I keep hearing about line FOs bailing, new hires not showing up for training and many in the hiring pool with other airline class dates. Is Alaska turning into a stepping stone until greater things come along? Just curious. Personally, if I had less than 5 years at Alaska, I would probably have my apps out.

I think at this point any airline that isn't AA,UAL,DAL or FEDEX is a stepping stone............

That can change. It wasn't too long ago guys would go to CAL for the 737 type then leave for SWA............

With the lack of scope and pay rates that are just OK for a major, they are certainly not in the best position to have a 100% retention rate. Also, it seems there are more and more stories of people leaving one legacy for another. It's not unheard of like it used to be.

Year 2000 all over again. Guys leaving Alaska/swa for aa/dal/ual and then....boom! The guys who decided to stay at swa/jb/Alaska were employed during the lost decade while the ones that left were furloughed. Hope it doesn't happen again. Just reminds me of that era.


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Mid/late 80's had guys bailing.

Switching jobs is probably much lower risk today with the retirements coming.

I agree, that's the difference today. Even with an economic downturn, the retirements make a huge difference.

Really? "Then....boom!"?

You mean like,
1) 9/11 terrorist attacks,
2) Bankruptcy, (twice with US Air)
3) Oil prices/massive RJ expansion,
4) SARS/Bird Flu,
5) Age 65 rule,
6) etc. (I'm sure I'm missing a few...)

What reminds you of "that era" again? GMAFB

All these things happened after the hiring wave. The key difference like others said is the mass amount of retirements looming that should make switching less of a gamble. No-one predicted all those things to happen, but they did. Just like no-one knows what will happen 5 years down the road from now.

I spoke with over a dozen new hires and when asked, a good majority of them said that they have apps out with the big legacy carriers and/or FedEx/UPS. Most seem to be happy at Alaskan but they definitely expressed their frustrations regarding our low pay and 401k. They may be bluffing and only time will tell. As for me, if I were less 40, I'd bail for greener pastures and never look back. No guts no glory.

Whoa. Easy. Why so excited? I'm saying there were lots of regrets back then when guys left SWA for the legacies (and subsequently furloughed) while the ones that stayed at SWA (and reenlisted in the military) vs chasing the dollar and the flavor of the week made out better in the end.


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