Originally Posted by
Al Czervik
Why are legacy new hire classes filled with LCC pilots?
How would you be at the bottom of a stagnant/shrinking list with 7,000 retiring in the next 10 years? Top pay rates? A 4 year FO at AA makes the same as a 10 year Spirit CA. Not following your arguments.
It looks like a no brainer to go to a legacy TODAY.
In the late 90's hiring was going crazy. All the majors were hiring like gangbusters and everyone was going to be a Captain in three years. United made their largest ever annual profit ($1 bil). It was like manna from heaven.
Just a few short years later, those who went to jetBlue, SWA, FedEx, UPS, etc. looked like geniuses.
That's all I'm saying. Look at the structural issues that the legacies have. Large oversized senior employee groups. Corporate culture where they spend spend spend whenever they get the money (save for Delta). Operating costs that are TWICE on a per seat mile basis than the ULCCs. There is a lot of downside protection going to a LCC and in an industry where seniority is #1 I think it's at least worth a passing thought on where you will be able to finish out your career without interruption.