 and so on. The music will eventually stop. I have had decent seniority movement due to attrition, but again, how long until I hit the proverbial wall. Whatever numbers they tell you are just that. Anyone trying to tell you what a great deal something is for you is "selling" you. Do your research and realize that Frontier is what Mesa would look like if they flew bigger aircraft. if you still decide that F9 is something you are still interested in then realize that you are signing a training contract. Make sure you look at the health care, especially if you have a family. I've got family members who cannot get procedures covered even though they were ordered by specialists. It gets expensive. The hotels and locations are mostly sub par. Lines are OK at best. There is nothing to look forward to as far as seniority getting you a "good" line. Especially if you commute. All right that's enough for now. There are good things about being here but they are the same as any other airline. F9 is the choice I made consciously. It has been fine for me and that's all I'm going to say about that. I hope things get better here if I stay, and I am actively participating to make that happen. I know that getting hired at an airline takes time and work and you don't just apply and get a call. All I'm saying is I grabbed the low hanging fruit, and am dealing with my choice. Just don't go complaining that "they" said there was a lot of growth and I would upgrade in two years to justify the meager compensations here. Good luck to all of you searching to better your aviation career, but I sincerely hope someone else calls you first.

sulkair

F9 isn't really comparable to Mesa. Sorry I just can't let that one slide - it's too big a compliment to Mesa

I like BIG Bus

Sorry you didn't like my comparison sulk. But I don't want that to detract from the fact that Frontier is run by greedy misers that would put J. Paul Getty, Leona Helmsley, and dare I say even the fictional stinginess of Ebenezer Scrooge to shame. Also, the numbers they are telling recruits and potential new hires truly don't add up in reality. Couple that with the fact that even open-and-shut grievances and promised good faith negotiations are scoffed at and exhaustingly drawn out for seemingly nothing but sport. Pick your own comparison if you want.

TurboFanMan

I assume you have access to a seniority list? I'm not being a smart butt, I see 140 added in 9 months.
I'm not sure where your getting that 2 years and 150? Must be from when you came on, and not talking about this past 12 months which is current hiring?

I like BIG Bus

1000 when hired 1150 now. I didn't say got hired I said added. They are talking growth. That's the growth in two years, other than utilization. I also mentioned that due to attrition I've benefited with seniority, but that's probably not going to continue at a furious pace.

I like BIG Bus

And TFM, didn't you sort of agree with this assessment of little growth in the attrition thread by stating the list has been stagnant at around a thousand pilots. You also seem miffed by the recent stated hiring numbers and actual numbers for the next few months further proving my point. That's the info I was trying to put out for poeple trying to find a new home. Find the facts, not the sales pitch.

Blueskies67

Not sticking up for anyone but the plan I always saw was growth through utilization with very little aircraft growth at first, then slowly adding planes and increasing from there. Seems that we are finally just getting to the adding aircraft phase.

I like BIG Bus

Well there's the rub. Do you believe the projections? I have a hard time. Do you want to gamble your career aspirations on the track record of the Frontier leadership. That's the info I was trying to put out.

Yabadaba

Not trying to disagree with your assessment but I haven't been here 2 years yet and there is 300+ jr to me. I assume your 2 years here was rounded up? F9 hired me right after a layoff and it was a huge relief to get a job and not end up back at a regional. We have major issues here but I knew about all of them before I came. Anyone who believes a recruiter or managements sales pitch without doing their homework should know better. They get paid to talk you into showing up on the first day.