Originally Posted by
Stankhunt42
If you are coming from Spirit everything is better here. Well maybe not everything but my point is it’s good overall. Those that complain can’t abuse their contract anymore and get away with it so yea they are mad. You have to actually show up to work now, and no not everything will be a premium trip. The pay cut sucked but it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. If you go 737 you will probably hate it however the crews seem to be way more chill. The 320 is great but It will be frustrating watching CAs struggle with the bus who are new to it coming from a different type. 99% of the time they are humble and open to suggestions and will respect your experience. But that 1% of “I’m the Capt now” and i know more than an FO even if that FO has thousands of hours in type from the left seat, that’s the trip that will suck. Overall I would not worry this is a great place to be.
Although I love your enthusiasm, as somebody who came from Spirit right after COVID I can tell you that in time you will realize that not everything is better here. Spirit's contract, other then pay, as a whole was much better. From schedule flexibility, to hard limits put on the company on what they can do to trip trading, open time, and reserves. Even hotels and transportation was better at Spirit as they had hard contract language and the Union had an equal say on everything. Heck, even my Regional before Spirit has some better contract items then here at AA.
I sent many sound-offs last contract cycle to try to get some changes here to improve on things mentioned above but they were all but ignored. That is the main (but not the only) reason I am fighting hard for ALPA and will be voting for the merger when the time comes. Actions have consequences with me and APA already made their bed with it.
However as great as all that was, no matter how good the contract is it means nothing if you don't have seniority progression or job security. That is what you have at AA right now. The pay is better too which will help make the loss of QOL coming to AA a little easier to swallow.