TechTanker

I left Alaska with 5 years of seniority and I would do it in a heartbeat again today even with the announcement. Being at United has worked better for me in every aspect. To each their own.

CasualObserver

I'm in violent agreement with everything you've said. Not my first rodeo, nor my first heavy job, and I have no desire to bring my interview suit out of retirement. I'm still curious, though. If someone can answer my question that would be grrrreeat.

Mitchell Gant

Where were you based with Alaska, and where are you based with United? Can you expand a little on why it’s worked out so much better?

Race Bannon

So, this was your question?


It appears with your wealth of experience in rodeos and flying heavy's, you haven't learned much about prognisticating airline progression with your seemingly ignorant question.

ShyGuy

If you quit Hawaiian, it wasn't because of this annoucement. Commuting from mainland to Hawaii is insane (it's not like you were there long enough to have been based in LAX/SFO or SEA at HAL). I can understand those guys at HAL that commute to HNL because they actually lost a base. But to choose to go to Hawaiian in the past few years, living in the CONUS, and knowing it's a lifelong commute to HNL... that's kinda crazy (especially in this hiring environment).

Otterbox

Doubtful you'll see WBCA at UAL with 15 years left, especially with the 767 going away. 20 to the plug is more realistic.

If you can be a WBCA at Hawaskian in 3 years, you're better off staying especially if you can get a CONUS based 330.

Swindler128

Your barely above 30 I suppose

TechTanker

I live in the Midwest with no plans of moving anytime soon and I was based in SFO on the bus (prior Virgin). So the commute was terrible. The schedules at Alaska at least for junior people are not very commutable. I would lose a day on either side commuting. Line bidding at Alaska sucked. Also I know people say the culture at Alaska is great but initially (imho) they weren’t very welcoming of the Virgin people and it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Now at United, the commute is shorter and easier. I say about 90% of the time I commute the same day and only have been bumped of the Jumpseat once. Not to mention I have had more freedom to drop and pick up trips and so far I’ve never been called or question on the rare occasion I bang out sick. Reserve sucked but I was only on reserve for a year and I can chose whether to go back to it or not. First year while I was on probation, I didn’t pay for a single thing if I went out with the crew. The culture here is pretty good in my experience. Yes I am technically getting paid less right now as a junior FO vs the 6 or 7 year FO I would be at Alaska but it’s not about the pay for me. I could switch to 777/787 or upgrade and make more but I don’t want to go back to reserve. Overall, for me, it’s been a HUGE quality of life improvement and I have been VERY happy with the jump. When I tell people I left 5 years of seniority at Alaska, some people look at me like I’m crazy, but for me and my personal situation, I absolutely love it at United, I’ve got over 4K people behind me on the seniority with plans for 10k more not counting retirements. I may not been before or at the top of the wave but (barring any weird things) I know I’ll have a great career with better prospects/opportunities than Alaska

Mitchell Gant

.

Appreciate the feed back. Have some friends who made the jump too and haven’t looked back.

Vernon Demerest

I think the thing to consider for anyone thinking of leaving a Hawaiian/Alaska/Southwest/Jetblue (all carriers where I believe you can have a stable, lucrative career) for United (Delta/American) is what do you want out of an airline career? If you are in your 20s-30s, you might want choice/variety. What is important to you today may not be in 10 years. United is like five airlines in one. You have the East Coast North/South trips on the 737 that offer great day trips or wonderful layovers. The 757/767 community in EWR has a great QOL with very diverse flying (especially in the Summer). We have the big hubs in the center of the country (ORD/IAH/DEN) with varied fleets and good commute opportunities. Out West you simply cannot beat the Pacific flying we do on the 777/787 for long haul but if that’s not your thing the airbus and 737 does some very nice flying out of SFO(SJC as a co terminal) and LAX (BUR/SNA/ONT) along with some small domicile flying bases like LAS, CLE, TPA/MCO, all of these being little flying clubs where you pretty much know all the other pilots. Don’t even get me started on GUM…! You can change it all up every few years and literally see the world on our dime. Much of this applies (with equipment and regional differences) to both AMR and DAL.
If you are in your 40-50s, stability and earnings efficiency (QOL) might be more important. That’s where I can completely understand one with 5-7 years in staying put however at present, someone with this kind of tenure can basically start at UAL with a captain award in new hire indoctrination and plan on transitioning to the left seat of chosen aircraft within the first year. That’s something that will probably be somewhat temporary (next 2 years). It’s a great time to be a pilot, young or old. Those that are currently at carriers they are worried about with regards to stability, I think the opportunity has never been better than RIGHT NOW to start working on hiring on with us (UAL) while we are still in the early stages of what most of us see as the long overdue growth strategy referred to as United Next. We need experienced 121 pilots to fly these newly delivered narrow body aircraft and the opportunity to be a captain so early on in your tenure at UAL is unprecedented.