Life at Alaska !
 

Junior Seattle FO’s how has life been on the line So far?
How long does it take to hold a line in Seattle?
What are some of the good the bad and the ugly being Seattle based?
(I know these questions have been answered on the previous thread but I’m looking for some current answers) thanks in advance guys.

Get ready. Here it comes.

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1) Horrible
2) Not too long , currently
3) Good- Evergreen’s Salads
Bad- POS lawless city
Ugly- FA’s

You should expect lines with 12 days off a month.
that’s right 12!!!! Most airlines get that or more for reserve lines. Not here though. Here you’ll be living like it’s the 1950’s. Expect zero quality of life.

QOL?
 

Are folks just working their asses off at AK compared to other carriers? How does year #2 compare to year #1 at AK? How much back side of the clock flying is typical in year #1?

Is the union feeding you these questions? 🤣 Almost half the lines in Seattle are 14 days off or less in November. A majority of those have low credit circadian swapping red-eyes in them. If you work at it, Seattle is a good base to trip trade because it has a large pool of flying. The other bases also have a ton of junk pairings but it is much harder to trade stuff.

Also, don't forget that we are entering a very contentious and demoralizing negotiation process for the next couple years with the NMB.

Everyone says that it can't be that bad but wait until you get here. It's worse and quickly going downhill.

Sadly, there are very few pros here at eskimo’s world, especially given the current pilots vs. company climate. Having sat reserve for years in both seats, your blood pressure will definitely rise to unhealthy levels. Get ready to embrace the suck and contentious environment created by management.
As for me, I should have left for greener pastures after Kasher. My advice: run away, if you can.

Contentious is an understatement. I tried to leave after Kasher but to no avail and after over two decades watched this airline’s sense of pride do a slow Mach tuck that’s going to take well past what I have left here to recover…….or maybe not. This current union leadership is the only group during my tenure that I am remotely starting to have faith as they kinda are standing up for what the membership wants. I only have ten years to go so I’m riding it out till the end and stay informed/engaged from the union that represents our workgroup. Management created this current environment and they shall reap the disadvantages that comes with it. Quoted from a senior captain “Don’t be mad at management, they are businesses people……..but as a pilot so are you. That means every day at work do everything you can to take as much as you can from Alaska Air Group. Because they are doing that to you right now”

Do lots of research before counting on this place for a career and do not get tunnel vision and not see what your peers at other operations get. The extra mile many of us gave this place went down in flames years ago. I’m here for the 5th and the 20th, cool coworkers and living in base………but after the shutdown check……I go home.

No airline operation is perfect. But this place is muy mal.

So Sorry
 

I am really sorry to see all the bad reports. In the back of my mind, I've always hoped SW would buy out AK, because I'd love an Anchorage domicile. I'd never jump ship after 20 years in, but we purchased some acreage up there that doesn't have a road within 5 miles of the property, and the only way in or out is to fly or by river. I plan on retiring there.

Maybe another 2 years in negotiations with NMB. I hope they’re ready for the stampede out the front door as newer CBAs come to other airlines. Alaska will be left in the dust as other airlines see higher pay rates; far superior work rules; enjoy industry standard scope; have healthy retirement plans……etc. Pilots are a commodity. If you’re going to sell gold (your services) at $900/oz while others receive market rate at $1761, you might have a hard time justifying that