Originally Posted by OTZeagle1

I am confident Alaska Airlines will provide anyone who lives in one of our 4 bases a great career. I would look past the children on here. Don’t let anyone tell you how it is, check it out for yourself. None of these tantrum throwing adolescents would be happy anywhere. To be honest many of them have taken a lot of bad beats in life, it can be difficult to get over that. They will tell you how terrible it is here, “worse then a regional,” yet they all have some reason why they personally can’t leave.

Change is coming here at AS, in the form of a new contract. I would guess by mid to late June next year. There will be lots of good change, however, I am equally as confident we will never be a commuters friendly airline. Scope, pay, and schedule changes are definitely on there way, even the company knows this.

I am a topped out CA, in the last 7 years my lowest W2 was 308k in 2015, I would give more current numbers but there would be a riot, the angriest would call me a liar, the truth is no matter how you slice it, it’s really good money. I live in base, have a network of friends and we know how to play the Alaska game. I rarely have less then 14 days off, I try to stay between 15-16. I do two day trips and turns, and thanks mostly to my network, I have a relatively easy time changing my schedule. For a new hire it will take a little time, the new contract will also help out. Make friends, be nice to people, build a network, everyone I know at other Airlines has done the same. Sadly, most of the loudest clowns on here are incapable of doing this, and from their tone on here, I think I understand why.

If you are a commuter and live east of BOI, this is not a great gig. If you live in SEA, I would definitely give DA a try first. If you call LA home, I would look to DA, UA, AA, and then AS in that order. If ANC is your spot then FE, UP, and AS would be my order. PDX, well that’s still probably DA and then AS. You can always come here and leave for a better job. If you live in base, I doubt you will go anywhere, I think you will be very happy. The next 10 months will be a little ugly, there will be a lot of stones thrown from both sides. In the end the company knows it needs to step up, and they will.

In a final note, we have the best union we have ever had. This group is awesome, I am confident in the product they will produce.

Originally Posted by Benito

Basically anyone that's looking at AS as their next career move better be sure to do their due diligence. More than half of this pilot group is unhappy. We are living with an outdated contract that reads as if it were written by a half wit from the 70's. The only good thing in it is long term disability and that is the ONLY thing giving most of us hope, that we develop a medical condition that prevents us from attaining a medical and no longer have to eat this AS excrement sandwich.
We have been in section 6 negotiations since our extended contract expired May of last year. Our negotiating committee is getting nowhere and realistically a new contract will not happen for another 5 plus years (because it doesn't benefit the company to get rid of the present contract so they are using classic stall tactics).
The current CBA is unacceptable by any self respecting airline pilots standards. AS is probably the only airline in the WORLD where the flight attendants have a better contract than the pilots, they even get more per diem than us. It truly is a travesty.
If you're still convincing yourself because you live in the PNW and the lure of driving to work is suckering you in STOP and slap yourself, is this why you became an airline pilot? To end your career flying a 737? The regional jet of the 1960's. A plane that has just enough space in the cockpit for your luggage, where it's so loud you have to wear a headset the entire flight and the only place you can stretch if you're unfortunate to be on a transcon is the forward galley.
YOU can do better than this.

Originally Posted by Ala5ka

Alaska sucks.

Originally Posted by Lifesabeech92

Can't wait to work for Alaska! Great company. Alaska is one of the top 5 places to work for in the USA as a Pilot.

Originally Posted by OTZeagle1

I am confident Alaska Airlines will provide anyone who lives in one of our 4 bases a great career. I would look past the children on here. Don’t let anyone tell you how it is, check it out for yourself. None of these tantrum throwing adolescents would be happy anywhere. To be honest many of them have taken a lot of bad beats in life, it can be difficult to get over that. They will tell you how terrible it is here, “worse then a regional,” yet they all have some reason why they personally can’t leave.

Change is coming here at AS, in the form of a new contract. I would guess by mid to late June next year. There will be lots of good change, however, I am equally as confident we will never be a commuters friendly airline. Scope, pay, and schedule changes are definitely on there way, even the company knows this.

I am a topped out CA, in the last 7 years my lowest W2 was 308k in 2015, I would give more current numbers but there would be a riot, the angriest would call me a liar, the truth is no matter how you slice it, it’s really good money. I live in base, have a network of friends and we know how to play the Alaska game. I rarely have less then 14 days off, I try to stay between 15-16. I do two day trips and turns, and thanks mostly to my network, I have a relatively easy time changing my schedule. For a new hire it will take a little time, the new contract will also help out. Make friends, be nice to people, build a network, everyone I know at other Airlines has done the same. Sadly, most of the loudest clowns on here are incapable of doing this, and from their tone on here, I think I understand why.

