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Low cost major instead of Regionals?

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Low cost major instead of Regionals?

Old 02-26-2019, 05:59 PM
  #11  
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I suspect that most of the replies you are getting here are unfamiliar with the Ameriflight program that you reference. Not overly familiar myself but I think the basis of your question is rooted in the fact that Ameriflight has multiple guaranteed interview programs with other carriers; LCCs, ACMIs, and UPS.

I think it goes without saying that if you had an offer from a regional and a LCC you would go to the LCC if you are looking for QOL and pay. Ultimately, your career goals should establish where you gamble your career. The chase for the coveted 1000 PIC would almost certainly be attained at a regional airline than LCC or ACMI. So, which one places you at a legacy sooner?

Good luck with your decision; but mostly, just enjoy the ride and have fun flying.
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Old 03-02-2019, 12:18 AM
  #12  
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An interview isn’t a big deal though, right? If you want that just hit up a career fair. Maybe I’m missing something but that’s my initial reaction to these cargo guys/small carriers offering stuff like that.

Originally Posted by BrownDoubles View Post
I suspect that most of the replies you are getting here are unfamiliar with the Ameriflight program that you reference. Not overly familiar myself but I think the basis of your question is rooted in the fact that Ameriflight has multiple guaranteed interview programs with other carriers; LCCs, ACMIs, and UPS.

I think it goes without saying that if you had an offer from a regional and a LCC you would go to the LCC if you are looking for QOL and pay. Ultimately, your career goals should establish where you gamble your career. The chase for the coveted 1000 PIC would almost certainly be attained at a regional airline than LCC or ACMI. So, which one places you at a legacy sooner?

Good luck with your decision; but mostly, just enjoy the ride and have fun flying.
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Old 03-03-2019, 02:41 PM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by BrownDoubles View Post
I suspect that most of the replies you are getting here are unfamiliar with the Ameriflight program that you reference. Not overly familiar myself but I think the basis of your question is rooted in the fact that Ameriflight has multiple guaranteed interview programs with other carriers; LCCs, ACMIs, and UPS.

I think it goes without saying that if you had an offer from a regional and a LCC you would go to the LCC if you are looking for QOL and pay. Ultimately, your career goals should establish where you gamble your career. The chase for the coveted 1000 PIC would almost certainly be attained at a regional airline than LCC or ACMI. So, which one places you at a legacy sooner?

Good luck with your decision; but mostly, just enjoy the ride and have fun flying.
Thanks, you actually understood what I was looking for, I am totally fine with going to a WO and waiting on a flow, but I just find the AMF - LLC/UPS option really appeals to me for some reason. I wouldnt mind staying at an LLC permanently but it seems more people bash the low cost carriers for alot of stuff that I dont understand yet.
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Old 03-03-2019, 03:39 PM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by ESQ702 View Post
An interview isn’t a big deal though, right? If you want that just hit up a career fair. Maybe I’m missing something but that’s my initial reaction to these cargo guys/small carriers offering stuff like that.
It's a carrot to keep the airline staffed; same as the flow agreements at the AA regionals. I would argue that an interview is a huge deal but your point is that until the program produces jobs at these carriers it is fruitless. I don't know the stats for successful interviews but I do know that Ameriflight has several individuals that have moved on to LCCs and ACMIs... and the first wave of candidates is interviewing at UPS. We'll see how many end up in class and wearing Pullman Brown pants -- that will be the ultimate test.
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Old 03-04-2019, 07:19 AM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by Hotspot View Post
Hello, I am curious on of it would be worth going to one of the low cost majors (Allegiant, Frontier, Spirt) instead of going to a wholly owned regional like everyone else.
It sounds like you're putting the LCC in the same category as the regional by asking "Should i go to an LCC or wholly owned regional?". There's captains who's been at the regionals for 10+ years and over 10,000 hrs and still waiting for a call from the LCC, that should tell you something. Most guys who are hired at the LCC has spent some time at the regionals and probably has built up some turbine PIC. I can only speak for Spirit, but most guys hired recently are Skywest or Expressjet captains.
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Old 03-04-2019, 08:10 AM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by Silver02ex View Post
It sounds like you're putting the LCC in the same category as the regional by asking "Should i go to an LCC or wholly owned regional?". There's captains who's been at the regionals for 10+ years and over 10,000 hrs and still waiting for a call from the LCC, that should tell you something. Most guys who are hired at the LCC has spent some time at the regionals and probably has built up some turbine PIC. I can only speak for Spirit, but most guys hired recently are Skywest or Expressjet captains.
I understand that, I am planning to go to AMF and stay there for a while until I could go straight to an LLC or UPS with AMF's agreements. It's just a different option than going to a regional, I know its probably bad to rely on flows or agreements like that but I really wanna go to AMF.
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Old 03-04-2019, 08:21 AM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by Hotspot View Post
but I really wanna go to AMF.
That's legit. As long as you have good reasons for preferring AMF, those reasons are based on solid facts, and you understand the downsides as well.
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Old 03-04-2019, 09:35 AM
  #18  
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To rephrase the question a bit, because it’s highly unlikely anyone without an “in” would get hired at Frontier, Spirit, etc. without turbine time, what are your thoughts on waiting at the regionals vs. using one of the low-cost carriers as a stepping stone to the Legacies?

