You will be one of the first few to bid.

I’m 53, also in March 29th class except I want LGA as I live in base. I guess I’m right after you. 😎

LGA flying is pretty good if you don’t mind not being able to go to the islands (737I the exception to that rule, but small status)

oh and the 3 airports, but MIA, LAX, and DCA get that fun too

Depends. You can take that bad reputation it gets and make it an advantage for yourself. If I was a commuter and didn't live on the other-side of the country, I would be based in NY hands down. The tri-base doesn't scare me. Only time that would be an issue is the short time you are on SCR. Otherwise just commute to the base of your trip. Seniority movement and commuting options are second to none.

Sounds like a few of us are staring down similar choices here soon. If you were commuting from AZ, what order would you rank the last drop of PHL MIA and LGA all things considered? Airbus only. LGA seems like it has some value that might go overlooked.

I’m guessing my drop will look similar based on recent history.

Based on your username, I might not be the only corporate pilot in class on the 29th?

Yep. Like 25 years or so in corporate. Should be interesting.

Philly only has one airport and cheap hotels, but less seniority

LGA covers 3 airports that can be hours away from each other , with expensive hotels and bad crashpads, but awesome seniority progression.

MIA is expensive and covers multiple airports with lots of traffic.

It sucks being a commuter.

Yeah it does, but we are all very fortunate to be running that gauntlet now. Respect to those who came before this wave.

https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/d...on-advice.html

A great thread for NYC transportation! So good it makes me want to bid LGA :D

Does 320 MIA (and DFW) not do the island stuff? Have a buddy that is 737i in DFW. I know he does some island as well as south/central America that goes through MIA. I’m hoping for DFW 320i. If DFW doesn’t come back around in the initial bids I can at least get 320i MIA and then bid back. I’m not likely to see WB so at least want to see overnights out of somewhere that the “beach” has water and not just places like ELP or LBB. Could have gone to SWA if I wanted to see those exotic destinations.

320 MIA does do Islands, Columbia, Mexico, South American ish. Just 737 has usually the better layovers.

These layovers and routes change time from time between the two airframes.

It'll be the easiest job you've ever had (barring commuting issues) if you let it. Be a sponge, smile a lot, make your Captain's job easy, and don't do anyone else's job but yours.

As a Corp guy that last part might be the hardest. You are no longer a generalist with responsibility for everything, but a specialist with a narrow scope of action. The sooner you grasp that idea the better your life (and more importantly, your stress) will be.

I cannot wait for that part. I flew at the regionals years ago and am looking forward to getting back to the 121 world.

All my 121 friends said I have no idea how much easier my life has just become. As far as commuting, I live in base, so that’s covered. Yes about the hardest part not doing anyone else’s job. I was CP for 17.5 years or so for 2 different owners. At the interview when asked “what does a 91 CP job entail”, I said to sum it up I wore a round hat with a lot of job titles on it and it never stopped spinning. I can’t wait to just be a great FO, fly the damn plane and then go home without that frieken round hat on…..

No hats required at AA, of any kind. 🤣

Best news I’ve heard all day!

Questions about the drop process…

- I assume that when these drops go public some 3-5 days before class start, they email the class with the list. Is that a safe assumption?
- Do they give you a roster with seniority order?

Unless you live near NYC, LGA sucks. You should be one of the first few to bid in class so I don’t think you’ll have to worry about it.

For anyone else on the fence about LGA, here’s my experience so far being based there. I came from a WO regional and was based in CLT. Looking at the PBS awards, the CLT trips for AA look very similar to what I was used to at the regional. Other than the destinations of course. Similar trip footprints. Probably the way AA builds the departure and arrival banks in the hubs.

I’ve always been a commuter and probably always will be. As a commuter I honestly think I was home more being based in and commuting to CLT compared to if I actually lived in base for LGA. Covering three airports in LGA with lots of early 5am and 6am reports and late finishes after 9pm and 10pm when the last departure banks have already left to commute on. You will need at least one hotel for just about every single trip if not a hotel before AND after your LGA trips. Or share a crashpad with a bunch of other pilots… even with some decent seniority.

