Just received a call for an interview at Airtran. Currently a Cpt. at a Regional. The upgrade was petty recent so my 121 PIC is still under 1000 but have close to 7000 ttl. Are things at Airtran olid and worth the move or stay at current 121 carrier build more 121 pic on RJ which Im sick of I might add. I am excited on the interview and am looking forward but have to make right decision without emotion. Any info on QOL at Airtran, upgrade time, avg flight hours and lenght on rsv would be helpful. Thanks all.

 

I think it depends on how satisfy are you with your current job. If you come from a low-end regional, then AirTran is certainly a step up. If you come from a reputable, decent QOL, live in base, good schedule regional, then you have to think about a few things.

AirTran operates just like most regionals, with tight turns (29 min. to 40ish min.), very high utilization of its a/c, FO running outside to do walkaround just when the a/c pulls in from the last flight. It will be somewhat similar to your current regional working environment. The layover is definitely better, with usually 12-20 hours, no reduced rest (except stand-up or red-eye or hi-speed). Crew scheduling is very solid, usually will not try to pull a fast one, and they are cordial, in my opinion. If you are on reserve, your guarantee is 70 hours, and when you accumulate more than 4.0 hr. credit each day you're working, it goes on top of that guarantee. However, they have the option of removing your reserve days without pay, so as to cap your earning power.

If you like to stay home, not fly, earn maximum hours, AirTran is not the place for you. Most guys fly at least 85-90 hours a month, and get about 12-14 days off. There are very few senior "good" lines, as in 20 days off, so keep that in mind. You can make some coins, but you definitely work for it. Also, the number of 4-day trip is astronomical, followed closely by stand-ups, they do that to keep the commuters happy. Most of the 4-day trips will earn you about 17-23 hr. credit, with a 4 hour. minimum pay/day. Stand-up pays usually about 4 hr, depending on block. You will not get ANY sleep on stand-up, with a turn time of 5 hr. on the ground, but you will be given a hotel room. You should sit reserve anywhere from 4-6 mo. on 717, and perhaps longer on 737, and that's the worse scenario. Morale is low at this point, with the new BOD election, TA still nowhere in sight. Hopefully it'll pick up next year. This airline is run very lean, without much fanfare, so don't expect the "major airline glamour" when you step in the door, because you will be disappointed.

In my opinion, there's no such thing as too much jet PIC these days. (just ask the next kid who wants to interview at big D but never touched a jet before). AirTran is definitely gonna be here for a while (if we don't buy somebody soon, somebody's gonna buy us soon), and that's a very honest opinion. So take the interview, sleep it over, and think about it. Many majors are now hiring as well, but funny how they won't call you when you're at a regional, but only at a comparable major airline.

 

RVR350, in your opinion then, is AirTran a place that one can have a career and be happy?

 

With my .02 cents, and without sounding like a politician, it all depends on what are you looking for in your career. If you live in ATL, or live in FL, we have many trips that has 20+ hrs. layover in TPA, FLL... If you live other than the Eastern/Central time zone, commute is rough, if you make it a career stop. If you want to fly bigger planes, then that's not your stop either, cuz AirTran will probably never buy anything bigger than 737.

Now with the positive, Airtran is making money, and will continue to do so, it is a safe place to grow your seniority rather quickly, so in case of a economy downturn, you'll have more people behind you on the seniority list. I believe we lost 90 guys so far this year, and hiring probably 300 next year, so new hire will move off the reserve rather quickly. Last bid has about 45 reserve lines, with about 7-10 new guys online each month, you can do the math.

There are a lot more info on FI if you're looking, but PM me if you have other questions.

 

What are stand ups?

 

MCO doesn't sound so bad

 

Also, there are a lot of rumors going around about international flying. Half our B737 fleet is already ETOPS approved. Like I said rumored, but BF is a lot more aggressive then JL was. But will see. All in all not a bad place to work.

 

Rumors are YYZ and somehwere in Mexico would be first in 2008.

Stand-ups means Hi-speed, Red-eye, CDO, all-nighter, the worst of the worst.

 

I'll echo some of the previous thoughts. I've been with the company since April on the 737. Like I said in a previous posting, no matter who you go with, it's always a numbers game. With the hiring this year, I'm at 10% from the bottom right now & expect to be at around 20% from the bottom by end of next year. Should a down turn happen, I may survive. Not too sure how I would be sitting if I went with DAL or CAL starting at the same point. I sat reserve for 4 months & now hold a build-up line. Do I expect to see a 3 1/2 year upgrade (like what is happening now), no. But. I do expect to see one better that at DAL or SWA. CAL who knows how there upgrades will pan out in 3 years (a lot of short ones right now). I have a short range butt, so the domestic only schedule siuts me just fine. As the others have said, you can expect to work 85 - 90 hrs/month easy. I have yet to credit less than 93 hours a month. Not bad for 1st year FO. Of course how & when the next TA plays out will affect this. Getting on before it goes into effect I feel would be important for you. 3/4's of my new hire class was regional & everyone of them was happy to make the move. All this said, living in the ATL area has made this much more workable.

 

I think it is more fact then rumor. BF said that we would start something in Canada and Mexico soon(no time frame mention). The only thing that would stop it would be fuel making it unprofitable. But will see.