It's easy to get sucked into a "up hill both ways" measuring contest. I think what is communicated is not that they have it bad. I see it more as an argument of expectation versus reality. If a person shows up to class and every single class before them was able to AE into a base of choice then suddenly hiring unexpectedly stops, that can be jarring. This is especially true if a new hire chose equipment based on easily being able to AE into a more desirable base. A new hire living in Detroit might choose LAX320 instead of DTW717 thinking they can easily get back to DTW. They probably don't make that decision if they have to wait a year to get to a base of choice

 

Expectations aren't reality and life isn't fair. Up hill both ways versus safe space I guess.

 

They have also said the 220 would start in LAX

And that there wasn’t going to be a Boston base before opening it 6.9 weeks later

And that we’d be a boutique airline of 7.5K pilots

And that the 767-300s would be retired by 2025

And that they’d offer SILs if we let them redo the April 2020 bid awards

Monthly AEs are the flavor de jour. Flight ops has been known to change their minds. All it takes is one bean counter to find an “efficiency” and monthly AEs could go away

 

I don’t disagree with anything you said, which are valid points. Just offering a perspective on the relative temperature of the water, as AE’s are a collectively a different animal than any single pronouncement. We have had 32 consecutive monthly AE’s. So, in the near term, I think it’s perfectly reasonable to assume they will stay monthly.

But yes, that 100% could change. YMMV.

 

The point isn't to create a safe space. The point is to caution new hires to take with a grain of salt when people say don't worry about the base because you'll be able to change before you ever have to be based there.

 

If that’s the point then an accurate description of our PWA AE process will suffice. If their NH seniority is not able to hold the desired position then the next priority should be evaluated. Base changes are easier than aircraft changes and allow for more opportunity to change a base during the first year, after which they can change aircraft to achieve the desired base. If base is the priority bidding the most junior airframe available in the desired base is best. If airframe is a higher priority then the base doesn’t matter and not being able to get a base is just whining.

 

Actually, I would contend that in MOST cases, taking equipment just because it comes with a desired base in indoc is not only short sighted, but foolish. Again, in MOST cases. As a general statement, in the absence of a compelling reason otherwise, I would advise NH's to preference equipment they would like over base, because they are very likely to be able to change bases very quickly, perhaps before they even get to the line (obviously assuming that equipment comes in a base you desire). Again, there are absolutely circumstances where that's not advisable, but that is very likely due to very unique circumstances.

I've flown with many FO's who tell me they had a friend who took the ATL 717 only because they really wanted ATL (or any base, really), and didn't want to risk getting stuck commuting, only to see their buddy take NYC 320 and then AE to ATL before sims even finish (as an example). And thier buddy is now 'stuck' on the 717 for 2 long years, and has to do a second month on VA ave, and regrets that choice seeing 'the other guy' get to ATL at the same exact time in the desired equipment.

I'll say again, there are never any guarantees, and yes, it's theoretically possible to have a twist of fate go against you. But it's generally low and acceptable risk in most cases, IMO. But even if you had to commute for 6 months, would you rather do that than spend 2 years on equipment you don't want, and add another full month on VA ave doing a full IQ later?

The last AE saw 17,000+ (Brand NH's) get MSP 73, DTW 73, MSP 220, SEA 73, ATL 73, DTW 73, ATL 320, SLC 73, LAX 320, SLC 220. And not far junior to that got LAX 320 and NYC 7ER.

 

I mean really this is situationally dependent as well based on what part of the year you are hired in. Yes last year if you were hired in roughly Jan-Mar a quick base change was practically guaranteed. The closer your class date got to the end of the hiring window the higher your chances were of getting stuck. If you were the last class (end of April or start of May?) you should have had a different mindset than someone hired January. This year is theoretically going to play out differently if we only do a brief hiring pase for the summer before picking back up in the fall. Every person's preference/risk tolerance/commute tolerance is going to be different. Some people want the guaranteed deal no matter the downsides. Some people are willing to roll the dice on a time of crappy commute to end up in a theoretically better situation longer term. First year pay is the same on all fleets. It's 20/hr on year 2 between the 717 and the 320/737. Not chump change but not life altering either. So again it just goes back to people making the best choice for their individual situation, as long as all the pros and cons and risks are known.

 

You absolutely ignored the entirety of my post other than the bolded sentence. Priority is what I said... If base > airframe, then... When unable to get your first choice and base is your priority the most junior airframe in that base gives you the easiest path to the BASE.

 

Well, I was specifically replying to the bold... But I think we are mostly all trying to say the same thing. Perhaps in my case, poorly.