Should you leave AA?
 

Now that right there is how it's done. Nothing's too cruel if it's funny!

That being said - Slice has been a great bank of knowledge on this board - but still laughing!

If I were at any major right now with 2000+ behind me, I'd stay put. I started at Eastern in '85 and ended up at United in '90 after our strike. Thought about Cargo a couple of times, but ultimately decided I liked flying pax and FAs (well, some of them!). Now around seniority #2500 and flying mostly 767-400 Captain. Since we have that airplane banded with the real wide bodies, it's working out well for me. But...it could change tomorrow. I was in tall cotton 9/10/2001 as an A-320 Captain.

I'm much less concerned about our contract than I am about the viability of the company moving forward. Long term 10-15 years out, where is AA at? From the looks of it, not in a good position. Delta/SWA/Spirit will continue to take our market share.

Don't be such a Drama Queen.

It is impossible for us to be in every single market. We don't have enough airplanes. I'll start worrying about our viability when our loads start to drop off. Literally every leg I fly is full...

Been busy. Life is better right now even if we're sleeping on the floor and living in boxes. Might get busy again in the next week or two, hopefully back to normal in late April.

Dl contact, coming on one year LOS, still trying to get to AA.

With 2,000 guys below you quitting AA to go to DL is crazy. DL guy would gain about 700-800 numbers by coming to AA so a guy with 2,000 guys below him at AA would lose a lot of numbers by going to DL.

DL's fleet is 9 (?) years older than AA's. They have to be replaced at some point. Interest rate is trending up. Yeah, it's troubling seeing AA not following some of the other business models but does anyone want to run a business model with the slogan "come fly us, we have the oldest fleet in the business"?

I'll have to agree with what you said. Our fleet will eventually be one of if not the youngest out there and it will have been financed at insanely low rates of interest. I still don't like the amount of long term debt we have versus Delta or United though. We generate about the same amount of cash as Delta, considerably more than United, but have about 4x the debt that Delta carries.

I don't think she can help herself.

Should you leave AA?
 

I was just giving you a hard time in my last post. Hope all is well.

I think everyone understands AA has more retirements and they happen sooner than everyone else. That's the light at the end of the tunnel for those of us frustrated with our current contract situation.

Many new hires and prospective new hires are deciding the seniority gains are not worth the better overall contract and shorter upgrades elsewhere. If I had offers from each of the big 6 AA would only score points for retirements. Obviously the situation can change but one has to use current information when making decisions.

We may have a newer fleet but we're loading up on current technology engines while much more efficient ones are right around the corner. If fuel stays low and interest rates go up then AA made a smart choice buying now. If fuel goes up and interest rates stay low AA is stuck with less efficient airplanes for years to come. It's a gamble just like everything else. I wouldn't make a job choice based on fleets.