That's great, but I am furloughed from a 121 carrier. When your feeding a family of 4 living on unemployment. Buying a ticket to an interview for a job that if you get you might not start class 12 months later, is tough to budget. Even a buddy pass to HNL is in the 400 range.

I know of several HAL pilots were furloughed, many years back, who were given tickets to interview on the mainland.

That's the logic you see from guys going to the Regionals. Spending over a thousand dollars to interview, does not show commitment to the family.

I know it sucks but there are two factors at work here. As was previously said, it would be too easy to be abused. Can you imagine how many people would want to interview just for the free ticket to have a vacation in Hawaii.. even tho they're not interested in the job? Then it'd be even harder to get an interview because even more people are applying just to scam the system.

The other issue is as long as people are showing up for the interview then their system is working. Do you really think they care if you're furloughed or cant get out there when there are 20 other people that can make it? When the great pilot shortage happens and they have a hard time finding applicants, then things will change.

Great, thats a really useless story. Its not about the money, its about the effort. Don't get your panties in a wad because Hawaiian runs their process the way they do. If its a problem, so be it. Move on.

All I am saying is that is pretty disappointing that HAL won't put you in the back of one of there own planes for an interview. I don't know of anyother scheduled 121 passenger carrying airline that does that. If other carriers recipitate the same. Where do you think the HAL furloughs would have gone?

FYI thrust monkey - a lot of there pilots don't like the interviewing process.

Understandable and I agree it stinks. But......its the process they use. Either accept it or not. Simple.

Ultimately I agree, but I think it is unfortunate that Hawaiian is in all probability missing out on some outstanding candidates (not me, but others) because of this policy. But it's their airline to run as they see fit.

They made an economic decision and will have to bear the consequences of that choice, just as I make a choice to quit flying because I saw virtually no options out there which presented an acceptable return on my investment for the time and QOL sacrifices which I would have to make. There are a few places I would consider (I can count them on one hand), but by and large the whole flying game is just not worthwhile right now.

I guess that's part of why I'm somewhat saddened by Hawaiian's policy - it's one of those few places I would be willing to go. But it is what it is.

At the interview they said if you don't get a thanks but no thanks letter in two weeks you are in the pool. Has anyone gotten one of these letters? As for paying your way to Hawaii when you are out of work it would be a tough decision. It is still a buyers market and they are interviewing the masses for a few positions. If you don't go you have no shot!

I agree it's totally lame not to give a standby pass to an interviewee. Free flight to Hawaii?
Please. If your idea of a vacation is spending 2 days getting grilled at the HAL corporate offices, you're an odd character. And the suggestion to jumpseat is so typical. I'm gonna go on a limb and suggest that if the guy wants a standby pass, then he probably can't jumpseat.

Here's my takeaway: regionals aren't as bad as everyone says (to work for), and majors aren't as good.

Ok look, I hear alot of griping and whining......yeah it sucks but the problems is there are people out there that will drop the money or have the opportunity to J/S just to be able to get on with a major. So why wouldn’t management take advantage of not having to spend money?!?! I’ve heard “well why not a stby ticket”? Well if they gave the stby ticket to someone that lives in a city on the west coast that Hawaiian flies out of (and Vegas is the as far east as they go, with the exception to JFK now), you know someone would complain that they live on the east coast or mid-west and Hawaiian should ZED fare them out to the west coast. If they did that then every Tom, Dick and Harry would want to interview and then the money spent would increase and Hawaiian would get even more selective with who would get to interview. Then people would complain about that!! I know these forums; it’s an endless cycle of complaining. My advice to the pilot group…….DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!! We complain but we don’t have any actions….that is a whole different topic.
PurpleCRJ......I interviewed and after I had time to go hang out on the beach on North Shore to surf (North Shore is an easy 45 min drive with no traffic)!! So trust me, it’s a free two/three day vacation to Hawaii for people that get to interview.
Then the comment the regionals aren’t bad........well I agree but try supporting a family on regional FO pay!!!! I’m going for the legacy carrier so I can afford to support my family. I just spent $100 on school supplies because the schools can’t afford them anymore!! The world we live in sucks economy wise.