Best Route to a Legacy/Major?
07-28-2014, 06:29 PM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2014
Position: E145 FO
Posts: 117
Originally Posted by OnCenterline
This is just my personal summation, and some may disagree, but having seen this before, it's what I can pass along:
1. What is the best/easiest route to one of the big guys? Go to a regional or big-airplane ACMI cargo carrier, or Allegiant (if you live in or near one of their domiciles; the trips are 95% out-and-backs, so you can't commute). You don't have any 121 time, and you will get there faster with 121 time. Plus, the airlines want to see not just currency, but jet currency if possible.
2. Should I hold out for a larger airline or go through a regional to build time? Apply to both, but go to a regional if you haven't been in a turbine for more than 3 months. Plus, as you mentioned, you need to build time, especially if you only have 400 PIC. One exception is jetBlue. They would likely take you in a second.
4. What is a realistic expectation for timeframe to get a job with one of the legacy/majors? You might get lucky, being ex-military. Delta would be your best bet, but I don't know if your low PIC time will hurt. The fact that it's P-3 doesn't help, but doesn't necessarily hurt. United would be right behind Delta, but they are going gang-busters right now with highly qualified regional captains.
Good luck!
1. What is the best/easiest route to one of the big guys? Go to a regional or big-airplane ACMI cargo carrier, or Allegiant (if you live in or near one of their domiciles; the trips are 95% out-and-backs, so you can't commute). You don't have any 121 time, and you will get there faster with 121 time. Plus, the airlines want to see not just currency, but jet currency if possible.
2. Should I hold out for a larger airline or go through a regional to build time? Apply to both, but go to a regional if you haven't been in a turbine for more than 3 months. Plus, as you mentioned, you need to build time, especially if you only have 400 PIC. One exception is jetBlue. They would likely take you in a second.
4. What is a realistic expectation for timeframe to get a job with one of the legacy/majors? You might get lucky, being ex-military. Delta would be your best bet, but I don't know if your low PIC time will hurt. The fact that it's P-3 doesn't help, but doesn't necessarily hurt. United would be right behind Delta, but they are going gang-busters right now with highly qualified regional captains.
Good luck!
I'm interested in working at the majors too. I'm at a regional right now and I think I can make the jump to a mid level stepping stone airline in a few months. I was thinking of trying the spirit route but you think that the Blue would be a good next step as well? You said they would take someone in a second. The guys I talk to are either not getting called or turned down. Also, I think Atlas is pretty knarly wrt their sked. Not sure if I would like being in Ukraine right now. Also, you think United is right behind Delta: is this with milspecs or just in general? A lot of the dudes I fly with are thinking AA would be dakine too. Ultimately I would like to hang at HAL but their HR ain't heat'n up anytime soon. I have tried to network by jump seating on days off and I think that will pay off, big time! Don't you think this is all going to change in a year? Hope you are enjoying The U Brah. That place kixarse.
Over n out.
07-28-2014, 10:02 PM
#12
Layover Master
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Position: Seated
Posts: 4,311
OnCenterline....
Some good advice. I'm not sure on the Allegiant, JetBlue and Atlas advice though. Allegiant hiring mins are 3000tt, JetBlue isn't hiring, and Atlas isn't too well known for hiring 1300tt (even mil).
You make it sound as though JetBlue will hire anyone, and that Atlas is some bottom rung ACMI. Neither is true.
With 1300tt and 400pic, I would advise the OP to get on with a regional with no/minimal commute and continually network and update all resumes with every major/legacy.
Some good advice. I'm not sure on the Allegiant, JetBlue and Atlas advice though. Allegiant hiring mins are 3000tt, JetBlue isn't hiring, and Atlas isn't too well known for hiring 1300tt (even mil).
You make it sound as though JetBlue will hire anyone, and that Atlas is some bottom rung ACMI. Neither is true.
With 1300tt and 400pic, I would advise the OP to get on with a regional with no/minimal commute and continually network and update all resumes with every major/legacy.
07-28-2014, 10:04 PM
#13
Layover Master
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Position: Seated
Posts: 4,311
Originally Posted by EMBskillz
Hey centerline man.
I'm interested in working at the majors too. I'm at a regional right now and I think I can make the jump to a mid level stepping stone airline in a few months. I was thinking of trying the spirit route but you think that the Blue would be a good next step as well? You said they would take someone in a second. The guys I talk to are either not getting called or turned down. Also, I think Atlas is pretty knarly wrt their sked. Not sure if I would like being in Ukraine right now. Also, you think United is right behind Delta: is this with milspecs or just in general? A lot of the dudes I fly with are thinking AA would be dakine too. Ultimately I would like to hang at HAL but their HR ain't heat'n up anytime soon. I have tried to network by jump seating on days off and I think that will pay off, big time! Don't you think this is all going to change in a year? Hope you are enjoying The U Brah. That place kixarse.
Over n out.
I'm interested in working at the majors too. I'm at a regional right now and I think I can make the jump to a mid level stepping stone airline in a few months. I was thinking of trying the spirit route but you think that the Blue would be a good next step as well? You said they would take someone in a second. The guys I talk to are either not getting called or turned down. Also, I think Atlas is pretty knarly wrt their sked. Not sure if I would like being in Ukraine right now. Also, you think United is right behind Delta: is this with milspecs or just in general? A lot of the dudes I fly with are thinking AA would be dakine too. Ultimately I would like to hang at HAL but their HR ain't heat'n up anytime soon. I have tried to network by jump seating on days off and I think that will pay off, big time! Don't you think this is all going to change in a year? Hope you are enjoying The U Brah. That place kixarse.
Over n out.
07-29-2014, 03:44 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2014
Position: 737 FO
Posts: 360
Originally Posted by PotatoChip
OnCenterline....
Some good advice. I'm not sure on the Allegiant, JetBlue and Atlas advice though. Allegiant hiring mins are 3000tt, JetBlue isn't hiring, and Atlas isn't too well known for hiring 1300tt (even mil).
You make it sound as though JetBlue will hire anyone, and that Atlas is some bottom rung ACMI. Neither is true.
With 1300tt and 400pic, I would advise the OP to get on with a regional with no/minimal commute and continually network and update all resumes with every major/legacy.
Some good advice. I'm not sure on the Allegiant, JetBlue and Atlas advice though. Allegiant hiring mins are 3000tt, JetBlue isn't hiring, and Atlas isn't too well known for hiring 1300tt (even mil).
You make it sound as though JetBlue will hire anyone, and that Atlas is some bottom rung ACMI. Neither is true.
With 1300tt and 400pic, I would advise the OP to get on with a regional with no/minimal commute and continually network and update all resumes with every major/legacy.
I'm not inferring anything negative about any of the above carriers, including Atlas. The question had to do with getting hired with his current credentials. With a relatively low PIC count (400), his options are more limited, and as for JB, he doesn't separate until February (I think), so JB could well be hiring by then.
"Big airplane" time will help his cause with getting hired at a major later, and experience on heavies will often even out a lack of total time or total PIC time with the majors.
I hope that clears up any confusion...
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