Sliceback

The 737 is a decent job. Don’t overthink it. But the AB is better.

Commute just to avoid the 737? Insane.

MrObvious

Seriously that's insane I'm about to be a new hire which is really great but should I be trying harder for delta? I have friends telling me they'll get me an interview no prob at delta but I like american bases so much better (I can drive) and I feel like American is more my style plus the retirements are ridiculous, thoughts? Is it really that bad with apa? and I kinda I figured in the next few years American would be getting closer to deltas contract in certain areas etc but if American is decades behind especially with Doug should we be looking elsewhere?...again I don't work for either so I don't know a whole lot just asking what the experienced folks think I'm sure others are interested in this topic as well, just thrilled to be leaving the regionals.

sherpster

Drive to work

I dont and it is horrible commuting

Varks

Our work rules are sub par. PSA flow throughs I fly with say their work rules were better there. Not hard to believe. I am confident it will improve but it takes time. We have recently achieved some improvements that will help if/when they are implemented. I am working my butt off. 21 days this month alone. Zero trip trades. All commutable.

I just met a new hire in training who left Delta to come to AA. Lives in CLT.

I am really enjoying the flow through pilots. They have been through tough times. They will not put up with this crap forever. Our seasoned pilots are naive. Our new hires are savvy. Very impressive to see them unite to get length of service improvements.

Bottom line is it isn’t perfect but it should improve. Massive retirements on the horizon.

Varks

Oops. It wasn’t the new hires uniting for length of service it was furlough returnees. My apologies.

mainlineAF

PSA has better work rules? That’s laughable. They have lots of 16 hr 4 days and their reserve rules suck.

AA has its issues but to even compare it to a regional is insane.

MrObvious

I hear that! Lived in base for 5 years loved every minute, 2 leg commute the last year offline is making me homicidal. Love begging Mr gate agent to let me on his shiny airplane every week.

OVBIII

Mr. Obvious,

You need to take what we say on here with a bit of skepticism. When I say “we” I am implying the Royal “we”. While you will find some great information on the forums, it’s often a place where people can vent and offer suggestions on improvements.
No place is perfect. Personally, I am happy at AA. I have optimism that with a lot of the young blood arriving that we can make this next section 6 a good one.
One thing you must remember is a lot of these guys on here suffered through some bad times at AA, (Post 9/11, bankruptcy, and furloughs). Do not minimize their aggravation, they put their time in. And they are rightfully skeptical of our current leadership.
All that said, they are still here doing the J-O-B and doing it well. These guys can teach you a lot about AA, I know I have learned a lot from them.
Go with your gut, I hope to see you in AA indoc and not elsewhere.

Sunfish FAIP

Mr Obvious,

Just like you and many others on this forum, I had the option between legacy carriers and that redneck 737 flying club out of DAL. I decided to come to American for 3 big reasons. First is that out of all the legacies, AA has been hiring the least amount of pilots since 2013ish so therefore less younger dudes ahead of me. Second, the wave in retirements and then lastly domicile options. If you choose DL, it will be a great choice but remember they have hired north of 5,000 pilots since hiring started again in Jan 2014. A LOT of those pilots are also younger then 30 years old so for me, they would always be ahead of me. To give you an idea if I would have accepted the CJO from Atlanta, I would have topped off around seniority number 3,800 ish. Here at AA if I stay till 65 I will be 643 on the list.

When you decide what airline to go for, make sure you look at domiciles but also look at the average age of dudes ahead of you that are already on the seniority list along with how quickly that list is being dumped on the old side. I think after you do some research, you will find that AA will offer you the highest number of retirements (this will affect your final spot on the seniority list) but also the oldest average age of guys ahead of you which will increase the speed in which you will climb up the seniority latter.

Either way it’s a great position to be in and have options.

Lastly, go for the Euro Trash instead of that torture chamber of the Guppy!

Laker24

Just an FYI for anyone that cares. To hold 787/777/330 CA you need to have a seniority of roughly 2500 or less. Until then it’s 737/320 domestic stuff. Or you could go the career internationally FO route.

If you are attracted to international flying consider UAL/FEDEX/UPS/DAL. They have a higher percentage of international flying. The head of network planning at AA is extremely conservative with international planning. AA will always be last to any region with the exception of South America. But it looks like they are in the process of giving that flying away to LanTam.