Every airline is your first choice. You work for whoever hires you. Very few folks get more than one offer so treat every interview like that's the one. Not everyone is fortunate enough to get their first choice all though life, unless you are F15cricket. lol
The hiring board folks don't have x-ray mind readers and they can't really tell if you are lying unless you are too stupid to play the game; you must play to win. If you are weak in this area, go invest in an interview prep.
Alaskan was my first choice over a decade ago but that was then and times have changed. If I were looking for a job today, Alaskan would be the last of the "desired" airlines to work for. Some of the pea minded Alaskan egomaniacs on here will have a tizzy with what I just said. In this job market, you look out for number 1.

Ditto. If I were 35 or younger, no way I'd be interested in staying at Air Alaskan.

Alaska a stepping stone?
 

Anyone 35 or older should retire!! Or go to Delta and become a MD-88 CA!! I hear that was the best plane!

That's a great idea. I think I'll go ahead and put in my application with Delta. They have huge retirement numbers over there and our guys are trickling out at a painfully slow pace. As much as I'd love to fly the MD-88 over there, I flew the "Super 80" here at Alaskan. I really want to get my hands on a 777.

I'd say judging from 99% of the posts, yes Alaska is now a stepping stone to Delta. The thread tittle should be changed to: Is American a stepping stone to Delta? :D

Delta should have just bought Alaskan 2 years ago. Would have saved us a lot of trouble with the whole application and interview process.

;)

Um- this is the 3rd or 4th reference to "Alaskan." Who are they- and are they hiring? What's their bases? Is there a flow-through program with someone?

:P

Alaskan Airways is best airline in the world. They hire the best people and you have to be the best of the best to be a pilot here.

Shirley you've heard about them?!

So the gist of this thread is that new guys should leave Alaskan and go to Delta Airlines.:D

Remember when NJA was going for its first contract and was awarded a pretty good one? And subsequently do you remember all of the threads on here in favor of working at NJA and it was the "must have" at the time because of that contract? I'm just kind of chuckling to myself as this proves how cyclical this business is. NJA is old and busted. The legacy carriers are the new hotness.

Us pilots are freaky bunch.