I heard that's about the change. Instead of MXC, we're going to put candidates through an American Ninja Warrior course. The salmon ladder is key and is graded very high. :D

This is what happens when the almighty HR department takes control of hiring pilots. It's like engineers designing cockpits without consulting the human factors experts and pilots.
Alaskan has always been insecure with folks leaving for other airlines. We'll see more of that as the "qualified pilot candidate pool" dries up and the big three really open up the hiring flood gates.

That wouldn't surprise me. I've heard from F/A buddies that Alaska likes F/A candidates to return to open houses several times just to see if they're serious about working there.

The rotating surfboard of death was always my personal favorite. Coincidentally, that's exactly what I feel like I'm doing filling out airline apps.

Yeah, that's the rumor I've heard on the pilot side as well.

Every budding airline pilot is trying as hard as possible to present a good image and be ready for that big phone call. It sucks that a company demands you to repeatedly fly across the country to different locations on your own dime to "show your loyalty".

I've heard that Alaska is a great place to work, just not sure about the elitist attitude from the outside looking in. Maybe an Alaska guy can explain what I'm missing.

That's called hubris, and as long as thousands keep applying and traveling around the world to talk for ten minutes with an HR rep, nothing will change.

Plus the fact that the organizers are making bank setting up these "meet and greets." As long as the money keeps flowing...

True story:

I had a layover in the Chicago Westin years ago. There were two groups in the ballrooms. One was a pilot meet and greet. The other was ComicCon Chicago.

I had to ask my F/A which group looked weirder, the pilots in their "interview" suits or the kids in their costumes. We were in agreement...the pilots.

Really three job fairs? Who has the time to go to three and three that AS is at? That would take a year. In that time many will be picked up by another airline.

What a great story! Plus, I'm sure the cosplay folks probably paid far less to be there!

Alaskan has nothing to back their "elitist attitude" since they only offer one thing for a pilot-SEA and PDX base, if that really matters. 13.5% 401k contribution, lowest 737 pay of all majors, 5% PBP with a shrinking moving target, inability to fly bigger equipment for better pay, and a Napoleon complex doesn't sound like an elitist.