Originally Posted by
Granola
Hey guys! (That's how we say hello here in the south). I have been looking through the Alaska posts for the last few days. I see a lot of comments about scope and hats and ties and kook-aid, all things I'm somewhat familiar with as an almost 25yr military guy. I have also seen comments amounting to 'even with all the queep it's the best place to work'.
My question is this; is it true? Would you do it all over again?
I grew up just outside Portland. I want to come back to the NW. I think it would be nice to be one of 1500 instead of 1 of 15,000.
I'm planning a full-court-press at Oshkosh to get picked up. I struggle with the idea of telling other companies no in order to get my perseaved first choice, Alaska.
Would you do it all again?
Hi, y'all--After 22 years in the USAF, then four as a contract sim IP, Alaska was the only airline I applied to. So, short answer to your question: YES.
You would make more money with most other airlines, but this is a fun place to work. There is WAY more to life than $$$, especially with a military retirement pay check coming in. The quality of life here is great--I am ANC-based, this month is 1 year on property (off probation in about 2 weeks, woo hoo!), and the bid that just came out has me at # 55/100 FOs! Incredible.
Some guys will comment that it sucks flying for an airline with only one aircraft type. Well, in my first flying job (with the USAF), I flew the same aircraft for my entire career and it never got boring. Having been in the USAF and travelled around the world, I have absolutely ZERO desire to fly a big aircraft internationally (too many time zone changes, circadian rhythm, etc--guys who fly that tend to die younger!). But, living in ANC, I get to do a lot of cool Arctic and southeast Alaska flying (VFR hand flying a 737 is cool!).
So, while this place is not perfect, it is an awesome retirement job.