Was he the 7ish year FO in CLT that left right before FedEx stopped hiring? Oooffff!

 

there were a few. One i believe left as a 190CA, but had been a CLT guy most of the time. Another was a DFW guy.

 

Ugh. If that were me I’d never get a good night’s sleep for the rest of my life.

FedEx has got to be near the worst airline to be junior at in the entire industry.

 

I think Spirit takes that spot.

 

And American. Thankfully there is movement right now.

 

There's a guy on the SWA board that was hired at Airtran in like '98, went to US Air at age 24 a year or two later. Furloughed during 9/11 and went to fly for Walmart, then hired back on at SWA circa 2016 or so IIRC. Had he just stayed at Airtran he'd be much higher up the list @ SWA or gone back to US Air he'd be #1 for several years and a wb CA for like 15+. He's a good guy and is not bitter at all, just unfortunate timing and decisions.

During the lost decade I saw a lot of guys jumping around from regional to regional, I ended up just staying put and making one move here. You just never know in this industry. You also never know until you retire really.

FedEx/UPS looked to be the place to be for a long time, basically any time after 9/11 until about now.

 

I’m a 6 year 76 fo, soon to be 7. I interviewed at AA in January and my class date is in sept. I’d been looking for a reason to stay since January but at every turn i keep getting pushed to leave. I have heard of guys with 10 years under their belt looking to leave. Everyone I talked to who left said it was a great decision and everyone I have spoken with still here says if they were in my shoes they would be on their way out. Even been told this by a union rep.
We are going to be in 4a2c for at least another 9 months and wouldn’t surprise me if it’s a year. With the 20% pay cut this year that I’m taking 1st year pay at AA wouldn’t even be that big of a reduction and I’ll be taking home as much or more on 2nd year pay than I will at fedex on 8 year pay. Seniority is supposed to get you a better schedule and more money. Both of those things have been taken from us. I sent you a PM, give me a shout. That also goes to anyone else with this issue. I have 2 kids so I understand how hard a decision it is. I’ll write anyone a letter a rec if you want as well.

 

That's right now. In December 2025, April 2025 hires will be in CLT on the 320.

 

Is FedEx that bad?

 

This might be helpful to some of you. Separated USAF 1973, interviewed AA Oct that year a week before the oil embargo started, everything shut down, I used my BE working at Turkey Point for 5 years. Had a visit from a UPT classmate, hired by Air Cal, sometime in those five years who said I'll get you in to Air Cal. I thought not doable due to us having a house to sell and wife with a job so I thanked him. After about five years things picked up and all were hiring and I interviewed with EAL and UA. I think AA also started but still had the age 26 cutoff which I had passed by a year or two. EAL hired me and I was a happy camper although progression was slow due to Poli's ATC strike and other economic glitches. Some years later my Mom told me UA called her ( the only phone number I had at the time) asking where I was and she told them I already had a job with EAL. She never told me till much later in casual conversation. 10 years pass, long stories abound, and we EAL pilots honor Charlie Bryan's strike. You all know how that ended up. I ended up at AA where my UPT Air Cal merged friend was now a Captain. But I digress. AA trip we have an Alaska pilot on jumpseat. AA at the time was not a fun place but Alaska was flying high and we told him we envied him. Then he told us his story. Got in on the ground floor with Fedex flying Falcons. Fred Smith was bouncing paychecks and our JS quit Fedex and went to Braniff. You all know how that worked out. My moniker was engendered by a guy I was flying with who said you will be in better shape with one wife and as many airlines as it will take. He was not a happy camper with one airline and I don't know how many exes.