2026 class drops
 

Figure we are done with 2025 now so starting a new thread.

first things first, what kinda hiring are we gunna do next year and which bid statuses are you guys expecting to grow?

If you guys are interested, I’m ready to immediately change the topic of this entire thread and drift into a tangent about something barely related to class drops.

Seriously though I think the biggest holes in the system are going to be created by the people going to the XLR bid status(es) as it grows. Went way more senior than I think anyone expected. Besides the obvious of LGA, I think the vacuum will mostly pull from MIA and DCA as it’s a stomachable commute. MIA 320 sat stagnant for a while (ask CRJJ) but now is showing up on drops in big numbers, so hopefully finally seeing some action there.

All signs point to a good year for PHX and ORD with the announcement of new gates in ORD and new routes in both.

LAX… I would really like to see something positive here this year. Anything! Even a single new WB route out of LAX even would be huge. I am not optimistic but I really hope to be surprised.

When do the new modular DFW gates open? That will be great for everyone.

LoL




Filler

Lot to speculate on in there but I wouldn’t expect anything from LA for awhile. Terminal construction has really limited operations and unfortunately it’s a long way from being complete. Since we’ve shrunk the domestic operation accordingly I don’t really see much happening.

Good news with LA is that because of the heavy jet flying already in place it’s hard to see them ever closing it. But… you never know.

The sleeper one that seems ripe for more long haul is PHX. Massive domestic growth following the population growth of the city and the growing tech sector connection with Asia. At least year round flights to HND, ICN, PVG and LHR should be a no brainer as discussed in the other thread. Assuming we can get the get space on both on ends.

Yeah the 320/LGA/I went senior on the first one, but I won't be surprised if people start jumping ship once they get the Atlantic Division qual and leverage that to pick up stuff on the XLR over makeup.

Is the Europe schedule locked down for the summer? So just JFK to EDI on the XLR until August then?

Was hoping we would announce more Europe on it soon.

Who knows? Seems like they want to use these deliveries mostly to replace the 321Ts so they can have a consistent product on those routes and start refurb the 321Ts back to 20/170 more than Europe expansion.

My guess would be replacing 787/777 routes in the winter with XLRs for the end of 2026 and more seasonal Europe destinations on XLR for summer 2027.

It seems like they launched the one Europe route on it to get pilots AE qualified before a larger push into Europe.

The high seniority of the CA’s for LGA/320/I is an anachronism that will likely change. It’s only 25 guys, many of whom are looking to game the system, and others that are looking for the exits already. Until the bid packet finally gets published and more cities announced, the real long term seniority picture will come into view.

75/76 jr CA was #6000 IIRC so I'd think it might end up around there, but maybe not.

That’s optimistic.

The combined 75/76 and A330 fleets totaled over 80 aircraft, nearly double the number of A321XLRs currently on order.

They had dedicated pay rates and were separate from the "regular" narrowbody fleet and flying. The new A321 XLR isn't. If anything, I expect it to go junior to the 757.

Not entirely accurate, and the distinction doesn’t really change the manpower needs… it’s still roughly half the number of airframes.

The A321XLR does have a dedicated bid, flying, and pay rates, aligned with the 757 and 767-200/300, and with the 767-400/A330 on long-range segments.

Having two more types changed the manpower needs too! This is much more efficient for them. It's disappointing they can't turn that efficiency into blowout earnings.

I appreciate the override but 757 pilots got 757 pay on vacation. XLR pilots in the 'special' bid status can be assigned domestic trips without the override and take a paycut on vacation.

It's similar, better than nothing, but very critically not the same.

Couldn’t agree more.

XLR reserve is likely going to be a nightmare. Qualified on XLRs, A319s, and everything in between. A scheduler’s wet dream. The pinnAAcle of "efficiency".

UAL is getting them too…for all intents they are moving in the direction of a 4 airframe airline as well. Obviously the XLR is a big efficiency win for the airlines in terms of manpower.

