With only 144 newhires needed for 2019 so far, AS won't have any problems recruiting. When you hire in very few numbers compared to other airlines and offer the most west coast (5) bases, AS will continue to draw applicants who would do anything to get a job here.

 

sorry, not even close. VX did an outstanding job of hiring. in my 20+ years in the industry it was easily the best pilot group I've ever worked with. It was a simple hiring philosophy. Hire people you wouldn't mind spending 4 days with. The new hires since AS took over are some interesting individuals.

 

Oh, for sure, I can tell from these forums the VX pilots, (pre-acquisition), are by far the most well adjusted, level headed and professional group of pilots in the industry....

 

ah yes, judging a whole pilot group by anonymous Internet forum posts. That's always the best course of action(insert large eye roll here)

 

I’m not judging the whole pilot group, I’m just pointing out that your narrow slice of the pie is blatantly bias. To think that there were proportionally less “socially awkward” pilots hired at VX pre-acquisition, is intentional ignorance. Pure tribalism. I know of more than a handful of pilots hired at VX pre-acquisition that I wouldn’t share a taxi with let alone a 4 day. These forums give a platform to those who tend say what’s on their mind because there is anonymity. So based on what’s being said I gather more than a few of you guys are unable to cope with change, cannot adjust to new surroundings and are locked into a mindset of us vs. them. Not great qualities in a professional pilot. I guess I could say something like, “those pre-acquisition VX pilots are an awkward group, it’s not like it used to be at the ‘old Alaska’, But....why would I bother, it only serves the purpose of keeping the divisiveness alive and well. Besides, have you ever considered that maybe it’s you? Maybe you’re not the life of the party you thought you were and these “awkward” new hires just don’t want to socialize with you....think about it.

 

I never said a word about pre acquisition Alaska pilots, and I have no problem with change or the merger. I pointed out the change in new hires, and trust me I'm not along in noticing it. Every airline has the "5%" and VX for sure had this, but as a whole was an amazing pilot group. The type of pilot hired since AS took over hiring has changed in a big way. Fact.

 

Since Alaska took over hiring in 2017, they've hardly assigned pilots to the Airbus. The last bus class was Jan 2018 and the majority of newhires have been going to the 737s. We can't control who we hire, that's airline management's job. I will say I know people who want to work here and with very impressive qualifications who still can't get a call. Some with lesser resumes can't get a call either. Not sure what the secret is in getting called but with the little amounts of hiring AS does compared to other airlines, it's still really competitive to work here. Unlike Delta, this place doesn't hire many younger people with smaller resumes. Of the nearly 3000 pilots here only about 40 are below age 30. Anyway as a rsv CA I've flown with rsv FOs from the latest hiring cycle and they've all been here almost a year or more now, and seemed like great individuals with good backgrounds.

 

We hire 3 types....Horizon, Military and pilots who are not competetive enough to be hired at the major airlines. As a side note, competetive has very little to do with which 4 yr basket weavers diploma you have or how much turbine time you have.

 

Getting hired at AS has always been a mystery, even among west coast people. Nobody knew how to crack the code, other than friends and family helps. But the guy in my circle who always wanted to work there (SEA born and raised, good track record, internal recs) got an interview but then was not hired.

 

So which category are you in and why are you still here? Alaska airlines has been Alaska airlines since the day you stepped on property. If you’re more qualified, better adjusted, live outside the PNW, understand this career and the economics that drive it better than everyone else and hate being at this company, I ask again, Why....Are....You....here? Instead of just sitting there taking it Klsy, why haven’t you left yet? Most major airlines picked hiring back up by 2011-12. That gave you almost eight years of solid hiring to pop smoke and bail. I think you said you’ve been here around 17-18 years? We’ve had a few with more than 10 years service leave for other airlines. Why not you? Is it that you’re unqualified, awkward or lazy? This whole conversation is an effing joke. You guys are mad at management and instead of focusing you anger towards them, you’re turning on your fellow pilots, calling them unqualified, socially awkward and questioning their motives behind being here. Typically, only those whose own self esteem is low due to their personal inadequacies call into question the qualifications of others. You guys need to redirect you anger towards the ones in charge who are actually causing your grief.