Originally Posted by
OTZeagle1
I read this stuff and have to laugh. I honestly think some of you think you are detouring people from applying, you are going to single handedly shut down the pipeline. Just like none of you are going to leave, I know, I know, you are talking to your net works[emoji848] realIy weighing all of your options. In 5 years, all of you will still be here, still be unhappy, still whining. I think many of you think, by doing this Alaska will end up with no one willing to come to class, and you will then finally get your windfall, whatever that may be. Guys, really? We are having trouble finding qualified applicants, really, you believe that. We are swamped with applications, and none of you guys are leaving, grow up! It really is embarrassing. We will get a new contract, 12-18 mos. If you live on the west coast, especially in one of our bases, this will be a good gig. If you live on the East coast or Midwest, with no desire to move, why would you apply here[emoji848], unless maybe you have exhausted DA, AA, UA, JB, FX, SW, UP…
I agree we aren’t going to change anything. This place makes money. For now.
It’s the best paying pilot job I’ve ever had. It is also the worst quality of life pilot job I’ve ever had(worst contract by far, not even a competition), including flight instructing, Part 135 freight, aerial firefighting, 3 different regionals and VX. I have never seen an employer go out of its way to crap on its employees like I have here except maybe a Jiffy Lube I worked at briefly in college, but it’s a toss up.
You’re right though. I’m probably not leaving. I had just started expanding the family when we got bought. If it was just me and my wife still, I’d be gone. She’s seen my quality of life at my previous jobs. She hates AS more than I do. She’s become the most vocal anti-AS person I know.
That’s where our resolve for a better contract is really coming from. The spouses are fing ****ed at the degradation in quality of life for their pilots and their families from their pilots working here. A lot of the guys looking to leave or talking about it are being pushed just as much by their spouses dissatisfaction as their own.
There’s too many idiots and masochists in the world that would enjoy this. We’re just trying to spare the educated and talented pilots out there from making a mistake and wasting themselves here. This airline is an absolute perfect fit for some.
You laugh because you are seriously disconnected from the average pilot. You have it great. I’m honestly happy for you. Seriously, if people can have it good that gives hope to the rest of us. If you had any pulse on the pilot group you’d know you’re in the minority. A shrinking minority.
“Conan, what is best in life?” My answer is time. And we lose more of it here than our peers for no reason other than pettiness and incompetence. All shops have incompetence. It happens. The people who cheerlead the pettiness are the ones I’ll never understand. It will be a great day in this career when we can get rid of the attitude: “It sucked for me so it should suck for you.”