I had the chance to sit down with Alex, an experienced Allegiant pilot, to shed some light on the burning question—how much do Allegiant pilots make?

According to Alex, the hourly pay is $57, but here’s the catch—it’s only when the cabin door closes. Unfortunately, those moments of pre-flight, waiting for passengers to settle, or maintenance issues don’t count toward the paycheck.

Now, let’s talk annual figures. Starting, aspiring pilots can expect around $60,000 a year. However, as you progress in your career, the sky’s the limit. Some seasoned pilots at Allegiant are reportedly pulling in an impressive $500,000 annually.

But here’s the real story behind those Allegiant numbers

Allegiant pilots have been the butt of many jokes (much like Spirit and Frontier). Despite their hard work, these pilots are mistreated and underpaid, largely because the Teamsters (yes, that Teamsters – Jimmy Hoffa and trucker drivers) have done a poor job handling contract negotiations. Because of this delay, Allegiant (which I have used to fly a lot) cannot fix poor working conditions for pilots and cannot hire enough pilots, leading to operational issues.

The Allegiant pilots hired me to wage a PR campaign to get attention on the issues, getting it approved via IBT 2118 (International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 2118).

We built a website, recorded content, ran dollar-a-day campaigns, and got millions of eyeballs on it. We did great work, which the Allegiant pilots agree, but the Teamsters (the union) don’t want to pay. It’s ironic they are mistreating me since they hired me to help bring attention to their plight.

The Allegiant pilots are so unhappy with the Teamsters that they are switching to ALPA (Airline Pilots Association), which is where most pilots are. If you’re considering a career as a pilot at Allegiant, these insights reveal the harsh realities behind the paycheck. The fight for better conditions is ongoing, and it’s clear that much work remains to be done.

So, while the financial prospects might look promising on paper, the reality of working conditions and union support paints a different picture. If you’re in it for the long haul, stay informed and be prepared to advocate for better treatment and pay.

Dennis Yu

Dennis Yu is co-author of the #1 best selling book on Amazon in social media, The Definitive Guide to TikTok Ads. He has spent a billion dollars on Facebook ads across his agencies and agencies he advises. Mr. Yu is the "million jobs" guy-- on a mission to create one million jobs via hands-on social media training, partnering with universities and professional organizations. You can find him quoted in major publications and on television such as CNN, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, NPR, and LA Times. Clients have included Nike, Red Bull, the Golden State Warriors, Ashley Furniture, Quiznos-- down to local service businesses like real estate agents and dentists. He's spoken at over 750 conferences in 20 countries, having flown over 6 million miles in the last 30 years to train up young adults and business owners. He speaks for free as long as the organization believes in the job-creation mission and covers business class travel. You can find him hiking tall mountains, eating chicken wings, and taking Kaqun oxygen baths-- likely in a city near you.

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