Even if we could hire street captains, there is absolutely no need right now or in the near future. About half of the people in each new hire class has 1000 hours of 121 time. Several of these people have been captains previously at other airlines. These are the guys that are upgrading in 8-10 months. Couple that with the FO's that were hired over a year ago that have not upgraded yet, and there are plenty of people to upgrade.

We are upgrading 20 a month well into the year 2017 and you can't force FOs to bid captain even if they have the time so while it looks okay for now we have a long way to go and after each captain bid the trend towards new hire captains is getting closer and closer. The junior captain went from March to June and then to August 2014 in just two bids. Why didn't all of those FOs with the 1000 hrs bid captain? Why did it drop to August 2014 so quickly?

Actually, upgrading more than 20 a month, soon to be 32 (16 per class). And the high number of prior 121 guys are more of a recent thing - mostly Endeavor guys. There were some a year ago, but not nearly as many as 6 months ago. The upgrade time may drop to 6 months, but it will eventually start climbing again.

Because people are telling them to wait until they won't have to be on reserve.

Yes, the reserve here is so bad that people are willing to not double their salary in order to avoid it.

That is a very good point. The 6-9 month upgrades will have new captains senior to them for the next year...thus a long time on reserve.

FYI they said they are not going to do 16 per class anymore, it is going back to 10 per class with classes going every two weeks. It is not mostly Endeavor guys, a friend of mine is in upgrade right now and their is only 1 Endeavor (former captain) in the class. We will see how the next few bids go but the current trend is going down below 6 month upgrades and I do not think we will see a huge wave of "senior" FOs start to flock to upgrade classes soon.

Anyone know when the next new-hire class starts and/or how long before class they email out the pre-class informational packet and what to bring?

Gracias!

The next new hire class starts in 2 days (March 2nd). They usually send out the information a few weeks before class, give or take a week. It depends on how busy the staff is. I know my class got ours a month ahead of time, when other classes received theirs 2 weeks out.

I don't want to dash anyone's hopes, but I applied to AA the second day the app window was open (Oct 2nd 2013). I have yet to receive a call despite having passed the assessment and having all the boxes checked, except of course the Fighter Pilot and Astronaut check boxes on page number one of their app (or being former mil).

In the mean time I'm a blocking holding FO on the Airbus in Philly...

(joke's on AA). They must cringe when they look at all the people Airways hired that didn't fit their "criteria"!!

It's highly doubtful many commuter guys are going to get into AA without a flow. The flows take up a good majority of the classes and all the others are prior military.

Thanks, appreciate the info.