If you are a commuter and live east of BOI, this is not a great gig. If you live in SEA, I would definitely give DA a try first. If you call LA home, I would look to DA, UA, AA, and then AS in that order. If ANC is your spot then FE, UP, and AS would be my order. PDX, well that’s still probably DA and then AS. You can always come here and leave for a better job. If you live in base, I doubt you will go anywhere, I think you will be very happy. The next 10 months will be a little ugly, there will be a lot of stones thrown from both sides. In the end the company knows it needs to step up, and they will.

In a final note, we have the best union we have ever had. This group is awesome, I am confident in the product they will produce.

Originally Posted by notmyplatypus

Rarely have less than 14 days off ? Wow, that’s extraordinary , must be that PNW “bubble” mentality.....speaking of people that have been beaten down .....you and you’re kind ARE our problem here. Admit it !

Originally Posted by OTZeagle1

I am confident Alaska Airlines will provide anyone who lives in one of our 4 bases a great career. I would look past the children on here. Don’t let anyone tell you how it is, check it out for yourself. None of these tantrum throwing adolescents would be happy anywhere. To be honest many of them have taken a lot of bad beats in life, it can be difficult to get over that. They will tell you how terrible it is here, “worse then a regional,” yet they all have some reason why they personally can’t leave.

Change is coming here at AS, in the form of a new contract. I would guess by mid to late June next year. There will be lots of good change, however, I am equally as confident we will never be a commuters friendly airline. Scope, pay, and schedule changes are definitely on there way, even the company knows this.

I am a topped out CA, in the last 7 years my lowest W2 was 308k in 2015, I would give more current numbers but there would be a riot, the angriest would call me a liar, the truth is no matter how you slice it, it’s really good money. I live in base, have a network of friends and we know how to play the Alaska game. I rarely have less then 14 days off, I try to stay between 15-16. I do two day trips and turns, and thanks mostly to my network, I have a relatively easy time changing my schedule. For a new hire it will take a little time, the new contract will also help out. Make friends, be nice to people, build a network, everyone I know at other Airlines has done the same. Sadly, most of the loudest clowns on here are incapable of doing this, and from their tone on here, I think I understand why.

If you are a commuter and live east of BOI, this is not a great gig. If you live in SEA, I would definitely give DA a try first. If you call LA home, I would look to DA, UA, AA, and then AS in that order. If ANC is your spot then FE, UP, and AS would be my order. PDX, well that’s still probably DA and then AS. You can always come here and leave for a better job. If you live in base, I doubt you will go anywhere, I think you will be very happy. The next 10 months will be a little ugly, there will be a lot of stones thrown from both sides. In the end the company knows it needs to step up, and they will.

In a final note, we have the best union we have ever had. This group is awesome, I am confident in the product they will produce.

Originally Posted by Benito

Basically anyone that's looking at AS as their next career move better be sure to do their due diligence. More than half of this pilot group is unhappy. We are living with an outdated contract that reads as if it were written by a half wit from the 70's. The only good thing in it is long term disability and that is the ONLY thing giving most of us hope, that we develop a medical condition that prevents us from attaining a medical and no longer have to eat this AS excrement sandwich.
We have been in section 6 negotiations since our extended contract expired May of last year. Our negotiating committee is getting nowhere and realistically a new contract will not happen for another 5 plus years (because it doesn't benefit the company to get rid of the present contract so they are using classic stall tactics).
The current CBA is unacceptable by any self respecting airline pilots standards. AS is probably the only airline in the WORLD where the flight attendants have a better contract than the pilots, they even get more per diem than us. It truly is a travesty.
If you're still convincing yourself because you live in the PNW and the lure of driving to work is suckering you in STOP and slap yourself, is this why you became an airline pilot? To end your career flying a 737? The regional jet of the 1960's. A plane that has just enough space in the cockpit for your luggage, where it's so loud you have to wear a headset the entire flight and the only place you can stretch if you're unfortunate to be on a transcon is the forward galley.
YOU can do better than this.

Originally Posted by Lifesabeech92

Yea this is how I feel about it. It's a long chess game. I'm moving to the West Coast wherever they stick me first and sit reserve in base. I never thought commuting at any airline was a sustainable lifestyle. I truly believe Alaska has a superior product compared to other airlines and thus be able to grow in the future.

What is sad is all the crusty guys complaining about Alaska but don't move on? Are you that much of a terrible pilot that you can't get to an airline you identify with or agree with in terms of pay and work rules?

There are 1000s of pilots wanting to be part of Alaska.