Westjet vs Air Transat

[Romain]

Careerwise, what would be your choice right now for a new starter? I am 43 and recently moved to Toronto.
Here's my thinking on each:

_WJ:
pros
-possibility to move to YYC in the next few years as GTA is just unaffordable
-better income and pension (for now)
-socialized bidding very interesting to me as I'll be bottom 50% for all my career
cons
-won't see left seat before 10-15 years
-B737 for all the career!?

_Transat:
pros
-better quality of life and long haul flights
-Airbus
cons
-stuck in YYZ because neither me nor my wife speak french
-future of the company a bit uncertain?


Please feel free to share your opinion. Thanks!

[QKZXKV]

Careerwise, what would be your choice right now for a new starter? I am 43 and recently moved to Toronto.
Here's my thinking on each:

_WJ:
pros
-possibility to move to YYC in the next few years as GTA is just unaffordable
-better income and pension (for now)
-socialized bidding very interesting to me as I'll be bottom 50% for all my career
cons
-won't see left seat before 10-15 years
-B737 for all the career!?

_Transat:
pros
-better quality of life and long haul flights
-Airbus
cons
-stuck in YYZ because neither me nor my wife speak french
-future of the company a bit uncertain?


Please feel free to share your opinion. Thanks!

I believe RSV is all seniority based until you can transition to a block and get socialized bidding. I'm with you on 320 vs 737, but equipment is probably the lowest on the list of considerations. Not sure I'd want to live in Quebec even if able to . Transat bonds you if I'm not mistaken either.

[Romain]

Yes there's a three years bond at Transat. But whatever company I choose it's to stay the rest of my career anyway, so that doesn't really bother me.

[QKZXKV]

Yes there's a three years bond at Transat. But whatever company I choose it's to stay the rest of my career anyway, so that doesn't really bother me.

Fair enough... Just always keep in mind that things have the potential of changing quickly in our line of work.

[DanWEC]

Bond is pro-rated.
Working conditions are very good overall at any seniority. Giant paradigm shift in modernization the last few years. Bus cockpits are quiet and spacious compared to the 73.
Europe flying can get deeply fatiguing with weekly time zone changes and overnight flying.
Probably the best use of 20 years since you won't get to the top at AC.
If you're a Toronto guy for life your seniority will climb much faster than if you're trying to get to the yul base.
Upgrades about 4 years or possibly less assuming airplane orders and expansions continues as planned.... so far they've been delayed from the factory.
Year 1-2 FO pay is miserable, only decent after year 5 FO or left seat, but will be going up quite a bit in 2025. So you have to decide if you want to labour through that for now.
Pros and cons everywhere, as well as room for improvement, but there's a pretty high personal happiness level at TS!

[Romain]

Bond is pro-rated.
Working conditions are very good overall at any seniority. Giant paradigm shift in modernization the last few years. Bus cockpits are quiet and spacious compared to the 73.
Europe flying can get deeply fatiguing with weekly time zone changes and overnight flying.
Probably the best use of 20 years since you won't get to the top at AC.
If you're a Toronto guy for life your seniority will climb much faster than if you're trying to get to the yul base.
Upgrades about 4 years or possibly less assuming airplane orders and expansions continues as planned.... so far they've been delayed from the factory.
Year 1-2 FO pay is miserable, only decent after year 5 FO or left seat, but will be going up quite a bit in 2025. So you have to decide if you want to labour through that for now.
Pros and cons everywhere, as well as room for improvement, but there's a pretty high personal happiness level at TS!

Thanks a lot for all these information.
Do you think there's any chance they'd ratify a new CBA earlier than 2025?

[dontcallmeshirley]

Thanks a lot for all these information.
Do you think there's any chance they'd ratify a new CBA earlier than 2025?

Best directed over on your thread in the TS forum.