Flow-Throughs and Major Eligibility
12-05-2017 | 12:26 PM
#1
Thread Starter
New Hire
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: C-17 copilot
Flow-Throughs and Major Eligibility
Hi all. First time posting here, although I’ve been reading for a while and am really impressed with these forums and the wealth of knowledge all around.
My question is about regional-to-major flow-throughs:
I’m a pilot with the Air Force Reserves (off-the-street / not prior active duty) and although I don’t yet qualify for a regional, I will relatively soon and plan to begin my 121 airline career at one. As an AFR pilot, I’d be on and off active status at the airline as I bounce back and forth from Air Force flying (C-17). So with that in mind my question is this:
Would joining a regional that has a flow-through agreement with a major actually wind up hurting me if I am able to build up my hours with the AF and make myself eligible for the majors before becoming eligible for the flow?
In other words, would signing on with Piedmont and becoming eligible for mainline AA before my number hits the flow-through point preclude me from being considered by AA through the “normal” hiring process (that is, if I sent them a normal application)?
How about other majors? Would DL/UA mind if I have an AA flow-through job?
Thanks in advance!
My question is about regional-to-major flow-throughs:
I’m a pilot with the Air Force Reserves (off-the-street / not prior active duty) and although I don’t yet qualify for a regional, I will relatively soon and plan to begin my 121 airline career at one. As an AFR pilot, I’d be on and off active status at the airline as I bounce back and forth from Air Force flying (C-17). So with that in mind my question is this:
Would joining a regional that has a flow-through agreement with a major actually wind up hurting me if I am able to build up my hours with the AF and make myself eligible for the majors before becoming eligible for the flow?
In other words, would signing on with Piedmont and becoming eligible for mainline AA before my number hits the flow-through point preclude me from being considered by AA through the “normal” hiring process (that is, if I sent them a normal application)?
How about other majors? Would DL/UA mind if I have an AA flow-through job?
Thanks in advance!
12-05-2017 | 12:32 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,200
Likes: 43
From: Gear slinger
Hi all. First time posting here, although I’ve been reading for a while and am really impressed with these forums and the wealth of knowledge all around.
My question is about regional-to-major flow-throughs:
I’m a pilot with the Air Force Reserves (off-the-street / not prior active duty) and although I don’t yet qualify for a regional, I will relatively soon and plan to begin my 121 airline career at one. As an AFR pilot, I’d be on and off active status at the airline as I bounce back and forth from Air Force flying (C-17). So with that in mind my question is this:
Would joining a regional that has a flow-through agreement with a major actually wind up hurting me if I am able to build up my hours with the AF and make myself eligible for the majors before becoming eligible for the flow?
In other words, would signing on with Piedmont and becoming eligible for mainline AA before my number hits the flow-through point preclude me from being considered by AA through the “normal” hiring process (that is, if I sent them a normal application)?
How about other majors? Would DL/UA mind if I have an AA flow-through job?
Thanks in advance!
My question is about regional-to-major flow-throughs:
I’m a pilot with the Air Force Reserves (off-the-street / not prior active duty) and although I don’t yet qualify for a regional, I will relatively soon and plan to begin my 121 airline career at one. As an AFR pilot, I’d be on and off active status at the airline as I bounce back and forth from Air Force flying (C-17). So with that in mind my question is this:
Would joining a regional that has a flow-through agreement with a major actually wind up hurting me if I am able to build up my hours with the AF and make myself eligible for the majors before becoming eligible for the flow?
In other words, would signing on with Piedmont and becoming eligible for mainline AA before my number hits the flow-through point preclude me from being considered by AA through the “normal” hiring process (that is, if I sent them a normal application)?
How about other majors? Would DL/UA mind if I have an AA flow-through job?
Thanks in advance!
12-10-2017 | 06:01 AM
#3
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 45,164
Likes: 803
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
Not quite.
You're fine for all the other majors.
But AA might table or slow-roll your app if you have flow, and they need pilots for the regionals. You'll probably flow when you're supposed to, but they might not hire you early around the flow.
In fact this could happen with any legacy, and has happened in the past. Majors might slow off-the-street hiring from any regionals which fly for them.
Safest thing in this climate would be work for an AA WO which ONLY flies for AA. Then apply to DAL & UAL when eligible, they might actually PREFER to hire their competitor's regional pilots. If that does't pan out, then flow to AA.
You're fine for all the other majors.
But AA might table or slow-roll your app if you have flow, and they need pilots for the regionals. You'll probably flow when you're supposed to, but they might not hire you early around the flow.
In fact this could happen with any legacy, and has happened in the past. Majors might slow off-the-street hiring from any regionals which fly for them.
Safest thing in this climate would be work for an AA WO which ONLY flies for AA. Then apply to DAL & UAL when eligible, they might actually PREFER to hire their competitor's regional pilots. If that does't pan out, then flow to AA.
12-10-2017 | 06:33 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,200
Likes: 43
From: Gear slinger
Not quite.
You're fine for all the other majors.
But AA might table or slow-roll your app if you have flow, and they need pilots for the regionals. You'll probably flow when you're supposed to, but they might not hire you early around the flow.
In fact this could happen with any legacy, and has happened in the past. Majors might slow off-the-street hiring from any regionals which fly for them.
Safest thing in this climate would be work for an AA WO which ONLY flies for AA. Then apply to DAL & UAL when eligible, they might actually PREFER to hire their competitor's regional pilots. If that does't pan out, then flow to AA.
You're fine for all the other majors.
But AA might table or slow-roll your app if you have flow, and they need pilots for the regionals. You'll probably flow when you're supposed to, but they might not hire you early around the flow.
In fact this could happen with any legacy, and has happened in the past. Majors might slow off-the-street hiring from any regionals which fly for them.
Safest thing in this climate would be work for an AA WO which ONLY flies for AA. Then apply to DAL & UAL when eligible, they might actually PREFER to hire their competitor's regional pilots. If that does't pan out, then flow to AA.
If a resume is competitive enough to stand out from the general pool of applicants applying OTS then they’ll get picked up regardless of where they are currently employed.
AA Wholly Owned pilots tend to be their own worst enemy. The closer they get to the for the more lazy they get... We’ve all heard the stories about how difficult it is to get picked up by a major after you’ve been property for a while... pretty bad when you’ve got New Hire FOs with interviews lined up at Legacies and Captains don’t. When you dig a little deeper you find the FO went to a couple job fairs and kept an app up to date and the Captain has done neither.
Seniority brings complacency...
