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-   -   International and Hawaii flying (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/american/112698-international-hawaii-flying.html)

Laker24 04-05-2018 06:44 AM

If international flying is your thing don’t go to AA. Unless you want to live in Miami and go south. AA is a massive domestic airline with limited international. Look up international ASMs by region and as a percentage of total ASMs. UAL and DAL operate a higher percentage of international ASMs. Junior 787/777 CA is around 2000 out of 15,000 or top 13% of seniority list. Maybe 25 years? At Emirates it takes about 5 years.

Hawaii 3 day slash trips (12 hour credit) go junior but by next winter they will pay 15:45 and will likely be senior trips. 777/787 flying is senior. AAL has about 140 widebody aircraft out of nearly 1,000 planes. You can easily do the math and see what it takes to hold the bigger aircraft. After a few years you might be able to hold bottom reserve on one of those planes. The bases don’t offer much variety.

If you just want to see the world go to Ek, make some tax free money, and once you’ve had more than your fill come back to United/DALwhere you have a better variety of intl ops. Emirates is extremely standardized and the training is challenging.

AA is a great job but it has a relatively small international network and mgt has repeatedly stated they are not going to significantly grow the airline. Intl growth will probably be farmed out to JV Airlines. My $.02

Frip 04-05-2018 06:52 AM

You want help?

Sure...

I looked

The junior group of LAX 320 FO's with a mostly Hawaii schedule are 1999/2000 hires with a seniority range of 10,000 to 10,100.

The other international 320 flying is mostly BJX, CUN, MEX and the like.

Enjoy Emirates... I'm sure that they and their Captains will be fine with you spending your time on duty on the flight deck immersed in your music, while they fly solo.

Laker24 04-05-2018 06:55 AM


Originally Posted by TheRaven (Post 2565432)
You can bid to fly Lunar round trips, but you won’t get those either. Do you feel you have earned the right to fly Hawaii round trips? You haven’t even earned the right to 2 leg red eyes to Kansas City. Go to Emirates troll.

I don’t see what’s wrong with the question. The info is out there if he digs it up. But it’s legit to ask what you can and cannot hold as a junior pilot on an AA message board. Some people choose a flying career to see the world. Others choose it to have a stable job that pays the bills. AA excels in one area and lags in the other.

QuagmireGiggity 04-05-2018 07:38 AM

Nothing wrong with this question. A few years ago new hires were getting 767 right out of training. That stopped because the fleet is shrinking. 75 & 76 are same bid status and pay less. So since the 78 will likely replace 76 it may become more and more junior. Also saying there are 140 out of 1000 airplanes.. do the math is not helpful and how does a person who doesn't know about these things do that math? There are a lot more Group IV FOs than Captains. PHL(A330)Miami and NY(777) are most junior at around 11700 of 15,000 ish pilot. It seems to get more and more junior so hard to tell where it will be in 5 years. Especially if they end up getting more 787s.Lowest 767 about 14300 which will get you some Europe out of NY.
It's a lot harder to predict these things at a big multi fleet airline. Sometimes there's no/little movement on some fleets for long periods then a big surge forward.

sumwherelse 04-05-2018 07:53 AM

That’s fine but the notion that this guy wants to make a career decision based on if he can listen to his music uninterrupted by ATC is comical.

Lugar 04-05-2018 08:04 AM

Thank you for this information. I’ll be passing on AA, as their goals and my goals aren’t aligned. I really appreciate the information.

As far as making a career decision based on my ability to listen to music without ATC interruptions, you have it all wrong.

GHOST 04-05-2018 08:24 AM


Originally Posted by Lugar (Post 2565281)
As a new hire, is it possible to do mostly int’l or/and Hawaii flying? I assume that I’d have to get on the A320 to stand a chance. And even with that, is it possible to build a line with mostly Hawaiian and int’l flying? Or am I years away from being able to do that?

I’m debating whether I want to head to AA, but I really don’t enjoy domestic flying, and much prefer int’l and overwater.

If this isn’t attainable at American within a year or two, I’m likely to either accept my CJO at Emirates, or take up an opportunity to interview at Kalitta. I just don’t want to be the guy that joins AA and wishes he was elsewhere. I’d rather save the spot for someone who is doing what they want to do.

Assuming we’re not being trolled, maybe this will help. I have 7 friends currently at Emirates anxiously waiting for an opportunity to leave Emirates for AAL, DAL, and UAL. I have NEVER heard anyone at AAL say they intend to leave their job for Emirates. If you’re seriously considering Kalitta over any of the network carriers, I would question your decision making process.

sumwherelse 04-05-2018 08:34 AM


Originally Posted by Lugar (Post 2565502)
Thank you for this information. I’ll be passing on AA, as their goals and my goals aren’t aligned. I really appreciate the information.

As far as making a career decision based on my ability to listen to music without ATC interruptions, you have it all wrong.

I guess we here at American are unworthy. Enjoy the desert my friend.

TexBubba 04-05-2018 08:36 AM

I have a buddy a Kalitta, I questioned his sanity but he truly loves it. He is qualified for all the legacies, but hasn’t got an interview yet, now he says he’s staying. He likes commuting from Seattle, loves the international flying, set it’s pretty laid-back and fairly quick upgrade to the whale, enjoys two weeks off consecutively and no oassengers to deal with. While I agree it’s definitely not on par with the big three it’s still is a pretty decent place way better than anything in the Middle East. New contract, selected ALPA, leaving Teamsters. There is something for everyone that’s for sure. I’d see if you’re interested in Kalitta make sure you visit forum for them and try to jumpseat on them to get some real inside information. Cheers.

Lugar 04-05-2018 08:37 AM


Originally Posted by sumwherelse (Post 2565541)
I guess we here at American are unworthy. Enjoy the desert my friend.

It isn’t a matter of being unworthy. It’s just the flying that AA does isn’t aligned with the flying I want to do. Rather than ***** and moan about the job not being what I want it to be, I’m choosing to not pursue the airline. And you talk like that’s a bad thing...?


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