rickair7777

Living in base is huge, most especially if you can reliably sit SCR at home.

Personally I would not commute if there was any option at all to live in base at any halfway decent major. Some people choose to do so, and they can even in some cases show the math that you'll have more time at home by commuting for a better airline over many decades. But nothing removes the stress, and some relish that more than others.

HI and central America are not typically "international" flying, as the industry considers it (nor is Canada). Anything in the Americas is normally operated with domestic rules.

To get the true benefit of "international" ops, you need widebodies (pay) and long, augmented flights (10+ hours) so you can build a lot of block time on a three day trip. The 24-48 hour exotic layovers are more of a fringe benefit, the real benefit is pay and days off.

Also it sounds like AS may be pulling back the HI flying as SWA expands it's LA-HI service.

Cruz5350

It’s not even close to what Delta and eventually United will pay with a fraction of the retirements and other contract gains.

fgogs

If I come to Alaska I’ll live in Seattle, so no stress on short call. I’m already on my early 40s, so I’m not sure wide body captain is in the cards for me at the Big 3.

So when I look at Alaska I see, nice new 737s, cool flights within a few time zones, competitive pay for narrow body and much improved work rules.

In my specific situation Alaska seems like a great place. Do I have Alaska Blue colored glasses on?

DenainaPilot

The other big 4 all fly to Hawaii and Mexico and are getting new 73s, so unless you have a hankering’ to fly SE AK or want to live in/near PDX there’s no advantage there . It remains to be seen by how much AS gets passed by the other heavy hitters. I’m not saying don’t go to AS, just understand where things are at for now.

Arctichicken

I'm slowly planning on sailing off into the sunset in a few years. After spending over a couple of decades flying for the puzzle palace, I can't say I've grown to love this place. It's been a paycheck and with a few tricks, I've made this place work. Speaking to friends at the big three, SWA, FedEx & UPS, they all seem to be fairly happy. No gig is perfect but the eskimo lags behind these carriers in just about every aspect and sadly, it always will. Big iron vs. narrow body, PNW base, family culture, commuting, to name a few, are no longer valid arguments for coming to Alaska. Unless you want to be PDX based and drive to work, I'd look elsewhere. Some on this forum may call guys like me the "angry 30" but I don't sugar coat a turd and sell it as Godiva. Choose wisely.

HGWT

There’s no such thing as a “nice” new 737. Or “nice” old 737 for that matter… Go to Delta and enjoy better pay rates, QOL and airplanes.

Troy T

I apologize if this question has already been asked, but what chance would I have of getting hired and based at LAX? I live in the area and would like to know where I'd potentially be located before signing up. I'm not in a position to commute. Furthermore, I'm older and have no desire to fly the long, wide body trips that other carriers may offer (although the planes would be awesome). Shorter domestic legs are actually preferred. So, LAX as a domicile, shorter legs and primarily 73s are all very appealing to me. Appreciate the input.

Avgeek7248

The only thing AS has over DL is absolute stability in the PNW. That being said you can upgrade into the bus in SEA quicker rn at DL then you can here. Objectively speaking DL is the better career for 99% of pilots out of SEA and LAX.

fgogs

Do you mean holding Seattle in the bus at Delta vs. holding Seattle in the 73 at Alaska?

jjthejetplane

Probably you can be based there very quickly out of training. LAX was offered on the last few new hire classes that I’m aware of. Bidding is by age with oldest in class getting the first pick. Even if you don’t get LAX out of training you can most certainly get it in the next vacancy.