Does AVIATE Suck?
 

Just trying to get the feel for AVIATE from those of you that are in the program. Are you happy with the process? Do you feel like you’re being bypassed so UAL could keep you at their feeders? Would you recommend AVIATE?

Aviate’s goal is to keep you at their feeders for 4-5 years. In this market if you’re goal is to get to UAL faster you’re better off going to a competitor like AA WO, LCC, etc.

Aviate will likely get you there, just probably not as quickly as advertised or you’re hoping.

Flow programs generally suck if YOU don't suck.

If you suck (lazy, background issues, etc) then flow programs offer a means to still get to the big leagues. The price of admission is manning the oars at the feeders for longer.

Aviate blows. No communication . No seniority list. The express carriers pay $40 less than American feeders.

It sounds like you are required to fly for a UAL feeder if accepted into AVIATE. Is that correct?

Yes. To add to that, it has been said that if you are in Aviate and quit flying for UAX, you are potentially black balled from United. As rickair said, if you interview well, have a good resume, and no skeletons, go to a competitor and apply off the street. If you have any of the issues I listed, fly for UAX and then flow to UA.

Aviate is bad. It's not a 100% guarantee like envoy/Piedmont. You have to meet certain criteria in the past 5 years (no more than one 121 failure, disciplinary history, attendance record, etc) or you will be dinged. No communication at all. Questionable time frames. Etc.

Further, you will potentially have to work for 36 bucks an hour for many years... Depending on the aviate partner you chose. Either way, envoy/Piedmont pays much more than aviate partners and you are 100% guaranteed a job at AA regardless of your history.

You are 100% guaranteed a job at AA, but AA has been known to fire guys after they've flowed to mainline for having black marks in their past (that were disclosed at time of interview with the WO regional) that are undesirable.

There probably has to be more to it than that. The flow does not guarantee you immunity while on probation at AA... although some folks (especially younger) may take a good outcome for granted.

Sadly there's not much more to it... Theres a list of things you simply can't have in your background to get a job at AA mainline and if you use the flow to circumvent that, they will let you fly their RJs, flow to mainline, then they will terminate your employment the first week of indoc.