Originally Posted by Gundam

AA has not seemed to derive much benefit from their younger fleet, and from articles I've read their margins are the slimmest which would point to problems in their fundamental business model, and in some cases they made most of their money selling frequent flyer miles or something. AA has the lowest operating cash flow. I think if AA had not bought back its stock it would be a great option for pilots now despite those things. Unfortunately, as we've seen now with Boeing and many other companies, when the business is directly run to increase share price instead of improving the actual business, it results in failure, and a confounding business model. Why did AA make money when it did well, why does it struggle to make any money other times?

Parker even admitted he didn't think they could catch D in profit margin for transporting passengers after multiple years.

To someone else that said no airlines should buyback stock, I agree. That would be a great concrete goal for the pilot unions to rally around to actually positively impact how the entities that govern our lives are run.

If the economy favors air travel for the next 5 years, I'd say AA is the place to go(as a pilot). If you think travel will take another hit in that time AA will almost certainly go down unless their business no longer involves flying airplanes or they have someone in the Whitehouse Cabinet. Would you be cool starting over at another airline in 4 years? If yes, obviously go to AA because if it works out you've made it, huge money, great schedule etc. If it doesn't, just go to the next place. No matter what you will be paid better than 90% of people.