Ask yourself: What does an airline cadet program do for you that you can't do yourself, and are the benefits it provides (a little money basically) actually useful or are they just bait on a hook to keep you from exploring the myriad alternate options for getting an airline career started? This program exists to trick you into signing a commitment with QX before you are experienced enough to know how many other options you have as a newly qualified ATP - that's the entire point of its existence. All you're doing by joining a program like this is limiting yourself to one option, when outside of this program's commitments you could go to the first/best company that calls you when you're ready - and even if QX sounds like a good deal now, who knows how the landscape of the industry, or your personal life, will change over the course of the ~2-3 years it will take you to reach ATP mins?

If you really want to fly for Alaska (and I'd question how you could be so sure about that at your experience level), and assuming the pilot hiring market continues like it is now, you will get here faster by NOT being slowed down by the pipeline program.

 

Most of us here would be well advised to remain ’apart’ of Alaska’s attempt to remediate is staffing issues by roping young people into a bad deal too.

If you’d really like to be a part of flying for Alaska Air Group, then go out into the world, get some real experience, and apply as an independent agent.

You might get a job as a pilot, but you will certainly retain your dignity.

 

First of all Congratulations! Secondly, don’t listen to the grumpy, rude, and disgruntled few on the forum that talk trash. They are simply miserable in all aspects of their lives.

Now that that’s out of the way, I really don’t have any inside details or further knowledge of the cadet program. However to me it seems like a great way to get into the industry without incurring a ton of debt. If they interview you, just be yourself and explain why you want to be a part of the program & Alaska/Horizon. Remember an interview is just about getting to know you as a person, have some personal stories lined up and show them what makes you, you.

Good luck.

 

So, since you don’t have “any inside details” your only reason to comment here is to disparage other people on this board!?

That puts you right up there with “them” or really yourself, classy move…

 

Being ignorant isn’t a crime.

Advising other people on life decisions with extreme ignorance of the details of your argument is probably a capital offense.

Get lost, or at least shut up.

 

He may not have come off tactfully, but he isn't wrong. Alaska APC is now mostly rhetoric of people that feel miserable to be here. I would have thought that mindset would have sunset after the new contract, but apparently not. Bottom line is the Alaska subsection of APC is quickly becoming a place not to come for advice on anything Alaska.

 

Yup, exactly.

And why even try to come off tactically? The same
couple of bullies here, just constantly repeat themselves and anything said positive about Alaska is their kryptonite…god forbid somebody thinks working for Alaska is a good job, or likes it, It’s comical how much that riles them up.

Funny thing is, no matter where they worked, they’d be here on the specific subform complaining…could be Delta, United, yada, yada…wouldn’t matter, cause they still sit and loathe in complaints, I guarantee it.

 

Did you not advise the poster on life decisions with extreme ignorance then too? Because you basically told them to throw away a potentially great opportunity, while I just encouraged them to explore it…

Remember, there is two sides to a coin…

 

The person asked about Ascend. Ascend, like most other cadet programs these days, is for suckers is a way, way, better deal for Alaska than it is for participants. As an aspiring airline pilot, there really aren't very many good reasons to limit one's options in the current hiring market, and that's all this program does.

Go ahead and keep patting yourself on the back for being so positive, but positivity is not the same thing as being constructive, and of all the replies to that person yours was the least constructive.

 

But what you are citing sounds more like an “opinion”, then any actual evidence that the program is limiting or will somehow hold someone back. Do you have any specific evidence of that? We all know your opinion of Alaska very well by now, so I’m not surprised your opinion of their cadet program is negative too….