You pick from what is available at the end of day 2 in seniority order.

Seniority is by age.

I think many folks here at AA underestimate the fact that, to a pilot trying to break in to the Big 3, any pilot position within the Big 3 tend to be viewed as pretty similar. While UAL has the best pay today, DAL has the best culture and AA has some of the best bases...these things can and will change with each cycle. So, it's perfectly understandable that a newly hired pilot at the Big 3 may very well leave for another within the first year or two, most likely for base or seniority reasons.

We here at AA are obviously under a lot of angst with the current climate between management and labor...as such, if we don't stop and think for a second, we tend to respond with awe when we hear that someone left UAL or DAL to come here. But the above applies, simply due to the fact that, in the end, an AA pilot job is still a dang good job at one of the Big 3. And we need to realize that our time will come when an AA pilot contract will lead the industry (its up to us!)

In any case, welcome to AA!

AA73 very well put!! Your two reasons "bases and seniority" is EXACTLY why I left. United training and culture was top-notch while I was there, very hard to leave and not one complaint. In the end my family wanted to live in DFW or CLT and I would break 500 at AA and around 900 at UA in seniority. Given the fact that UA has more WB for now it's about a wash but it came down to bases. Also when I was there in 2015 UA had not done too well financially compared to AA or DL so that worried me thinking they had been out of bankruptcy longer than AA and yet AA was still making more profit per qtr. However, now UA is doing great so you never know. I am happy with my decision but I won't ever really know until the day I retire. One bankruptcy at either one will swing that decision very quickly!!!

was it because of bases?

Bases and retirements.

How long does it typically take a LGA 320/D FO to hold PHL 320? I assume PHL is the next most JR base, and it would be much more practical on first year pay for a guy looking to sit reserve at home, and is able to relocate.

You'll likely get it while still in training. Only issue is D to I, not sure how that's working out.

I'll jump in before someone asks. Domestic to International.

Delete.........

If you're asking, yes, that is what he is talking about. LUS bases are all I. LAA bases have D and I but it is going away. Everyone will be I some time down the road.