Alaska Pathway - Where else can you go after?
 

Ok... I've been reading other posts regarding Horizons pathway program to Alaska on a few threads. Seems like its more of a carrot to attract new hires. I understand why Alaska would what to meter the flow of pilots out of Horizon into their ranks as that creates more pressure Horizon to continuously hire.

SO, for all of us newbies out here looking for the right place to go, answer me this:

What other majors have pilots from Horizon going to? Does DAL, AA, UAL, JB, etc. want to pick us up at some point?? Can we expect a good shot at any of the other legacy carriers?

Cheers

The "Pilot Pathways Program" is mostly worthless. It was developed with little or no input from the pilot union and is NOT supported by our union.

As far as going on to other airlines, I personally know pilots who have been hired by Delta, United, Southwest, Virgin, and Hawaiian. Delta's snapped up a bunch of our pilots, even a couple of fairly junior FO's. If hiring at the majors continues, I wouldn't be surprised to see an actual "flow-through" program with Alaska. This will, of course, only happen after Air Group management has exhausted all other options.

Maybe I'm confused, what is the difference between the pathway and a flow? Also who has a flow that is legitimately working? Sounds the AA WO's one is a bust from a timeline perspective.

Pathway is more of a gimmick. Its just an interview.

A genuine flow through agreement is seniority based, meaning you just wait your turn to go to a major airline. Both Unions agree to it. In theory if you get hired at PSA or Envoy that could be the last interview you'll ever have in your life. Just wait and flow to American. The time it takes is the downside; 6 to 10 years depending on who you talk to.

American has the only real flow from what I've read. Gojet is calling their pathway to spirit a "flow" but it's still another interview and there are other things that make it a bad deal. Correct me if I'm wrong but from what I've seen you're more likely to see a flow through agreement to a major from a regional that is 100% owned by that major I.e. American Airlines and PSA, Envoy, Peidmont. The only other majors with wholly owned regionals are Delta - Endeavor and Alsaka - Horizon. United doesn't own any regional just yet but we'll see how that shakes out in the next few years.

Granted I haven't started training yet but if Horizon did have a flow they would be the perfect airline for me.

Pilot Development Program
 

Does anyone have experience with this interview process and how it differs from the "standard" interview? I'm considering applying but haven't done full interview prep yet and don't want to come in too unprepared.

Serious question. Why would anyone who’s done their homework on career expectations look at Alaska as anything other than Plan “B” or a resume builder?

Living in PDX is the only reason I could see.

Certainly would not count on that. Word is leaking out that the ”pdx experiment” may be nearing an end....PDX growth has been 100% outsourced to Skywest/Horizon E-175’s .Possibility of a long, slow draw down of the Alaska 737 base in favor of mid California growth....

Close to 100 pilots from the first round of applications are swimming in the hiring pool. July/August is the rumored first class for this program. Next application window opens April 6.

Be ready for the following question: "What series of unfortunate personal and professional mis-steps have led you to be here with us in this room today"?