As a new hire pilot or flight attendant, you will be put on probation directly out of training.
The standard time frame across the industry in the United States for flight attendants is around six months, but can be up to a year. It is the industry standard for pilots to be on probation for up to a year. This leaves little to no job security for you or your family. Depending on what you have saved up, or financial support from family and friends, this can be a very tough time for new hires in the industry. Even a single mistake can cost you career in aviation on probation, ranging from being tardy to accidentally sleep through your alarm. It can be very disheartening knowing your airline could fire you at any time, for any mistake! To take the pressure off yourself and your family during your probation time, it may be a smart decision to move into a Crashpad. Reason being, most Crashpads have rent that is month to month. There is no lease involved, and little to no long term commitment. This allows you to not get tied down into any extensive agreements, such as a lease, and forms a clear exit route in case anything bad would happen to your career!
Navigating your new lifestyle can be a challenge.
After intensive studying in training, you’re exhausted and want to be with your family but now you have to relocate! We’re here to help guide you through the relocation process. It can be daunting but, once you get the hang of it, you will soon realize that it’s a lifestyle unlike any other! Crashpads can seem scary at first, especially if you are brand new to the industry and have never stayed in one. Your first instinct may be to jump into a lease with your new classmates, but, we strongly do not recommend this until you are off probation! Probation requires a lot of flexibility out of you, especially with your new schedule and life, and signing a lease when there is a lot of uncertainty could only add even more stress to your newfound lifestyle. Not only are they incredibly affordable on your new hire salary, Crashpads can actually work for your benefit and make your lifestyle as a cabin crewmember even easier.
Most leases are twelve months, with very few offering less than that without special circumstance.
While some offer six month leases, the price can be outrageously expensive! Most Crashpad owners are in the airline industry, which is beneficial because they completely understand the lifestyle you are living! Especially as things sometime don’t go as planned, the last thing you want is to do is move to a new city, take out a loan, tie yourself down with a lease, and then something happen during your probation that costs you your job! It’s important to have a backup plan during your probationary period in case anything goes awry. As a flight attendant or pilot, this is a huge lifestyle change that many don’t realize is as intense as it is. Take the time to settle in and see if the industry is right for you. If you realize that this lifestyle isn’t what you want, end up missing your friends and family, there’s an easy out with a Crashpad as opposed to getting a lease or mortgage!
As a crewmember on probation, your salary may be low to start off with.
You may be tempted to just get a hotel to ride out your reserve days in desperate hope that you get called, however, this will drain your account extensively. Staying in a Crashpad gives you a comfortable place to stay while you’re on call, and you can always fly in the night before and have a place to rest. One of the biggest mistakes made by flight attendants and pilots on probation is not using the commuter policy and missing a shift due to oversold flights or cancellations. It’s one of the most common reasons flight attendants or pilots get fired on probation – missing their commuting flights to work! It’s always smart to plan for the worst and prepare for the best! Our career is different in the sense that we are required to relocate to different cities across the United States, yet many of us still have homes across the country. Things happen, such as family emergencies, financial stressors, and many factors that could make you unable to stay at your job. Because of the airline industry’s demand for a flexible schedule, it’s not uncommon for a high turnover rate during the probationary period. You simply never know what could happen.
Crashpads are the most affordable housing option for flight attendants and pilots.
Bed costs can range from $150-$400 a month, with the average price being around $250. Even in the end if you fall in love your domicile and decide to get a lease, getting a Crashpad will help you save up for when you decide to move! The fact of the matter is, being on probation is a fragile time. You never know what could happen with your career, and you aren’t making a lot of money to begin with.
If you are on reserve, we always recommend getting a cold bed in a Crashpad as opposed to a hot bed. A cold bed is where the bed belongs to you the entire month, and you can even renew every month and stay in the same bed! You can stay in there as many nights as you please throughout the month. If you don’t have much going on in your hometown, you could even stay there the whole entire month! Having the same bed gives you the opportunity to decorate it as your own and bring your own belongings. Making this small space as homely as possible helps with the homesickness when you’re away from your friends and family! On top of that, you will be staying with other flight crew members who can offer you tons of advice. Crashpads can really become like a family, which will lessen the blow of the lifestyle change.
We don’t recommend hot beds until you are a lineholder. Crashpads with hot beds operate like a hotel where you pay for your bed one night at a time, and you are not necessarily guaranteed a bed when you arrive. They can be ideal for lineholders who are stopping in for a night before their trip starts, however, this would not be ideal for flight attendants or pilots on reserve. We definitely recommend getting a cold bed to start – it will take a lot of stress off trying to figure out your new lifestyle!
While on probation, it’s incredibly important to get in touch with your base manager.
Stop by their office and introduce yourself – a good first impression goes a long way! Stay involved with your union, if applicable, as well. While you aren’t protected for job-related incidences during your probationary period, they do care and are more than willing to help you with whatever issues arise. It’s of upmost importance to pay attention to these things – Unions fight for your pay and your career!