I've heard Alaska is only going to hire about 10 pilots this year. Horizon had a lot of attrition occur over the summer which was in part to Alaska hiring a lot this year with some of the people making the transition were Horizon FOs. I doubt this deal will benefit many. I've also heard our 'superstar' management team might be trying to use the deal as a bargaining tool for future use.

Somebody above posted that FO's who transition might be stuck at Alaska. I'd like to say that turbine PIC is not so much of a requirement these days, but rather a way to be competitive.

Jetblue, CAL, DAL, Frontier, and Netjets all don't require Turbine PIC time, and possibly a few others. I think for an FO who did go to Alaska being stuck might hold some truth, but not completely.

Get the PIC time. QX is good if you like the NW, live in base and don't mind sitting right seat for 5 years. I am finally convinced that the jets are going away. They are offering next bid off without pay for RJ Captains/FO. They are offering weeks or the whole bid off. Hawaii here I come.

I think it just depends on what the end career goal is. If Alaska is it then it makes sense to make the jump without any Pic time. You are always building seniority somewhere, so why not at the career airline? For me it's worked out really well. I think the upgrade at QX is/was going to be a lot more than five years for me. I would have just been starting my 5th year there and was still 80-100 numbers away from upgrade. And as far as pay goes, even with the cuts at Alaska, F/O pay is still equal to or better (depending on which dash you compare to) than qx captain pay (after year 1, of course). I'm pretty happy with the way it's worked out for me so far.

Okay...I would like to know what the PERFECT airline is to fly for, please.

bgmann do you fly for Air Cargo?

Yup. I grew up in WA and went to college in WA. Trying to get back there. Did you work for Air Cargo?

i know a couple guys that left Horizon in the last hiring at Alaska and has already quit Alaska and most are planning on going to Virgin.... Alaska is Horizon with 737's.. Unless you live out here its not worth it.. Horizon isnt worth it either.. With the plan to shrink the fleet and go to all 400's who knows what will happen. All those senior guys in the jet will now be in the 400. Will that force the current 400 guys that are on reserve after 8 years to go back to being FO's. Will that force the FO's that have been waiting for 6 years to wait another 4 to 5 because of how fast horizon hire people. They cant find people to come here now. UND use to be their hiring pool but i now they cant even get more that 8 people from UND to show up for an interview.. There is going to be problems on the Horizon for Horizon... Please do youself a favor and dont come here..

Yep I did up until last October for 2 years. Are you on charter or on a schedule run?

If you can get a seat that is.....

Flow Through Programs
 

Caution: Most regional-to-major flow though programs, including pref interviews, have historically had very poor track records.

Based on past history, I would not chose a regional based largely on a potential flow-through. Odds are high that you will be disapointed in the end.

Years ago, I almost went to eagle for that reason...glad I didn't.