God there are a lot of missinformed opinions on here!
Number one TRSS is a LOAN NOT A BOND.
Number two As a TRSS salary is reduced by the same amount - the individual IS paying for the type rating.
Number three - going away and gaining TP experience first does not exempt you from TRSS.
I was a TP skipper before joining EZY and I joined through TRSS, and I took a slight pay CUT to do so.
And to the t*&t who said that being type rated means you should earn more than those who join untype rated, what about the hoards of guys who joined untype rated in the past and enjoyed a straight forward bond and the same salary as their peers for doing the SAME job?
Also, as I joined right at the infancy of TRSS I had guys with similar and LESS experience than me on my course who were direct entry, with a bond and a salary right through their training, all because they were interviewed before me and had their course delayed!
Make no mistake TRSS is a CANCER in this industry, and I am guilty of signing up to it, however in my own defence I joined when jobs were scarse and no one held a gun to my head either, in todays market however I would advise guys to play hard ball at the interview say yes right up to the crunch, then say you are only willing to take direct entry, if they tell you to F*+k OŁ$ then there will be plenty of other outfits willing to take your cash for a rating right now so no loss!
Right now EZY needs pilots more than they ever have done before, a few more reality checks like empty recruitment days and people refusing TRSS, not to mention the odd TRE resignation and the wheel just might start to turn.
I've made my bed by signing up to TRSS, but no one will cheer louder for new joiners from TP backgrounds who once again get DE rather than TRSS then me!