Alaska Air Hiring
10-15-2023, 09:27 PM
#7582
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2022
Posts: 290
DO NOT commute to this job. The company and historical pilot group does not seek gains for commuters and schedules/contract do not offer much for them. If you choose to move to base, you'll have a much better time.
Keep in mind every new hire will be going to SFO and stuck there 2+ years. There are literally 10 retirements a year for the next decade, so just hope for more hiring to create seniority, not geezers coming off the top of the list.
If you get an offer from AA, take that. Or at a minimum come here and keep your apps out.
This is just marketing and recruiter BS, they put on a show and lie about upgrade times and future plans. The pilot group in the PNW is autistic, so dont expect much conversation, interaction, or layover fun. Just weirdos who are scared of FAs and cant make eye contact with some basic conversation or small talk during a trip.
Be objective about your goals and shoot for what's best for you.
Keep in mind every new hire will be going to SFO and stuck there 2+ years. There are literally 10 retirements a year for the next decade, so just hope for more hiring to create seniority, not geezers coming off the top of the list.
If you get an offer from AA, take that. Or at a minimum come here and keep your apps out.
This is just marketing and recruiter BS, they put on a show and lie about upgrade times and future plans. The pilot group in the PNW is autistic, so dont expect much conversation, interaction, or layover fun. Just weirdos who are scared of FAs and cant make eye contact with some basic conversation or small talk during a trip.
Be objective about your goals and shoot for what's best for you.
You ever stop and think for a minute…that maybe it’s just you?
That’s not my experience, or the experience of anyone else at this pilot group. The fact that you can sit here and honestly say that kind of stuff about your fellow pilot group is lowly and pathetic. How about you get lost already, we’d all be better off without you a part of the group.
10-16-2023, 10:20 AM
#7583
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2022
Posts: 188
AA pilots go out and party with their crews every layover. Just go look at their forums and see how opened minded and welcoming their pilot group is to all races and genders. They also positive space you from your home airport to base with a hotel both ways and pay you for your commute at 100% pay any credit.
10-16-2023, 10:24 AM
#7584
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2022
Posts: 591
You ever stop and think for a minute…that maybe it’s just you?
That’s not my experience, or the experience of anyone else at this pilot group. The fact that you can sit here and honestly say that kind of stuff about your fellow pilot group is lowly and pathetic. How about you get lost already, we’d all be better off without you a part of the group.
That’s not my experience, or the experience of anyone else at this pilot group. The fact that you can sit here and honestly say that kind of stuff about your fellow pilot group is lowly and pathetic. How about you get lost already, we’d all be better off without you a part of the group.
I was hired in early 2018 and the Blackout Betty fallout had just begun. I flew with a lot of captains that “won’t talk to the FAs.” In many cases I had to act as an intermediary between the captain and the FAs. Lots and lots of examples of very socially awkward moments. A lot of my relatives are from the PNW so I understand how introverted and weird people from the area can be. It’s definitely reflected in our pilot group. It’s not such a bad thing but I feel like the expectation that fun is to be had on the road at Alaska isn’t necessarily a good one to have.
I also sorted through the SEA open flying lines for November 7 of 65 lines didn’t have a red eye. Run a reserve roster report. See how hard the jr people are working. I can’t blame them for leaving. I wish they wouldn’t. We must as an organization get away from “I had to suffer so you should too.” With the hiring options available we can’t run this way. Not anymore.
IMO PBS will be a disaster. It will allow an average line value of 85+2 and the TLV is 83. So if you’re in the bottom 50% you’re going to get unstacked. What’s going to get pushed onto your line as a junior pilot FAI and ANC red eye turns. So a lot of senior FOs will upgrade on the next bid expecting a great quality of life that they are already used to. Now they will be super upset and they will take it out on their JR FO… Perpetuating the vicious cycle
The money is good. It’s a stable job. The people are really nice but sometimes a little weird if you’re from a more social place like California. What we need to focus on is creating a culture that will treat new hires well. So they stick around. Not expect them to commute to red eye reserve where they are working over the guarantee and it’s going to take years to fly during the day and not commute. We should also honor commuters too. We largely don’t but it has improved since I started here. I’m not a commuter. However, I’d like to address the realities of the pilot market and see this airline grow. There is a lot of potential. But the first thing all of us need to stop is telling people to leave.
10-16-2023, 01:40 PM
#7585
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2022
Posts: 290
All of our pilots matter and no one should leave. They can choose to of course but we need to stop thinking this way.
I was hired in early 2018 and the Blackout Betty fallout had just begun. I flew with a lot of captains that “won’t talk to the FAs.” In many cases I had to act as an intermediary between the captain and the FAs. Lots and lots of examples of very socially awkward moments. A lot of my relatives are from the PNW so I understand how introverted and weird people from the area can be. It’s definitely reflected in our pilot group. It’s not such a bad thing but I feel like the expectation that fun is to be had on the road at Alaska isn’t necessarily a good one to have.
I also sorted through the SEA open flying lines for November 7 of 65 lines didn’t have a red eye. Run a reserve roster report. See how hard the jr people are working. I can’t blame them for leaving. I wish they wouldn’t. We must as an organization get away from “I had to suffer so you should too.” With the hiring options available we can’t run this way. Not anymore.
