Originally Posted by
Chris Knight
With all the hiring AS has done this year, more people are getting on board that are thinking of jumping. I just heard of a probation pilot who bailed several weeks ago for UAL. I know at least three other pilots hired this year who have their apps out.
They pretty much say the same thing.. That this is their dream job, best place to work, people here are happy... BUT, with thirty-some years left in their career, a job at one of the legacies will pay a lot more, and with overall better work rules. Perhaps the option of wide body flying and Int'l long haul is included in that thought process as well.
I think that at this point in the industry, it's natural to consider other options, considering all the potential seniority growth and significantly higher pay at the Big Three. I compared the pay rates on the 737 between AS and UAL/DAL. CA pay at year 12 at the moment is close. But with UAL looking at a possible 15-20% raise, with even higher rates for w/b flying, I think people are feeling like they should make the jump, despite the positive and unique work culture at AS.
Last I heard, AS has four thousand applications in. Doesn't seem like a supply and demand issue, but I believe the changing climate of the industry will place increased pressure on AS to make some contractual/scope?/pay increases for the better.
Loyalty is a two way streak and unfortunately, it just doesn't exist in this day and age. Alaska family or for that matter, "company xx" family is a myth and a lie. We are just pawns and $ making cogs in the mega corporate machine; I get it and have come to terms with it a long ago. Anyone under 40 who is not applying to the big three needs to have their head examined. Of course, you have the crowd who are in hog haven living in Gig Harbor (aka-pilot ghetto) or just in the northwest, who would work for peanuts (yes, we do work for peanuts here at Alaskan) to fly airplanes for a living.:roll eyes: Don't hold your breath hoping for a good contract here at AlaskasWorld. Hell may need to freeze over or SEA & PDX need to fall into the Pacific before that happens.
If I were a new hire with less than 3 years on the property, I'd do a little spread sheet and put out my apps with the big 3. Throw it out there and see if you get an offer. If you like what you see, you can make your decision then. There's no pension plan, pay is way subpar and falling further behind, 401k is only 13.5%, schedule sucks, reserve sucks due to "lack of crews on reserve" bs, cost of living is some of the highest-all 4 bases, commuting is getting harder and harder, trip trading is virtually nonexistent, PBS on the way, work rules are less than desirable, weak pilot group, did I say pay sucks?... what can go wrong? I'm not saying that it's much greener on the other side but at least you will be well compensated for your skills and time. The potential is at least there on the other side. Unfortunately, this "mega regional" may have reached its limit.