Flying Cheap and a better alternative

[varrin]

I finally had a chance to view Frontline's special from February entitled "Flying Cheap". This program is a little under an hour in length and is worth watching, especially if you're interested in flying, the aviation business, or government safety regulation

Comments

[polyanarch]

Your typical cab driver makes more than many regional airline pilots. School bus drivers probably make more too.

[varrin]

That's especially true at the lower ends of the industry. Many starting regional airline pilots qualify for public assistance (and some take it).

Are they making an investment?

[tlekas]

To what extent are the crew who work for the low paying airlines making an investment in their career? And to what extent is it realistic that any such investments will pay off?

It is my understanding that it used to be that pilots would "pay their dues" by working at low paying airlines, teach students, etc in order to build hours so they could eventually get a high paying airline job. Was that actually true? Is it true now?

Re: Are they making an investment?

[varrin]

In the past, this was, indeed, very true. There were some differences, though. Single-branded major airline code-sharing with regional airlines and regional jets both became popular roughly in the decade of the mid-80's to mid-90's. Prior to that, regionals connected passengers to majors under their own brands and codes, and generally with turboprop equipment. On one hand, they were actual stepping stones, and on the other hand, they (generally) weren't flying jet equipment under a major carrier's brand and they usually had somewhat experienced pilots in the left seat (compared to today