Can someone in the know tell me the pro’s/cons of going SO widebodies VS FO narrows?

My brief 2 cents.

SO lifestyle is good. Big blocks of time off. Commutable from almost anywhere in Aus if you choose. QOL reduces when you owe hours / blank line as days off are not protected.

A new hire FO will be paid better than any B-Scale SO regardless of fleet. You will work significantly more than most SOs, but when you're on top of the cage you can generally have a fair amount of time off if you want it. Commuting is not impossible but significantly more difficult. 28 day rosters may suit you better and days off are protected.

Worth noting, you cannot regress from FO-->SO under normal circumstances if you decide to take the 737 day one and it doesn't work for you.

Are they giving people the choice between SO/FO when they commence?

I believe due to a shortage, particularly 737 MEL, it is being offered day 1, or even earlier to suitably qualified applicants (on a handshake agreement, as you must be hired as an SO). Rumour has it, a few Virgin 737 drivers were offered class dates on the proviso they signed up for 737 day 1. They changed their mind after signing the papers, much to HRs distaste.

They would be giving away $. With current hours flown most 737 drivers, even on year 1 scales, would have a total yearly gross starting with a 2. New hire S/Os first year rates Airbus would be $110k plus allowances, 787 $125k.

Flown with a few of them - they’re happy to trade the $$ for the chunks of time at home.

Thankfully, not everyone is driven by the dollar.

Still no word on upcoming courses from those inside? Seems like no March or April course?

not sure on March or April but I know someone on the May course and apparently not as many hired as previous courses

What sort of allowances would someone expect on the 330 at the moment over the year? Average pay per fortnight?

Has the training wage changed on this new scale too?

Thanks in advance

some people have May dates

Courses slowed for 2-3 months due to the lack of training resources, then back to 20 a month for a good while.

Should kick off properly in May I've been told.

How much do Jetconnect pay now days?

depends on how short-sighted you were

Absolutely laughable!! I know 1 or 2 of these guys and they are, definitely, not, regretting it - if you need to believe that qantas is the best in the world go for it, but they aren't even close to it.

Anyone know why Qantas is tanking 90% of internal applications, when they have absolute spuds on the hold, are they really the best candidates or are they so pathetically cheap they want to keep internals from progressing?

Not much changes , in the 90’s 2 pilots in 10 years got into mainline from the %100 owned subsidiary I worked in, we all got interviewed, to show they were being fair . At same time 9 a month taken from oppositions operation. It’s just business .

I assume all new hires (who are not virgin 737 FOs) are going onto the 330 in Syd/ Mel or 787 Perth is that correct? Would I be correct that the new B scale is around 120k base plus approximately 20k in allowances? is what they are getting roughly?

Most new SO’s will end up 330/350 or 787 in SYD / MEL / PER.

The base will be approx $125K plus allowances of around $20K - $30K depending on trips.

330/350 SO Base to begin with, on MGH, is about $107k a year. Overtime depends upon trips you do. Hard to give an estimate on that figure.

If you fly more than MGH, then it’ll push it up. But don’t plan for things that are completely within the control of the airline.

Allowances can vary depending upon base and type. Example being if you’re doing a Singapore, it’s about $400/day. If you’re in Jo’Burg, it’s only about $180/day (allowances are paid as DTA from sign in to sign off). Use $20-30k as a very rough guide.

Do you guys often use allowances to prop up your average salary? You have to eat while your away yeah?