Originally Posted by BlackandBrown
Mungo man if you are going to do crazy things based upon what you read on pprune then you need a reality check. There is a reason why the pay is slightly higher - flexicrew are contractors - they have no pension, no security, no extras paid for, no one to go back to if they are dissatisfied and barely any kind of leave structure or holiday pay. If you're sick then you get a statutory sick pay and that's it. Finally you won't necessarily be where you want to be based like you may be with your current airline which I'll presume is regionally based if its such a poorly paid jet job - probably bmi baby or jet 2. So you'll have the cost of selling everything and moving for a contact job or paying to commute to work - perhaps to somewhere like Rome, Madrid or Paris. If there's no staff travel this can be painful. Selling the house and moving could cost anywhere between 10 and 30 grand on top of your hypothetical type rating. Why do you do desperately want to fly for easyjet that you'd pay 40-60k more to earn a little more, for less security ( even if you do work that tinpot outfit bmi baby) and ultimately do the same job. Oh and if you are inexperienced on type you'll prob have to take 1200 a month for 8 months too.
What you say is very logical but doesn't necessarily apply to me. After 5 years I'm still not based where I want to be, and consequently I haven't brought a house yet so I'm very flexible in terms of moving. A few years abroad appeals to me (as long as its in Europe as I'm not interested in the Middle East).
As to the other points about lack of pension, sick pay etc, well at the moment what I've got is what I will always get if I stay, and its not a great deal. Its ok, but not as good as permanent at Easyjet. Buying my way into Easyjet would be a stepping stone towards long term financial reward. Basically its all a numbers game; what course of action would give the greatest return?
But back to reality, I'm not really going to give up a permanent job with a command round the corner, go back into debt (having spent 8 of the last 10 years in debt) all to spend an unknown length of time contracting, all to gamble on making a few extra quid in a distant and uncertain future. I suppose my point is that it seems like this is the only option these days now that proper flying experience doesn't count for anything much. Frustrating times. I remember an FO who left my company 5 years ago who went to Easy as one of the last TRSS guys, permanent contract, fixed UK base, good salary, loan repayments to cover type rating, probably a Captain now enjoying money not short of what www is on. Lucky guy I say. But that door into Easyjet closed soon after and has remained heavily locked ever since and its hard to understand sometimes.