Confirmed AA W/O OTS Hiring Trends:
They prefer captains, but do hire junior ones and recent upgrades despite claiming to want significant TPIC.
Attending hiring events or #diversity events is a huge factor for AA.
They like poaching union officers.
They do occasionally award a CJO based on a competing CJO from UA or DAL but it's hit or miss.
Their hires trend older (30+) especially compared to Delta (influencer twink airlines)