New Thomas cook pay scales
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: On a Flight Level
New Thomas cook pay scales
Hi guys out of interest looking at ppjn' seems TCX now have a lower almost fixed pay scale starting at 85k rising to only 93k after 20 years for skippers and 54k rising to 58k for SFO's with a bonus on both scales after so many years. Is this true?
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: On a Flight Level
Thanks for clarifing I was just curious as I remembered it being around 120k on the top scale a few years ago. At least it seems if ppjn is correct, pension is still up to a massive 18% company contribution??
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: big green wheely bin
It's 18% but the bonus isn't pensionable. Also, the B scale is more lucrative in the early years than the A scale. It's only when you get past about 10/15 years as a skipper that you will earn more on the A scale. However, as the bonus is not pensionable, the A scale pension is far better.
Joined: May 2001
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From: England
As I have posted elsewhere, I'm a fairly new SFO and am on target to gross slightly over £70k this last calendar year. Unlike TUI or Monarch, all 100 or so SFOs hired over the last 18 months were hired on full time contracts. How does £70k in year 1 compare to BA or Easyjet pilots? It might be on par with BA but considering the sector times at a, mostly midhaul operation like TCX, limits pilots to a max of 5 sectors per week, that's good money for going into the office 3 days per week in the summer and more like 1 or 2 in the winter. Get a regional base and you're laughing with plane to car park times. Pensions, concessions and other perks are all above industry average. Though I tend not to get excited by freebies. It's clearly not what it used to be but we live in a competitive world now. For quality of life vs salary it is one of the best gigs in town. Long term job security is another matter.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: On a Flight Level
I grossed just over 70K when I was SFO at EZY but 700hrs year (mostly 3-4 long 2 sectors a week) and 7% pension. Couldn't complain though very happy. I wasn't turning it into TCX vs debate just wondering if the B scale on ppjn was true/accurate as it seemed low especially for skippers compared to the A scale increments, but 18% pension was still kept. 
Joined: Jan 2016
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From: UK
I grossed just over 70K when I was SFO at EZY but 700hrs year (mostly 3-4 long 2 sectors a week) and 7% pension. Couldn't complain though very happy. I wasn't turning it into TCX vs debate just wondering if the B scale on ppjn was true/accurate as it seemed low especially for skippers compared to the A scale increments, but 18% pension was still kept.
Joined: May 2001
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From: England
If you do 6 per week, each one at 4 hours (my average at least), you fly 24 hours per week or 104 per month which doesn't happen. Average monthly hours in the summer is around 85. Work backwards from that and you get slightly less than 5 sectors per week on average.
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Or-E-Gun, USA
Pounds or Dollars?
Whether expressed as Pounds or Dollars, the numbers listed in the original post strike me as low, underpaid and opportunistic compensation. Especially for experienced, left-seated pilots, I almost wonder if some are typos. Does anyone have a reasonable idea about the real gross delivered into the hands of pilots, after the bonus and other additions are applied? Given that an experienced FO, in perhaps his/her second or third year with a different 'Name Known' carrier can do better, I would be surprised if a few mid-seniority left chair drivers change brands and join a different carrier, even with the loss of their seniority.(Older pilots, much closer to retirement or time-out. probably not so much. But in late 30s or early 40s, that compensation is CHEAP and simply not enough for today's market. Is T. Cook abusing its staff, AGAIN? Those numbers are simply NOT fair wages.
Every time I read a story like this, I become more grateful that I am retired that I retired when I did, a few years before any mandatory timeouts.
And if I must say this... The sole component of the airline experience that I still miss at times is the physical act of driving an airplane. The rest, the extended time away from home, endless regulation, schedule demands, additional training, and some safety compromises to save fuel - are NOT missed at all. IMHO, T. Cook does not pay enough.
Every time I read a story like this, I become more grateful that I am retired that I retired when I did, a few years before any mandatory timeouts.
And if I must say this... The sole component of the airline experience that I still miss at times is the physical act of driving an airplane. The rest, the extended time away from home, endless regulation, schedule demands, additional training, and some safety compromises to save fuel - are NOT missed at all. IMHO, T. Cook does not pay enough.
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Almost horizontal
If these new scales are true it's extremely disappointing that TCX pilots didn't have the resolve to stop this. Yet another case in aviation of those on legacy deals closing the door behind them, in the end the entire industry suffers.
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Somewhere
If you're looking for reasons why Thomas Cook can get away with this, just look at what is going on at British Airways. A paycut dressed up as a pay rise and Balpa are fully behind the deal! This is also before the nominated hatchet man Alex Cruz arrives on the scene in April. God only knows what he (read Walsh) has up his sleeve but, knowing the salaries on offer at his current outfit Vueling, it's fair to assume that the next few years won't be pretty.
