Why even read the class drop thread?

4 class drops

I think you mean "for class drops". Not the number 4. There is a difference between the numeral 4 and the word for.

Im surprised you didn't know this.

4 realz


.......

This place reminds me of that neighborhood in the Twilight Zone that descends into anarchy after the power goes out. But the power is still on...

lol. Love it :D

A return to your regularly scheduled programming

10/18 class Attachment 8005

I see DFW isn't on there right now. Is the wait time still within 6 months or so?

Couple in my class (mid Sept hires) got DFW in the first vacancy bid.

hired in May, finished IOE October, will be in DFW Jan 1st on the bus.

10/25 class
 

Lga/fo/737/i
7
mia/fo/737/i
5
bos/fo/737/d
5
dca/fo/737/d
3
lga/fo/737/d
8
clt/fo/320/i
3
lax/fo/320/i
5
mia/fo/320/i
5
phx/fo/320/i
5

October 25 drop
 

Here’s the drop for 25 October.

LGA/FO/737/I 7

MIA/FO/737/I 5

BOS/FO/737/D 5

DCA/FO/737/D 3

LGA/FO/737/D 8

CLT/FO/320/I 3

LAX/FO/320/I 5

MIA/FO/320/I 5

PHX/FO/320/I 5

Strategy question: if my goal is LGA 320 is it better to take a 320 position somewhere else then transfer, or just take the 737 initially? Is there an equipment lock of any kind?

Bid for the equipment you want, then swap bases. Way easier and less work..

This. Especially if you want LGA. If you can’t get LGA in initial you can get there on a vacancy bid very quickly.

For base exchanges, does International or Domestic matter? In other words, can someone with LGA737/I swap with a DCA737/D?

no

yes

filler

Vacancy bid
 

When is the next vacancy bid and when is it effective for ?

The last one was published early September with the results early October, so probably early December with the results early January, effective April through June.

Does LGA 737/I mean that you’re only doing international, or do you still get a mixed I and D schedule?

Mixed. But remember Canada and Mexico are domestic.

I don't think anyone answered your Lock question, but it changed in the new contract for new hires from 6 months to 12 months. Your Lock-in date doesn't start till the first day of the month you are scheduled to complete training. So if it takes 3 months to get through training it really is a 14-15 month Lock in. They can also withhold you from training when you are awarded it for 12 months (will change to 9 months in Aug or Sept 2026). So really might not see a new equipment for 16-26 months. Then you are locked in to your new equipment for 24 months. So back to the point of it's important to bid the aircraft you want because it may be a while to get something new. The only out is upgrading to CA (for the first time in company) which gets you out of equipment lock and it has to be after 6 months of being on a newly trained equipment.(so if you go 73FO-777FO and hate it you have to do 6 months in 777FO to upgrade to a CA). The contract also says no pilot on probation can bid for a Captain vacancy. I hope I got this all right for you. I'm sure someone else can chime in the areas I may have missed. We also have mutual base trades every month and if you want LGA you most likely will get that very quick.

Are you in this class with no LGA/320? If so, agree with others to take the bus anywhere. You'll be able to get LGA easily on the first vacancy. It's unusual to have no LGA/320 in a drop. Depending on your age, it is usually pretty easy to get. We had 23 in my drop!

Nov 1

LGA FO 737 I - 5
MIA FO 737 I - 12
BOS FO 737 D - 6
DCA FO 737 D - 5
LGA FO 737 D - 12
CLT FO 320 I - 6
DCA FO 320 I - 3
LAX FO 320 I - 6
MIA FO 320 I - 2
PHL FO 320 I - 2
PHX FO 320 I - 4
LGA FO 320 D - 2

If the 29 November class looks like this I will be happy. Being in Kansas City, would CLT or PHX be a better commute? Also looking for which might be better for seniority progression. Thanks for the insight. Trying to make a plan

We only do 1 a day it looks like to PHX. I don’t think it really matters since you will likely get DFW or ORD before spending much time in whatever base you get in indoc.

Really 65 in this class? Is that right? I thought we were doing 45/week?

Might be bumping the next few up to possibly make up for maybe not doing classes last 2 weeks of Dec?

Would make sense. Just wondering.

They've always had the ability to surge and do it often to meet their goal of hires for the year. For example, when they paused new hire classes in June (or was it July?) for the few classes before and after they surged the numbers to make up for that break.

It was June!. But I think you’re right with your explanation.

June was the month that AA skipped hiring.

There were 5 classes in May and August (based on how the Wednesdays fell) and the classes in May, July, and August were substantially larger than the first 4 months of the year.

Here's hoping for continued large classes in November and again in January! AA has said that 2200 per year is the goal, with ~800 replacing those that retire and ~1400 for overall growth.

Nov 8th Drop
 

Lga 737 i - 8
mia 737 i - 30
bos 737 d - 1
dca 737 d - 1
lga 737 d - 1
clt 320 i - 1
dca 320 i - 1
lax 320 i - 18
mia 320 i - 4
phl 320 i - 1
phx 320 i - 1
lga 320 d - 1

What the...

How long is it currently taking to get on the wide body?

Can't check the actual data as of now, but off the top of my head it's somewhere around 4 to 6 yrs.

PHL 787 FO was awarded to a March, 2020 hire. Factor in that we weren't hiring for over a year, and you get just over 2 years to hold widebody FO, not 4-6 years.

APA is currently telling new hires at the orientation dinner 3 years. I agree that 4-6 is too long at present hiring rates.

Class WhatsApp or Signal groups
 

How early before class do these groups get formed? Looking for November 29th new hire class.

As early as someone wants but usually within a week of class you start seeing them posted. Check RST AA FB page if you have FB.