Anyone out there leave FedEx to go to AA? Happy with decision? Any regrets? I am an 8 year wide body FO and am thinking of leaving. Things have consistently deteriorated to the point I am thinking of jumping ship. If able to interview and get a job offer, would look at moving to CLT or DFW. How long to hold either base? Hate that things have gotten so rough, but the future here looks grim. Thanks for any advice/feedback,etc.

 

I think the last few years have shown that no matter where you are, get to one of the three Legacies because they seem to be the most stable right now. Every place else seems to be a **** show with the exception maybe being UPS, for now.

 

Your career expectation will be Narrowbody captain.

 

Current plugs and hire dates:

DFW 737 - Jan ‘25
DFW 320 - Nov ‘23

CLT 737 - Jan ‘24
CLT 320 - May ‘24 (last month of hiring in ‘24 before restarting in Jan ‘25)

Can’t help with the rest, good luck. It seems like the current pool should get hired by the end of the year, I’m guessing anyone who gets a CJO now is looking at Nov-Jan.

 

JD is a cancer for aviation, I was at Atlas and he made our lives impossible. So I have no reason to think he may change at some point and be a normal human being. He just hates pilots as much as he loves money, same level.
Once you adapt to PAX va Boxes, this is really chill. Seniority is everything of course, but once you have some, schedule flexibility and earning potential is unique.
Bunch of things to to be improved and hopefully we’ll get there at some point.
If you are moving to CLT or DFW, then it’s a no brainer.

 

If youre serious, get the app in and get the interview. Nothing matters unless you have a CJO.

Id honestly say, if you're not in the fAAmily within the next 3 yrs, you'll be on the backside of our wave; getting here within a year, all the better of course.

I have 2 personal friends who left Purple for AA within the last year, both had 4 yrs seniority. They both love their decision and both are ****ed at themselves they didn't leave sooner. They both commute to reserve FWIW.

You'll make NB CA for sure and can ride that nicely with the variety of flying our system has. DFW being much better than CLT. IMO and from buds in CLT, it has the worst flying in our system.

You can get back to a WB if you want.

Current plugs in your interested bases:

DFW
777: Dec '19 hire
787: Nov '16 hire

CLT
777: May '18 hire
* Very small bid status so movement crawls

Good luck.

 

Flown with a few peeps that left Purple for AA within the last year and were extremely happy with their decision. Maybe you can reach out to some of them and get an honest perspective?

Definitely a personal choice to leave that much seniority behind.

Wish you the best in your choice.

 

I left FDX for AA two years ago. My biggest regret is staying at that dumpster fire in MEM for as long as I did. As a lineholder living in base, my QOL is the best I’ve had in my career.

DFW and CLT are the most senior bases so will take the longest to hold, most likely, but how long is anyone’s guess.

There are several others on this forum that have or are preparing to make the same move. I personally know a few others including a classmate of mine.

I’ve written quite a bit on the subject so if you have any specific questions I’d be happy to answer here or in a PM.

 

PHX 320 is pretty senior also, at least on the CA side.

 

Wonder how the AA guys who left to FedEx 6-7 years ago are doing… one was a future #1 before he bailed