I'm thinking he meant was that there are a lot of former Lakers at Alaska. Their recriuters like Lakers pilots so if you happen to work for them then your chances are maybe higher of getting an interview at Alaska.

If you like sitting a pool for a year, Horizon is a fine choice. There are some strange stories flying around regarding how Alaska Air Group is treating current Horizon pilots who have CJOs at Alaska.

Just worked with a QX guy who has a CJO at AS.
They called him last week and gave him a class date in Nov. He interviewed last DECEMBER. Eleven months in the QXer pool. So many seniority numbers. (Off-the-street is said to be two to three weeks.)
I was also given a first person account by someone who recently interviewed and was very discouraged by the treatment his group was given in SEA. He said from a group of eight, seven were shown the door the first day, and HR has been very slow to communicate with him as regards to why. Contrast that with a friend who was in a group of twelve, very well treated, where eleven were given CJOs. That was early summer. Those numbers follow no law of averages you can dream up.

It makes perfect corporate sense to use the lure of a possible future at ALK Air to attract/recruit/retain Horizon pilots (smart recruiters) in a highly competitive RJ pilot market, but just at a level to keep the hope alive, and not to a level to cause stress (or extra expense) to the Horizon operation.

It sounds so counter intuitive to say, but (currently) QX might be your WORST regional option if you want to work at AS.

For the last year or so about 1/3 of every class has been Horizon. So...I'm not sure why you say that.

Well, that cuts both ways, so it depends on your viewpoint.
If you're off the street, the odds are damned long, but if you get the call, you're going to get an immediate class date.
If you're QX, you'll get an almost certain chance to interview, at some point. But if they do say yes, (and that's been wildly variable over the past year), you're going to swim for a looong time.

Pick your poison, choose your odds.

Yes, AS's stated goal is to hire 30% QX, and they've been doing that. But the point is that the total numbers we're talking about are relatively minuscule compared to the rest of the industry, and any small disturbance causes effects out of all proportion to their size.
It's a real long-shot to get hired at AS from any direction...

Just an update to what's posted above, (and it's good news):

Another QXer I know was called this week for a November class date, he had interviewed in June, so that's just five months now. (!?) All I can think of to account for the discrepancy is that there was a long break in interviewing during the first half of the year. (There had been rumors they wanted to reduce the depth of the pool.)

The system chief pilot did his regional time at Great Lakes and thinks they're some of the best. He said this at the PNWAC career forum this year.

That was Hornblower, he's an ex laker who gives preferential treatment to them over other candidates simply for that reason. I believe he was quoted as saying they liked lakers because "they're so excited to fly for us!" Haha yeah really you think?! They're flying 1900s they'd be thrilled to fly 175s at Mesa for $20/hour!!

Horizon is the worst choice for anyone looking to go to Alaska. You have to sign over all your employee records, wait a year in a pool and lose seniority, volunteer all your time for AG events, save some seals and just MAYBE you will make it to day 2 of the interview process...Meanwhile lakers and guys from any other airline are having the red carpet rolled out for them without being subjected to those undue burdens. Give me a break.