IMO PBS will be a disaster. It will allow an average line value of 85+2 and the TLV is 83. So if you’re in the bottom 50% you’re going to get unstacked. What’s going to get pushed onto your line as a junior pilot FAI and ANC red eye turns. So a lot of senior FOs will upgrade on the next bid expecting a great quality of life that they are already used to. Now they will be super upset and they will take it out on their JR FO… Perpetuating the vicious cycle
The money is good. It’s a stable job. The people are really nice but sometimes a little weird if you’re from a more social place like California. What we need to focus on is creating a culture that will treat new hires well. So they stick around. Not expect them to commute to red eye reserve where they are working over the guarantee and it’s going to take years to fly during the day and not commute. We should also honor commuters too. We largely don’t but it has improved since I started here. I’m not a commuter. However, I’d like to address the realities of the pilot market and see this airline grow. There is a lot of potential. But the first thing all of us need to stop is telling people to leave.
I was hired in early 2018 and the Blackout Betty fallout had just begun. I flew with a lot of captains that “won’t talk to the FAs.” In many cases I had to act as an intermediary between the captain and the FAs. Lots and lots of examples of very socially awkward moments. A lot of my relatives are from the PNW so I understand how introverted and weird people from the area can be. It’s definitely reflected in our pilot group. It’s not such a bad thing but I feel like the expectation that fun is to be had on the road at Alaska isn’t necessarily a good one to have.
I also sorted through the SEA open flying lines for November 7 of 65 lines didn’t have a red eye. Run a reserve roster report. See how hard the jr people are working. I can’t blame them for leaving. I wish they wouldn’t. We must as an organization get away from “I had to suffer so you should too.” With the hiring options available we can’t run this way. Not anymore.
IMO PBS will be a disaster. It will allow an average line value of 85+2 and the TLV is 83. So if you’re in the bottom 50% you’re going to get unstacked. What’s going to get pushed onto your line as a junior pilot FAI and ANC red eye turns. So a lot of senior FOs will upgrade on the next bid expecting a great quality of life that they are already used to. Now they will be super upset and they will take it out on their JR FO… Perpetuating the vicious cycle
The money is good. It’s a stable job. The people are really nice but sometimes a little weird if you’re from a more social place like California. What we need to focus on is creating a culture that will treat new hires well. So they stick around. Not expect them to commute to red eye reserve where they are working over the guarantee and it’s going to take years to fly during the day and not commute. We should also honor commuters too. We largely don’t but it has improved since I started here. I’m not a commuter. However, I’d like to address the realities of the pilot market and see this airline grow. There is a lot of potential. But the first thing all of us need to stop is telling people to leave.
I don’t want anyone to leave, but if Disappointment is that miserable with their job, company, and co-workers, maybe everyone all around including them would benefit if they left. But believe me, and my posts speak for it…I want people here and to stay! It’s a good gig.
10-16-2023, 04:06 PM
#7586
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2016
Position: A320 FO
Posts: 99
Well I know you didn't ask me, but since I've worked for two of the airlines you mentioned I'll interject. No base consideration: #1 AA, #2 AK and #3 SW. With PNW base consideration: #1 AK, #2 AA, and #SW. Sorry, but no matter how you look at it Southwest sucks.
10-16-2023, 07:10 PM
#7587
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2022
Posts: 591
Too big to fail.
Unless major global catastrophe, then all recent hires are furloughed anyway.
Suppose it's possible they could get into Ch.11 and have their contract adjusted. But that would be "industry average" per law, not rock bottom. And if AA wound up with big cost reductions, AS might see some of their one-world flying shifted to AA domestic fleets.
Unless major global catastrophe, then all recent hires are furloughed anyway.
Suppose it's possible they could get into Ch.11 and have their contract adjusted. But that would be "industry average" per law, not rock bottom. And if AA wound up with big cost reductions, AS might see some of their one-world flying shifted to AA domestic fleets.
I'll never forget the call from one of my mentors, a pilot at American who asked me over the phone one night: "should I vote on this pay cut so we don't go bankrupt?" I was still in my 20's and the lost decade was going strong. I actually still remember telling him that he shouldn't accept that and the company will just take your money. The pilot's pay was cut and the entire board was given 7 million dollars each as a golden parachute. I'm not sure if I recall the exact numbers correctly but it was a massive pay cut for the pilots. They declared bankruptcy anyway. I know this is in the Alaska history too but bankruptcy will gut a pilot contract, historically speaking.
10-16-2023, 07:22 PM
#7588
Living The Dream
Joined APC: Jan 2023
Posts: 92
AA pilots go out and party with their crews every layover. Just go look at their forums and see how opened minded and welcoming their pilot group is to all races and genders. They also positive space you from your home airport to base with a hotel both ways and pay you for your commute at 100% pay any credit.
See this post and the full thread:
New Commuter Policy United vs American
10-16-2023, 07:24 PM
#7589
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2019
Position: 757/767 CA
Posts: 263
I was curious about this positive space comment and checked out one of the American threads, it doesn't look like they get positive space. Am I missing something?
See this post and the full thread:
New Commuter Policy United vs American
See this post and the full thread:
New Commuter Policy United vs American
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