Hi, y'all--After 22 years in the USAF, then four as a contract sim IP, Alaska was the only airline I applied to. So, short answer to your question: YES.

You would make more money with most other airlines, but this is a fun place to work. There is WAY more to life than $$$, especially with a military retirement pay check coming in. The quality of life here is great--I am ANC-based, this month is 1 year on property (off probation in about 2 weeks, woo hoo!), and the bid that just came out has me at # 55/100 FOs! Incredible.

Some guys will comment that it sucks flying for an airline with only one aircraft type. Well, in my first flying job (with the USAF), I flew the same aircraft for my entire career and it never got boring. Having been in the USAF and travelled around the world, I have absolutely ZERO desire to fly a big aircraft internationally (too many time zone changes, circadian rhythm, etc--guys who fly that tend to die younger!). But, living in ANC, I get to do a lot of cool Arctic and southeast Alaska flying (VFR hand flying a 737 is cool!).

So, while this place is not perfect, it is an awesome retirement job.

 

I would say go for Alaska, but be aware that putting all your eggs in one basket has some risk. Alaska is a quirky airline when it comes to hiring, depending on whether HR or CPs office is doing the hiring, and who's in those positions. I know several people that were poster children for Alaska who never even got an interview. We're talking check airmen, four year, clean record, internship, even instructing for Alaska, with no interview. They wasted years of seniority at other airlines waiting for the call. I'd say aim for Alaska, but go to Delta or American if offered, you can always leave. Well.... If you leave Delta for Alaska, you're nuts

 

Granola,

Sent you a PM

 

Yeah, you just described me. Very frustrating to say the least. As a self-described "poster child" for AS, not ever getting "the call" is very demoralizing.

Don't put all of your eggs in one basket. Truer words have never been said!

 

C-21(LR-35) 3yrs, then KC-135. Thanks for the info. I have spent the first half of my life chasing money with not much to show, I figured I would try something different.

 

Cool.
To better answer your question, I like working at Alaskan for the most part since I'm from the left coast and I don't mind flying the 737 for the rest of my career. No airline is perfect and I quit chasing the $$$ loooooong time ago; thanks, Kasher!
If I were looking for an airline job today though, I'd look at the big three for the reasons I've mentioned. If you don't mind being the lowest paid 737 driver (major/legacy) and are dead set on living in the northwest, AS isn't a bad gig. Not being sarcastic.

 

I hope flying the KC-135 wasn't your example of chasing the money.

 

2loud. I doubt you work for Alaska because you called it Alaskan.

 

Alaskan Airways! I'm actually a Menzies ramper but I play a Alaskan Airways pilot on TV.

 

Most of the country calls us Alaskan Airlines Mike......I have adopted it too...just easier