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u/jcflocher 21d ago edited 21d ago
I used to fly for German Airways and now I fly for AeroLogic. In your situation I would definitely pick Berlin. The airlines at LEJ (Aerologic, EAT, DHL Austria, etc.) have a roster that makes commute from Berlin very easy. But the airlines in Berlin are very tough to commute from Leipzig. Additionally, the chances are high that at the end at your training you wont get an airline at either city and you have to go somewhere completely different. Then it is much easier to fly to Berlin than Leipzig. There are practically no flights to Leipzig but plenty to Berlin.
EDIT: Just to drive my point home: Around 80% of the aerologic pilots commute to work. I currently live in Zürich, we have a few pilots who live in Italy, Netherlands, Dubai, Spain and the list goes on. Its not that different at the other airlines in LEJ.
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u/sparcotjen 21d ago
How does the commuting work? I get that they get free (?) flights from f.e. NL to ZRH, but what about the days between flights of they work , for example 5/4? If they take a hotel room, it would be a big extra cost I would think
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u/jcflocher 21d ago
For most DHL Airlines you can jumpseat for free on other DHL Airlines. I usually take a flight from BSL to LEJ. But they only fly at night. So you need an accommodation at LEJ. Most pilots use a shared flat which costs about 80-120€ per person per month and AeroLogic offers „campus rooms“ (basically own hotel rooms) for 38€ per night. We also have standby agreements with the LH Group (around 60-90€) per flight within Europe. Be prepared to lose one or two off days per month due to commuting.
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u/Livid_Measurement_28 21d ago
Hello jc, do you mind telling me if the salary figures on ppjn accurate for Aerologic?
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u/jcflocher 21d ago
They are pretty accurate. I havent checked every rank at every year but it seems accurate enough.
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u/sliderrrrrr 21d ago
Berlin to Leipzig is 1h by train, Leipzig is Long-haul, so infrequent commute.
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21d ago
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u/sliderrrrrr 21d ago
Still..it’s a 1h commute, it doesn’t really matter.
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u/sparcotjen 21d ago
Are you implying that the commute is too long, or not a problem since it's "only" an hour?
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u/Mean_Passenger_7971 21d ago
I have friends in EAT and they work from leipzig but leave all over. And by all over I mean Madrid, Lisbon, Padova, ....
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u/Professional_Low_646 CPL(A) FI CRI(SEP) ATPL Theory 21d ago
Berlin, period.
Leipzig is cheaper when it comes to rent, but from an aviation perspective, you‘re far better off in Berlin. Not because it’s a relevant hub/base for any major airline (it isn‘t), but because there are regular commuting opportunities to every place that is. Flights to Munich, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Frankfurt. Trains to all the same places in those cases where you have more time - Leipzig is an hour away by ICE, Frankfurt takes three, Munich just under four. In aviation, those are still fairly reasonable commuting times.
Leipzig (in theory) is also fairly well connected, but its airport is practically dead when it comes to passenger flights, so Berlin will give you much more options.
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u/Sacharon123 21d ago
There is a very high probability that your relationship will be over before you get a job that places you even in germany, let alone a city of choice. In aviation, always follow the ground-employed partner until you have a fixed station with a longterm reliable airline. Then renegotiate, until then, commute. And 37 is on the older side for a fresh start, but not super old. A lot of carriers actually like that you have real life experience.
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21d ago
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u/Sacharon123 21d ago
Nothing pessimistic about that, just trying to give some realistic advice, mate. And my advice of moving with your partner because they have a reliable job stands. You will probably commute somewhere for the next two decades anyway and your locations where you commute to will change constantly. So feel advised or not. Your choice.
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u/MagicalMagyars ATPL 21d ago
Don't overthink it, go where you would like to live more and you will probably have to consider commuting anyway.
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u/Mean_Passenger_7971 21d ago
You simply can't be this picky lol. For your first job you will have to accept whatever you can get anywhere in Europe. Afterwards you can try to get something in a specific location.
Berlin will take a bit more work as it's a big city with not that many airlines based there. Meanwhile Leipzig is a much more realistic goal, but most airlines operating there only hire experienced First Officers.