The whole structure is rather complicated, but IŽll give it a try...
- the test is exactly the same for all companies (Lufthansa pax - DLH, LH cargo - LCAG, Condor-CFG, CondorBerlin-CIB)
- the personal requirements differ slightly - mainly age (check out
http://www.lft-online.de/englisch/nav/frameset_in.htm )
- people are on one seniority list, but work for different companies under different contracts!!!!
- base pay is the same for all
- overtime and DH-pay is not as good with CFG and CIB
- starters (!!) on DLH have to fly to age 55 with option up to 60
- all others to 60
- DLH has a better retirement package than the others (please donŽt ask me about details, hardly anyone understands it...)
- retirement package depends on where you start, even if you switch companies - you take it with you
- final age depends on the employer, where you retire, so only original DLHers who end in DLH have the 55yrs option
- DLH-FO starts out on 737 or 320 (possibly 300 soon); CIB FO starts on 320 and can switch to:
- DLH 300, 742, 744, 340 and later to SFO 744 or 340 , normally only if theyŽre on that plane already
- or CFG 757 but no SFOs there so you lose that money
- or LCAG MD11, B742 with a theoretical possibilty of a future SFO position
- CFG FO starts on 757 and stays there until CP-upgrade - no SFO possibilty
- LCAG FO starts on MD11, B742 with a theoretical possibilty of a future SFO position only on his aircraft, no other swirching until CP
For all:
- after that only switch to CP position on DLH 737, 320; CFG 757; LCAG MD11, B742; CIB 320
- after that final upgrade to DLH 300, 340, 380, 742, 744 or CFG 757
Pay is same for all CPs, small or big.
Summary:
Considering pay, duty times, rostering as well as power of the company pilots reps...
my order of preference is:
DLH, LCAG, CFG, CIB
Looking at career-choices, flying different aircraft etc.:
DLH (by far!), CIB (right now you can leave onto heavies after ca 2yrs, but you never know), LCAG, CFG (those two depending on what ops you like to fly).
One more important thing:
CFG and CIB are both owned by C&N (think: JMC) and Lufthansa might not be the major shareholder much longer.
The CEO at C&N is a real tough one trying to break his company out of the "overpaid" Lufthansa system - WeŽll have to see, what the pay-negotiations bring - CIB and CFG might not have the option to switch in the future.
Lots of questionmarks - I wouldnŽt do it.
(All CFG FOs who have had the option of becoming SFO with DLH have done so, as fast as they could)
If you have the choice take a DLH-slot (and donŽt let the "career-center" screw you) - best deal.
IŽve been with DLH ab-initio FO on 737, 320 and 340 and after a year long decision making process (and after the LCAG-duty contract was amended a few months ago...)IŽm going for the LCAG MD11 CP training.
As FO I would not have changed companies away from DLH!
Guys (and gals) are great to fly with in all companies (except for the very rare d*head), SOPs etc. are good too.
Hope it helps, long enough as it is...