Just wait till they put the XLR flying in all the 320/I, I mean BQ, bid statuses lol. Keeping it separate will at least allow some of us north of #3000 to bid on it lol.

I am not sure why people think one status will be limited to see the XLR....... I am sure LGA 320 D will fly the XLR.

Now not every status will get AE qualified just like not every status gets sent off to do the Hawaii qual or the Terrain qual. The AE qual will probably be limited to LGA and PHL or any other status that gains international flying the XLR will do. But an LGA 320 D person will probably be doing the JFK-LAX transcon in an XLR that will be replacing the T's. Or an DCA 320 if they decide to build that leg into their bid packets, etc.

There was a CCI about this:

"The A321NY will initially be flown on routes where the A321T is normally used. As these flights are not confined to a particular domicile or bid status, please review and become familiar with the content in the fleet bulletin as well as the source manuals."

Ask the LAX guys how the etops thing worked out for them. A few years ago when they started doing 321s to Hawaii lots of senior daddies thought that they would never have to fly east of Riverside again. That lasted about a year, now all those old 757 routes they thought would bring back the glory days are embedded in 5 day trips.

Weren't the junior 757 Captains ex-TWA protected slots? If so the seniority number wasn't a normal seniority number progression.

You don't want to fly a 5 day trip for one LIH layover?!?

I flew with US Air guys out of PHL with low 6000.

I don't have access to the old 3XP (bid status awards) but was 6000 the 'real' seniority in DFW, JFK, ORD, etc? Or was it a also a by product of the merger where USAIR guys already in the 757 Captain seat ended up with seniority numbers that wouldn't be able to bid it once all the fences were dropped and cross pollinating (bidding) was allowed?

I was on the 80 until they parked it so summer 2019, and they were new upgrades onto the 767. I wasn't on it long because of covid. They definitely were not on it when the merger happened in 2013.

Huh.Thanks. Interesting. Brain loses track of things/details/history.

1/7

BOS 737 - 3
DCA 737 - 6
LAX 737 - 6
LGA 737 - 6
MIA 737 - 7
ORD 737 - 5

CLT 320 - 8
MIA 320 - 10
PHL 320 - 9

Happy New Year, calls were going out earlier this week to November CJOs for February classes.

60. Love seeing the class sizes are still large.

we must be short - at least on the FO side. This time last year every trip was Green for me on TTS.
This year I can’t even see 1 day that is green.

I'm very confused. We're hiring hundreds every month but FOs can't get float weeks or drop a trip. CAs are getting zero time lines.

how often is AA running classes? and usually how big?

Weekly and ~60 per class.

1/14

BOS 737 - 3
DCA 737 - 6
LAX 737 - 5
LGA 737 - 5
MIA 737 - 6
ORD 737 - 4

CLT 320 - 8
MIA 320 - 10
PHL 320 - 10

57 total, same base and equip distribution as 1/7 but a couple differences in #’s.

What’s competitive at AA?
 

Hey just curious what is competitive at AA? I’m a new 737 SY captain, 3300tt, 2000t, 100tpic. Lots of volunteer, leadership experience with an engineering bachelor degree. I’ve applied before and spoken to a recruiter at an event. Haven’t updated my app in a while since I was focusing on upgrade.
,

That's at least competitive. Go the extra mile hire the resume and interview prep people go to a career fair of some sort. 3 friends hired from other airlines in 6 months. All did that. Most had more TT than you, but not a lot more. Good luck

1/21
 

Anybody seen it?

Holiday weekends it usually comes later. Drops are due the day before the class starts so they still have time.

The critical fact is that there are no same-equipment FO entitlements pending. All narrowbody statuses are now fair game for new hires. Until the next hiring pause we're back to late 2023 when any base was available within one vacancy bid of start date.

exactly doesn’t matter what you get you’ll get out on the next vacancy cycle now.

Can you explain entitlement rights in layman’s terms to an outsider looking in. And to the last part of your statement, when would the next vacancy open and become effective?