THIS ^^^^^^^^^^:D

I buy the beer every night we have time. Unless your a douch, then no beer for you! If you are a proby you will get your morning starbucks too.

The thing about the Abbots jacket is that it has this quilted lining that is really hot year around. After about 3 minutes, you can just about bake a potato.

Don't forget to get the Velcro mod....

Nu

Abbotts SUCKS
 

I had a completely horrible experience with Abbott's. Pretty much the worst customer service on the planet. I got hired in '07 and made it a point to ask the individuals that got hired around me if they received the same treatment. I know this is anecdotal, but the overwhelming majority had the same experience. I was forced to get a full refund when they couldn't manage to get me my uniforms despite the 8 week lead time. I ended up buying them from the Navy Exchange, which is a good option for the mil guys. Also, the seamstress that I dealt with was as rude as they come and the workmanship on the tailoring looked like is was done by a 3rd grader in home economics. If you want good quality, another great option is marlowwhite.com . The Navy Exchange has two options including a very high quality uniform made by Brooks Bros. All you need to do is take the Navy Blues uniform to the Flight Station off VA ave and have them sew on the buttons and the stripes.

My 2 cents.

FWIW, update from the early rumor that they'd end interviewing around Aug 2nd- a guy a friend of mine recommended just got a Aug 4th interview date.

It'll be interesting to see, however, if anyone gets an Aug 9th and after interview. Then they're going longer than they had initially planned which was rumored to be at the end of July.

Yep, I'll second that.

The only thing Abbots has that is worth the hassle is the blazer. Their shirts are the worst fitting shirts ever made and their pants are triple the price they should be.

Blazer from Abbots
Shirts from pilotshirts.com (I like the Jetstream shirts by Elbeco)
Pants/belt/socks/shoes from Kohls
Hat from Premier Hat Company (low profile Dry-Fit model)
Tie and brass items from the store by the lounge in Atlanta

You'll come in well under $500 for all the stuff you need and it will fit. If you buy it all from Abbots it'll run you about $900.

Glad to see invites still going out.

Are they still going out?
I heard that all classes were filled with: Off the street, recalls, and flow ups. Hope I'm wrong.

Reference highlighted text below. ;)

Abbots and my sad uniform story
 

The only thing good I can say about Abbotts is that the girl working was hot. Other than that, I had the same experience you did.

I deadheaded down to ATL to pick up my uniform. Unfortunately, the jacket and the pants were too little. No, I didn't get fat. The jacket looked like I was Chris Farley (Tommy Boy) trying on a little coat. The coat was extremely too small for me. The pants were too long. What was disappointing was that the staff tried to convince me that they were ok. I couldn't believe that they were really going to try and convince me that they were ok. I told them to start over and fix it.

To make a long story short, they got my jacket right but I ended up never picking up my pants because after two redos they never got them right. I've never been back either, nor have they called me to say that they're done.

Here is a true but sad story about DAL and LCAs. A week after completing my checkride during OE, I received a phone call from a LCA at the CPO in ATL. The LCA wanted to discuss my uniform wear. I politely asked what the problem was. The conversation went exactly like this ... [] used for emphasis...

LCA: Did you read your FOM?

ME: Of course I did, what's the problem sir?

LCA: We have received word here in ATL that you've been wearing cotton pants. Where did you purchase your pants?

Me: I bought them at Kohls. Is there a problem???

LCA: Yes there is. If you've read your FOM like you said you did, then you would know that it [clearly] states on page 11-6.7 that the pants will be made of a 55%/45% dacron/wool blend. Why did you think you could wear cotton?

Me: (I'm laughing at this point because I think it's a joke). I'm very sorry sir, I didn't know that.

LCA: Well, if you would have read your FOM, then you would know.

Me: Sir, I'm very sorry. I bought my pants where all my buddies who also work for DAL told me to. That's why I went to Kohls.

LCA: If you would have read your FOM, like you said you did, then you would have noticed that it [clearly] states on page 11-6.7 that they must be a dacron/wool blend.

Me: I'm very very sorry sir. I didn't mean to do this on purpose. I will correct the problem as soon as possible. (as I am saying this, I am opening up the FOM to page 11-6.7 .. and what do you know, he's right!)

LCA: You need to read your FOM again because it [clearly] states that you must wear a 55%/45% dacron/wool blend. The cotton pants are too shiny and don't look right. (ok, at this point, I'm getting a little angry at his condescending tone).

ME: Ok sir, I will fix the problem asap. I'm very sorry about this, I didn't mean to do this on purpose. I thought I was wearing the proper uniform becuase none of my OE LCAs said anything to me and my buddies told me they bought the same pair of pants from Kohl's. (at this point, I realize that I am deadheading to ATL tomorrow for a trip, it's 6pm and theres no way for me to get a new pair of pants)

LCA: Well, if you've read your FOM, then you would have known what's expected of you. We can't have pilots wearing anything they want. (as he is saying, I'm trying to figure out where I can buy a correct pair of pants ... I see that the FOM says "contact your Chief Pilot's Office for a list of authorized approved vendors or tailors)

ME: Sir, I am on a trip tomorrow starting in ATL. Wear can I buy the right pair of pants?

LCA: You can go to the Flight Station or other uniform vendors. They'll have the correct pair of pants there.

ME: What's the Flight Station and where is it? (I thought he was talking about Abbotts)

LCA: It is a store next to the ATL pilots lounge. They have the style of pants you need.

ME: What time do they open because I'm not sure if I'll have time to buy a pair of pants, have them hemmed before I start my trip? My trip leaves at 9am in ATL. Is there another place that sells the right pair of pants?

LCA: All you need to do is go to a flight uniform store and they'll have... (ok, I am very angry now at this guy and I rudely interupt him)

ME: No, according to the FOM, it [clearly] states that on page 11-6.6 to contact the CPO for a list of authorized vendors and tailors. Can you [please] tell me where to go to buy a pair of 55%/45% dacron/wool blend pants? It [clearly] states to contact the CPO for the vedor list...

LCA: Uhhhhh ... ughhhhhhh.... welll ... you just need to go to the Flight Station ... (I interupt him again)

ME: I can't do that nor do I have time. Can you please tell me what the other approved vendors are because it [clearly] states on page 11-6.6 to contact the CPO for a list of approved vendors ...

LCA: (he interupts me) First Officer XXXXXX, I don't appreciate your tone with me. Just get the right pair of pants! Have a good night. CLICK

I called my friends to make sure it wasn't one of them. It wasn't. They laughed at me. They bought their pants from Kohls and all had cotton blend pants. They said, "it must be an 88 thing" (they were in the 75/76 program)

After making some phone calls that night, I found out that Mens Wearhouse has the exact pair of pants, style, and die that is referred to in the FOM. It is called the "J & F" pant. I have no idea if they are an approved vendor, but nobody from ATL has called me again. :mad: