CAL vs. CPS/NWA dilemma
08-30-2007, 06:33 AM
#11
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Spartan
Posts: 3,652
Originally Posted by GravellyPointer
Wow.
Thanks for the real life cookie crumbles stories.
BTW Life, what about the Compass 1 yr. training bond you signed for? Something for your honor and integrity to consider.
Thanks for the real life cookie crumbles stories.
BTW Life, what about the Compass 1 yr. training bond you signed for? Something for your honor and integrity to consider.
08-30-2007, 06:34 AM
#12
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: MD-11 F/O
Posts: 231
Originally Posted by HalinTexas
Easy. CAL.
I've heard nothing good about the morale at NWA. CAL has it's issues, but who doesn't, yet morale is better there. NWA is still under a concessionary contract. I can tell you, that's something to think about. Working conditions go to hell in those circumstances. I don't know the terms of Compass and NWA agreement, but those can always changes, just as the flowthrough can. If you take the Compass upgrade, then you're stuck. It's harder to leave.
Oh, if you're not married, don't!
I've heard nothing good about the morale at NWA. CAL has it's issues, but who doesn't, yet morale is better there. NWA is still under a concessionary contract. I can tell you, that's something to think about. Working conditions go to hell in those circumstances. I don't know the terms of Compass and NWA agreement, but those can always changes, just as the flowthrough can. If you take the Compass upgrade, then you're stuck. It's harder to leave.
Oh, if you're not married, don't!
Best of luck!
CP
08-30-2007, 06:45 AM
#13
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Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: 737 CA MIA
Posts: 1,042
I'm at AA as an FO. My last girlfriend was a flight attendant out of EWR for Continental. She loved it. If i was in someone else's shoes and not tied to where i am. I'd get on with CAL live somewhere near EWR and wait for a wide-boy FO position. CAL flies to some incredible destinations.
On RSV for AA I only get to occasionally fly Paris or Madrid. Those are very senior trips out of MIA. They are sort of a red-eye going over, but daytime back. So you feel pretty good when you get home.
I think CAL would be great. But ask yourself now where you want to live. Commuting is so hard. My airline is pushing for more productivity. I don't commute, and I live in Base in Miami (i'd rather live elsewhere) but it's ok here.
If you plan on going with CAL or NWA it's going to be a long hard career if you're gonna commute. I hear it from everyone I work with (about commuting).
On RSV for AA I only get to occasionally fly Paris or Madrid. Those are very senior trips out of MIA. They are sort of a red-eye going over, but daytime back. So you feel pretty good when you get home.
I think CAL would be great. But ask yourself now where you want to live. Commuting is so hard. My airline is pushing for more productivity. I don't commute, and I live in Base in Miami (i'd rather live elsewhere) but it's ok here.
If you plan on going with CAL or NWA it's going to be a long hard career if you're gonna commute. I hear it from everyone I work with (about commuting).
08-30-2007, 07:17 AM
#16
Nice lookin' tree, there!
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: MD-11, old man
Posts: 2,197
Originally Posted by LifeNtheFstLne
Let me start this by saying I have very little interest in getting slammed for asking my questions by people with nearly no airline experience. I'm posting this in the 'Major' forum for that reason. I respect a lot of the caliber of my peers on here, so I'm merely asking for opinions. In no way am I in a position to be critical of any one legacy over another. I would just like some opinions that can be backed up with a few facts to help me sort my thoughts out.
I just got the phone call from CAL to interview anytime in Sept. I had to schedule in Oct. since I'm in YUL doing sims for Compass. (whoops). What do you guys think? Stick it out at CPS and hope to flow to NWA in 30 months or take a job at CAL in Oct. if one is offered to me? Could be a VERY tough call, as I'd be giving up a CA position with great seniority and some needed PIC turbine (I was just shy of 1000). I really don't want to be hopping companies so quickly. Don't slam me for going to CPS, it was a great opportunity but the appeal of NWA is waning as I talk to their current pilots who consistently preach doom and gloom and now that NWA is hiring off the street who cares about a flow through? I have a feeling CAL will be around for a while, but am wary of going somewhere that just had a major hiring boom the last couple years. I have little desire to sit as a RSV F/O forever in EWR. But who does? Anyway, let's hear it! Any info. would be greatly appreciated. I'll start digging in the threads for gouge.
And since it will be asked, my experience is as follows: E-175, G-1159, LR-60 types. 4800TT, 4000Turbine, 900PIC turbine, 121 (ACA RJ F.O.), 135 time, 4-year 'degree' from evil ERAU and I just turned 27.
I just got the phone call from CAL to interview anytime in Sept. I had to schedule in Oct. since I'm in YUL doing sims for Compass. (whoops). What do you guys think? Stick it out at CPS and hope to flow to NWA in 30 months or take a job at CAL in Oct. if one is offered to me? Could be a VERY tough call, as I'd be giving up a CA position with great seniority and some needed PIC turbine (I was just shy of 1000). I really don't want to be hopping companies so quickly. Don't slam me for going to CPS, it was a great opportunity but the appeal of NWA is waning as I talk to their current pilots who consistently preach doom and gloom and now that NWA is hiring off the street who cares about a flow through? I have a feeling CAL will be around for a while, but am wary of going somewhere that just had a major hiring boom the last couple years. I have little desire to sit as a RSV F/O forever in EWR. But who does? Anyway, let's hear it! Any info. would be greatly appreciated. I'll start digging in the threads for gouge.
And since it will be asked, my experience is as follows: E-175, G-1159, LR-60 types. 4800TT, 4000Turbine, 900PIC turbine, 121 (ACA RJ F.O.), 135 time, 4-year 'degree' from evil ERAU and I just turned 27.
Good luck to you.
fbh
08-30-2007, 08:24 AM
#17
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Joined APC: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,002
Originally Posted by pullup
Having spent 11 years at NWA I wouldn't trust that flow up or Alpa as far as I could throw a 747. Go to the interview and if you get the nod I would be seriously inclined to bail for CAL. Just my .02
Flow throughs are dangerous just ask all the expressjet guys that had to interview to get hired or the ones that were just told to **** off. the bad thing is that the flow through may work out, but there are no guarantee's
life if you went to compass so that you don't have to commute and decide to go to CAL you'll have 38 years worth of commuting. unless you move to base that's a huge amount of time away from home.
08-30-2007, 10:48 AM
#18
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Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: B-767
Posts: 222
If you want to fly pax the rest of your life, I'd go to CAL asap. Get that number and start moving up the list. Don't bet on a flow-up to NWA in three years, a lot can change in that time (downturn in the econ., merger, terrists, etc). If you want to get into boxes, build pic time and network. You're young, so sort out your dream job and go for it.
08-30-2007, 11:07 AM
#19
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Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: SDF A300 FO
Posts: 441
I can not speak much for your situation. Here is what I see. My friends at CAL are VERY unhappy with how things are there. They are mainly upset with the schedule/PBS nightmare. CAL even has ****sed off the scabs with this one. Pay and bennies could be better. They are going to work VERY hard to change those things in their next contract, which is almost amendable. Dems in the White House will helps this out of course.
In my class at UPS there was a guy who left NWA after 9 years. In the last UPS class there were 4 out of 14 guys from NWA. That was pretty eye opening to me. The guy in my class couldn't have spoke less about an organization.
18 years ago very few wanted to work at UPS. It was a very looked down upon job. Now look at it. The point is you just never know.
Best wishes to you in your decision. They are never easy and never as clear as you hope or think they are.
Blue Skies
In my class at UPS there was a guy who left NWA after 9 years. In the last UPS class there were 4 out of 14 guys from NWA. That was pretty eye opening to me. The guy in my class couldn't have spoke less about an organization.
18 years ago very few wanted to work at UPS. It was a very looked down upon job. Now look at it. The point is you just never know.
Best wishes to you in your decision. They are never easy and never as clear as you hope or think they are.
Blue Skies
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