vitamin

Hoping to get some QOL insight from those who’ve been at AA for 1-5 years-ish. I’m a long timer (20 years) at SkyWest and am grateful to have been offered a job with AA. Ill soon be 50 and trying to weigh my options.

I know the money is there. Second year at AA I’d make more money than my annual income at SkyWest at 20+ year pay scale … crazy.

But how’s life? How are the pairings? How many days home are you getting? Are you able to swap and drop? Happy at AA?

Id love to see some anonymous monthly schedules and parings … maybe an email or private message? I know the questions are domicile/aircraft dependent but I’d probably be placed into CLT or MIA and obviously the 737 or 320.

Thanks in advance.

Brokeasspot

How many times have you looked at an AA plane and wanted to be flying it? Now think how many times they have looked at a Skywest plane and wanted to be in it? Your answer is going to be what your thinking, otherwise you wouldn’t have applied!

JulesWinfield

What?


filler

vitamin

I was wondering about quality of life for those who’ve been with the company for a relatively short time … 1-5 years.

Maybe I’m being thick headed but, your answer didn’t help.

chrisreedrules

The equation to make the jump from a super-senior RJ gig (especially one like SkyWest that is arguably very likely going to survive whatever the current regional collapse ends up looking like) to being junior at a legacy with only 15 years left is a much different one than it is for a 25-35 year old. The OP is asking very valid questions.

I don’t have a super in-depth knowledge of SkyWest or your contract, but for me it would come down to a simple question… Do you value schedule flexibility/control or money more? Because you won’t likely see quality of life akin to what you have now if you go to AA. You’ll retire from AA as a narrowbody Captain or widebody FO. But your relative seniority company-wide would likely be in the 50% range. Not amazing. Not terrible.

Rroku

Only speaking for myself, been here less than a year with a line for five months. Get 13-16 days off, though the last few months its been 15 or less. Being junior most of my trips have sucked with a lot of transcon redeyes to start.

I personally haven't been able to drop anything yet, luck with trading is hit and miss. That part is very frustrating, trying to trade my 4 day for a commutable 4 day, nope! TTS doesn't approve it. Drop it, yeah right!

I have no faith in our union to get us a good deal in a timely manner, they seem to be too self serving. As long as they get their premium time, they don't care.

Is this place better than a regional? Absolutely! Take the first legacy you get an offer from. If something better comes along down the road then you have a choice to make. Should I have given up my line, west coast base, and seniority and gone to Delta? Probably. I'm mainly hoping United comes through with a great contract and forces AA into something more than the insult of 4%.

El Peso

You’re a west-coastie and have only been here less than a year? And you’re hoping United gets a good contract so that AA will hopefully follow? Here’s a crazy idea, go to United! AA will never have a west coast presence that United does. Plus if they do get a better contract you’re in! Why hang around here? Isom isn’t going to budge until he really needs something from us, like the next merger, so let me save you the suspense there.

Rroku

I don't know why it is, but haven't heard a thing from United. Made it here. I gave Delta a TBNT after I was here (not a huge Delta fan). But crickets from United with several LORs and two internal recs. Don't know.

El Peso

And you updated your UAL app with AA as current employer? I’d imagine they’d love to poach pilots from here. Heck they’re poaching the Eagle folks like crazy, why not a mainline guy? If I were you I’d be hitting the full court press trying to get on with UAL. Being on the west coast and just less than a year here, it’s a no brainer. Cherry on top they’re clearly years ahead of us in terms of obtaining a contract. At least they’re getting to an AIP (even if it doesn’t pass) that means real progress is occurring. We’re still getting the opener they started with in 2019.

Margaritaville

Dude. You said yourself 2nd year AA pay is more than what you're making as a CA at SKW. AA you'll probably make 320 or 737 CA in 3 years or less and that's when the big bucks start rolling in.

Your 20 years seniority at SkyWest is worthless if the company loses a mainline contract. The biggest danger in this industry is hanging onto a carrier that doesn't fly its own code.

Get the heck out of there while you can. This is your last chance. It's worth it.

And then if you hate AA take that free type rating and go to United or Delta.