This is a common question for travelers when their flight gets cancelled. The answer is not completely straightforward and depends on several factors.
Pilot Salaries and Pay Structure
Most airline pilots are paid based on flight hours, not a set annual salary. Their pay is determined by their level of experience, the aircraft they fly, and the airline they work for.
Pilots get paid when the plane’s door closes to when it opens at the destination. This is known as “block time.” They do not get paid for time spent commuting to the airport or waiting between flights.
Guarantee Pay
Many airlines provide pilots with a certain number of guaranteed minimum monthly flight hours. This provides some income stability for pilots.
For example, a pilot contract may guarantee 75 hours of pay per month. If the pilot only flies 60 hours due to cancellations or low schedules, the airline still pays for the 75 hour guarantee.
Credit Hours
When pilots fly more than their minimum monthly hours, the extra hours are credited to their schedule. These credited hours can be used to offset months when they fly less than the guarantee.
For example, if a pilot flies 85 hours in January when the guarantee is 75, the 10 extra hours are banked as credit. If the pilot then flies only 40 hours in February, 35 credit hours can be used to meet the 75 hour guarantee.
Do Pilots Get Paid for Cancelled Flights?
Whether a pilot gets paid for a cancelled flight depends on the point at which it is cancelled:
Before Report Time
If a flight is cancelled before the pilot’s report time for that trip, they do not get paid for that flight. The pilot only gets paid for hours actually flown or credited hours.
After Report Time
If a pilot has reported for duty and the flight is cancelled after their report time, they are paid a minimum of 2 or 3 hours depending on the airline’s contract. This is sometimes referred to as “show no-go” pay.
For example, if a pilot reports for a flight at 1 PM that gets cancelled at 1:30 PM, they still get 2 or 3 hours of pay. This compensates the pilot for time spent reporting and preparing for the flight.
After Push Back
If an aircraft has pushed back from the gate and then returns to the gate for a cancellation, the pilot gets paid as if the flight was operated. This is because considerable fuel and time has already been expended.
What Happens for Multi-Day Cancellations?
Weather or other issues can sometimes cause flights to be cancelled for multiple days in a row. Here’s how pilots get paid for multi-day cancellations:
- On day 1 of cancellations, pilots are either paid for flights operated or for “show no-go” minimums if they reported for duty.
- After day 1, different provisions apply. Pilots may be assigned reserve status or given other pay protections.
- Airline contracts specify the pay rules for pilots during multiple day cancellations. Terms vary by airline.
Other Considerations
A few other factors can affect pilot pay when flights are cancelled:
- Pilots may lose out on per diem meal money when trips are abruptly cancelled.
- Overnights that are part of cancelled multi-day trips may affect duty rigs and credits.
- Cancelled flights can reduce monthly block time totals, which can affect benefits and status.
Conclusion
In most cases, pilots do not get paid their full flight pay when flights are cancelled. However, airline contracts provide some protections such as minimum pay guarantees and credited hours. The specific pilot pay rules for cancelled flights depend on their airline’s labor agreements.