Progression is important so take the upgrade. Alaska isn’t getting to pick the cream of the crop these days for obvious reasons. They are hiring more and more pilots who would not otherwise have been hired a few years ago when competition was tougher. They seem to be hiring a lot more older pilots and retreads with very low or no turbine PIC time. For example, there are quite a few former expats who weren’t captains at a foreign carrier due to their inability to pass upgrade training or were afraid to even try.
I’m on my way out so there will be at least one more opening at this dysfunctional family. As soon as I’m offered a class date at the real legacy, I’m out of here. I won’t be able to stomach the SLI, especially when our own MEC is bending me over. Good luck.

 

Don’t listen to the poster above.... my interview group had 1 candidate with no PIC other than their time at Horizon as an FO and they weren’t hired. The other 2 had significant 121 time and both had Airbus time one hired and turned down the other not hired. In the 3 classes after mine I actually met almost all during Indoc on the Bus side and I didn’t meet a single individual that didn’t have tons of turbine, 121, or PIC. That’s the last 24 hired onto the Airbus, I was the class prior to those 24 and I was the least experienced with my measly 4200 TT, little over 1100 PIC w/ 650 121 PIC and about 3700 hours of 121. I can’t speak for the 737 side of the house but I’m sure it’s the same and in case anyone was wondering everyone I ran into had a degree. That doesn’t sound like degenerates like some may want you to believe in fact I’ve flown with way less qualified pilots that have moved onto the big 3 in my short stint as a Captain vs what I’ve seen here lately.

 

You’re a 737 FO, how long were you at AS? And how were you bent over in the AS SLI proposal for AS FOs?

 

It’s my observation and opinions of some of the captains whom I’ve flown with. Resumes and hours don’t always paint a rosy picture. There are more weak new hires than usual with personality flaws to boot. It’s just what I hear on the line.
You have to ask? It’s been hashed out already. Alaska acquired VX. It’s really not a merger. Our MEC offered the VX pilot group a fair deal but they refused. VX side is shooting for the stars while Alaska morons fell for the “fair and equitable “ proposal in arbitration, once again. With upgrades forecasted to be 9+ years, stagnation, uncertainty, subpar work rules, upcoming SLI sh!t show, etc., this place isn’t for me. It’s only going to get worse before things improve. The only thing I’ll miss are the great bunch of crews, CAs and FAs.

 

You still didn’t answer the question. When were you hired, sounds like less than 3 years on property? The rest of your commentary on acquisition not a merger is irrelevant. ALPA has a policy for merger/acquisition scenarios for ALPA-ALPA carriers and that’s what happened. And by what metric are you sayin the AS offer was a “fair deal?”

The rest of the stuff about 9 yr upgrades, stagnation, subpar rules, etc, was AS as standalone carrier anyway.

 

I think he saying the same as CRUZ. Alaska is a great place to launch to the six remaining airlines worth flying for. This wreckage of a merger has made it obvious for both Airbus and Boeing pilots with 5 years or less at the company that getting out on the hiring trail again is the best move. Financially, Mental Health-wise and Career-wise it is a no-brainer.
Try for the big sixat the same time. If you make it you are golden and if not polish your resume at Alaska and keep updating at the big six.

 

Most FO's below 3 years on property are trying to jump ship at this point. No brainer

 

What exactly did VX ruin for AS? Let’s be honest, AS has always been a locality attraction for less pay than the legacies. People applied and went there for the state of Alaska or the PNW. How many AS pilots live and commute from the east coast? Literally like 2?

If pilots are leaving AS, it has less to do with VX and moreso to do with the realization that the other big 5 carriers have higher pay and QOL and bases in every city AS does except PDX (which apparently might be in a chopping block). Fed/Ups have ANC. Delta has SEA. Everyone has LAX. Alaska has always had a historical long upgrade time, lower pay and schedule quality than the big majors, etc.

 

4 years. Talk to your reps regarding the SLI negotiations between the two groups (pre arbitration). Better yet, talk to Alaska's side also.

ALPA-ALPA carriers? You gotta be joking, right? You guys only voted in ALPA months before the acquisition was announced. You don't even have a contract or a real seniority list. This isn't a co-equal marriage. You guys want to treat it like DAL+NWA and UAL+CAL but it just isn't the same by a long shot. Acquisition vs. merger is irrelevant? I think not but everyone is entitled to an opinion. You guys were well on your way of becoming Aloha II. Alaska would not lose a bidding war with B6 and if Uncle Brad and his boys didn't acquire VX, some two bit investment company would have and dismantled your beloved airline. Or best case, you would be in the same boat as Frontier. If you want to stick with "merger", the two companies are apples to orange. Let's start with 10 year old company vs. 85. Little to no profit vs. record profits. Stepping stone vs. career. No college vs. college. Easy to get on vs. very selective. Zero PIC vs. ....And the list goes on. I'm willing to bet that no child ever dreamed of being a VX pilot. Well, I dreamed of being a Alaska Airlines pilot ever since I can remember and so did many of my peers. The less pay than the big three that you are talking about is somewhat true but when you look at the overall package, Alaska's isn't too far off especially for those older dudes still with a pension. Did you know that Alaska pilots were the highest paid at one point?
Unless driving to work or flying in the same time zone is the most important thing in your life or you just love Alaska, it makes no sense to stay if you are in your 30s or even low 40s.

 

One more thing.
Alaska has been trying to put VX out of business since VX's existence. Alaska was the first one to oppose VX's certificate. Alaska only purchased VX to keep B6 out. That's it! VX truly does not offer anything worth a dime to Alaska. Incase you haven't noticed, your JFK base is closing and airbus flying will diminish over time until there are zero buses on the property. Who overpays for something that they never wanted in the first place, takes it apart and throws it away? What Alaska really wanted and needs is a midwest hub. VX only brought a headache and a huge debt to eskimo. It's Alaska's Hamburger Hill.