Say the upgrade time is 2+ years at a regional. Would it be beneficial to try to get hired ASAP at an LCC and put off logging PIC turbine time in order to make more money and have a better contract? Or is it better to stay at the regional, get the PIC time and wait for to get called to a legacy?

I’ve heard getting out of the regionals as fast as possible is the way to go, but don’t know if going to an LCC would be a hindrance or a help getting to the legacies.
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Old 03-04-2019, 12:08 PM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by dodsqubam View Post
To rephrase the question a bit, because it’s highly unlikely anyone without an “in” would get hired at Frontier, Spirit, etc. without turbine time, what are your thoughts on waiting at the regionals vs. using one of the low-cost carriers as a stepping stone to the Legacies?

Say the upgrade time is 2+ years at a regional. Would it be beneficial to try to get hired ASAP at an LCC and put off logging PIC turbine time in order to make more money and have a better contract? Or is it better to stay at the regional, get the PIC time and wait for to get called to a legacy?

I’ve heard getting out of the regionals as fast as possible is the way to go, but don’t know if going to an LCC would be a hindrance or a help getting to the legacies.
There are different schools of thought on this. There is a theory that at some point the regionals will not be able to replace those moving up to the legacies via flow through programs, preferential interview, etc. If/when that happens it seems quite logical that a legacy could foreseeably purchase one of the smaller LCC majors. This does three things: A) guaranteed supply of pilots, B) additional airframes that come with them, and C) eliminates the low ball competition that has become a thorn in their side and forced them to adjust to a more competitive pricing structure out of their hubs. This makes the most sense because it keeps the cheap labor regional feed staffed and gets ride of low cost competition.

The other theory being they intentionally bankrupt their subsidiarie's labor supply while allowing competition to grow in their own backyard. This seems less logical but it's the airlines and a lot of times the leadership isn't exactly accused of making good financial decisions.
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Old 03-04-2019, 12:12 PM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Hotspot View Post
Hello, I am curious on of it would be worth going to one of the low cost majors (Allegiant, Frontier, Spirt) instead of going to a wholly owned regional like everyone else. I would like to end up at a Legacy eventually. However, I noticed that Ameriflight has an agreement with Allegiant and Frontier, just looking for opinions on this path. Btw I am just a CFI candidate still far from actually making this choice, just curious. Thanks
Just my two cents but I would only worry about finishing the CFI and getting some hours under my belt, and nothing beyond that. When I was a CFI candidate the economy and housing market took a dive and sent the industry into a tailspin, and we could very well be on the verge of something similar in the near future.
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