In CLT, 90% of the time I was able to leave my house in the Midwest around 9am to noon and commute in on day 1 and commute home last day. Occasionally I would have to take a 6am flight but also sometimes I could take a 5pm flight as my first working leg was around 10pm. Not a red eye btw. Usually just one leg to finish around midnight give or take. And again, from what I see… the trip footprints on the AA side look very similar. I’d still have a smaller “total trip footprint” that includes the commute compared to staying home and driving to work in LGA.

I decided to stay in LGA a little longer just to be able to hold a line. I should be able to get back to CLT on this next vacancy award. Looking at the PBS awards, as a line holder who commutes, I would seriously rather be bottom line holder in CLT than top 20% in LGA.

- Not a safe assumption. Drops are due the day before the class date. If they come earlier that is a bonus. The majority of the time it comes earlier, but there have been a few instances where it waited until the day or two before. Especially if there was a holiday late in the week before. But yes, you will get a direct email with the list when it does come out.

- You don't get a roster before you show up. Lot of uncertainty going into the bid and you won't know for sure until it is your turn.

They do email the list but it’s technically not “official”. They’ll have a disclaimer that says the choices could change. My class it was exactly what the email had. Not sure if it’s ever different or how often.

I don’t remember getting an email about the roster, but they did give everyone a list that shows where you stand in class before you bid.
If you’re 54 I would be surprised if you’re not at least top 5 out of 30 or 40 or whatever the class sizes are now. Top 10 absolute worst case.

I'm a PHX guy too. Take PHL if you can get it. You only have to cover one airport. That was long gone by the time it got to me so I ended up with LGA.

When does the bud happen for AC type / base?
 

I apologize if this has been asked before. I’ve been searching looking for an answer. Can’t find one.

When does the bidding happen for new hire AC / Base? Before or after INDOC?

thank you for the help.

List usually comes out the Thursday /Friday before your class starts. Bidding happens at the end of day 1

thank you for the help.

320/I flying
 

Not having much luck finding this info elsewhere…

For the various 320/I assignments, are they doing much international flying?
Is there really a significant difference between the 320 “D” and “I” - specifically curious about PHL and LGA.
Thx!

For now, in PHL international is 'I' for Islands. Mostly in and outs with a handful of layovers. AUA and UVF are the most common layovers from what I've seen. Still, the majority of PHL is domestic, which includes Canada and Mexico. It is a great mix of flying though IMO. Now what happens when the XLRs get here and how that changes the flying; who knows. But it's a good thing to look forward to.

Is American hiring a decent amount of pilots without the TPIC? I have a mix of 121 E 175 time and 135 Citation time.

I just interviewed. 2800 total, 1000 121 Turbine, 0 TPIC. I’m waiting to hear back after the review board. Throw an app in it can’t hurt. There were a few of us with no TPIC.

Alright good to know. I'm around 4,500 total time but maybe too much SIC 121 time (2600) to where it looks odd not upgrading. My wife had been making great money and I loved my schedule but now I think it's coming back to haunt me. We shall see. How long did it take for you to get an invite after applying?

It’s not odd. A lot of upgrades were delayed a few years due to the ‘20 pandemic.

Yes..

​​​​​​Started class in Feb with 2975 TT 1500 SIC (all 121 time) 0 TPIC

FYI left my regional in Feb 2023...i could of upgraded May 2022. Liked my QOL too much.

Yes very true. I interviewed with SWA last month and one of the guys said I spent a lot of time as an FO. It was a combination of Covid, wife making good money, great schedule and flying with my close buddies all the time.

Not odd at all. I have like 6000+ 121 SIC because of the lost decade. Yay for 8 year upgrades at the regionals.

A few weeks.

This was last summer when a lot of WO pilots were trying to leverage CJOs with Delta or United for an interview with AA. Two separate FOs told me AA recruiters told them they would not hire without PIC time.

That said, it was last summer. They were either lied to or something has changed based on the above posts.

Thanks fellas, I appreciate it.

AA recruitment was lying in an attempt to keep them at the WO in order to upgrade to Captain because AAG is experiencing an RJ Captain shortage.

It didn't work. Both went to Delta, never a captain at a WO AAG regional.

There were many WO FOs (and captains) that couldn’t get the time of day from AA and left to United, Delta, Southwest, Spirit or Atlas. Once they were no longer at a WO they suddenly became more employable by and some circled back to American. Many decided they were better off where they went and never looked back.

Yep, no argument there. Even before COVID I was seeing that.