I think if anyone does some research into the history of flow agreements and what they yielded to the pilots that went to them, you'll find that they're not the great deal that some make them out to be. Yes, flow agreements are contracts that both sides theoretically have to hold up, but history has shown us that these agreements can be changed, ended, delayed, modified, you name it, by all kinds of different legal maneuvering by the company with the most attorneys. Take a look at the amount of time that pilots spent at regionals before they flowed, then ask yourself if in the current hiring environment such an agreement makes sense.

The main attraction of a flow agreement seems to just be that you don't have to go interview for a major job. The main complaint seems to be that major airline interviews are hard to get and a lot of effort to prepare for. It is amazing that people are willing to make career decisions based on this, but reading the threads here are more than ample evidence that some folks think this way.

One thing to consider is that a regional pilot who joins an AA regional with a flow is bound to flowing in seniority order at American. In other words, if that regional pilot has, or goes out and builds himself, a resume that is awesome, they won't get an interview call from AA until it is time to flow. Delta and United and UPS might give that guy interviews right away, but AA won't touch him until his flow number comes up in seniority order ( and who knows how many years down the road that might be).

So, in some ways, depending on who you are, flying for an AA-wholly-owned can actually be more limiting than it is helpful.

I don't have a dog in the fight either way, but pilots should look at all the other factors that go into getting an interview and job at a major, and decide if the time spent waiting for a flow (that may or may not actually materialize) is worth it. For some, it might be. YMMV.