Was the flow through program a good idea or bad? I understand a 100 plus AE pilots ever got through to AA but know 400 hundred plus AA pilots are now captains at AE.
And will AE pilots always be secord class citizens at the Academy?

 

Sorry if this is a sore subject.

 

I am sure it depends on who, and when you ask.
If you asked before 9-11, I am sure Eagle guys thought it was better than sliced bread. Where the AA guys probably didn't like it.
NOW, AA/TWA guys are probably glad they have a job, and don't have to start at the bottom. But the Eagle guys are po'd that they are getting pushed down EVEN FURTHER, and have to wait EVEN LONGER for upgrade.
My friend was at COEX when they still had the flow through. He loved it because he got a preferential interview at CAL, and was "hired". Then 9-11 happened. Then he was getting bumped down in seniority in CLE, as the CAL guys were coming over with higher seniority and sitting in "his seat".
But now he is happy, because he is at CAL since they started hiring, and he was basically in the pool waiting (or WADING, get it ).
Still waiting myself to get a call from CAL.

 

Why would the AA guys have cared? The flow up's were going on the bottom of the list, right?

 

No, they accrued AA seniority once they were qualified on the RJ.

 

And then when they "flowed up" to AA, where did they go on the seniority list? Above the new hires that were hired off the street after they qualified on the RJ?

 

Yup. Exactly.

 

What do the retirement numbers look like in the next few years. I would quess there is good amount?

 

First off, I would have flowed back if I were in their shoes too, but unfortunately, I am on the receiving end of this one. It's a great deal for the guys and gals in that position, and most are happy to have the opportunity. However, It does cost me around 35k a year to fly with these folks, but oh well. 99.9% good at what they do and enjoyable to fly with.

For those who don't know, when an Eagle flows up to AA his years of service only follow him where vacation and a few other benefits are concerned. As far as bidding and pay, he gets the same low starting pay and and reserve commuting schedules that everyone one else gets. When AA flows to Eagle they get pay based on years of service at AA, but bidding is based on Eagle seniority. Why do or did the native AAmericans not like the flow through. That one I cannot figure out. I actually never heard that first hand, but I would not be surprised. Divide and conquer.

 

That's what I'm trying to figure out as well. I would think that the AA pilots would demand that ALL new hires were flow through's. In fact, I would probably want them all stapled to the bottom of my list and brought under our contract (or a subsection of it). One product, one contract, one list.