Resignation and Class Date
 

How much time is appropriate between resigning and starting class? I have a CJO and would like to resign a two months ahead of the date to wrap up business items and give 100% in training?

Are you worried about currency? Might the company fold in those two months? If not, it is appropriate to give your current company as much notice as possible. Two weeks would be the minimum. I see nothing wrong with resigning a couple months early as long as the class date is firm.

That said, I've seen classes cancelled with very little notice before, so you might keep that in mind as well.

^ this. My resignation date from my previous job was a week after my class started.

So you were working for two companies at once? How did each company feel about that?

Bad idea in my opinion.

I wouldn't do it two months out unless you aren't worried about money/pay. Most folks will get about one months notice (give or take a few days) of their class date. I also wouldn't give less than is customary; that may come back to bite you down the road.

As an anecdotal data point, I was told 21 July or 4 August. I missed both of those and the 11 August class as well. On 17 July, I was called and asked if I wanted a fallout slot in the 11 August class and I said yes since I was currently not working. A few hours later, I was called back and offered a slot for 4 August due to another fallout. Just lucky timing I think to be working with the scheduler when it happened.

One last data point. DAL recently sent out a letter informing CJO folks on a big slowdown in training and that many would have to wait until potentially January 2016 or later to class up. It was due to sim changes and upgrades at their training facilities. It made me think of UAL and their impending TK changes.

I would at least wait until being assigned a class date. No guarantees, but it's better than betting on the come and getting pushed past the anticipated date. With the current hiring push across the board, folks are getting multiple offers and I think that drives some of the volatility in scheduling classes.

Why? I did this. I had vacation so why not? It allowed me to give 2 weeks notice where I only had 10 days. Had I only given 10 days then I wouldn't have been paid my remaining vacation nor be eligible for rehire. It's also a legit way to hedge against cancelled class dates while being kind to the scheduling needs of the previous airline.

Hi,
Show me a company that guarantees your class date with no chance of cancelling it, then do what you propose. UPS had a class date cancel earlier this year about a week or so before the start date. Several lamented about giving up their previous job with no class date in sight. Talk to those involved and they would tell you to do it much differently from what you propose.

Your happy about an upcoming job that's great. The company owes you nothing. I wouldn't notify my previous employer until your body is in class starting. Look out for number 1...........

You never know in this industry. I would do two weeks notice to no later than 30 days notice.

You will be fine in training. Relax.

TEN

In the civilian aviation world that I remember, you could very well be let go a day after you gave your 2 week notice. I personally would wait till you are in class before quitting your other aviation job. Your replacement to your current job is "waiting out in the parking lot". There is no loyalty in this business, just a revolving door.

Conventional wisdom has always been to NOT be employed by two companies at once. I have heard of people being let go after their new employer (major) finds out they're still employed by a regional while in ground school.

If you want to preserve the option to return to the old employer, I would try to take vacation if allowed. But I'd also discuss with both new and old employers...make sure nobody is going to consider this fraudulent. The military routinely allows this (terminal leave) and airlines are OK with that but I wouldn't just assume the same principle applies to a civilian employer.

Ideally airlines (esp. regionals) would have snap-back policies allowing pilots who leave for another airline to return to their previous position and seniority within 90 days or so if the are involuntarily terminated from the new job. A few regionals used to do this IIRC. Only fair given the way the seniority system is a rigged...you might have to put ten+ years seniority on the line in order to "try out" for a new job.

As much as I want to give more notice at my 91 gig, 2 weeks is what is required, and 2 weeks is what they will get. Any more notice, and I run the risk of being let go, or replaced and then I will lose out on income.

FWIW I gave US Air/AA 2 weeks notice effective the day before my class started at UA. Everyone had a different opinion on how to handle it, several told me to get my seniority # at UA and then during a break walk outside and call and resign but thats not my style. I didn't want to sit in indoc and technically still be employed at another carrier.

Has anyone else taken this time?
 

I already had one foot out the door before the CJO. I was prepared to leave before the interview call came. The two months before the proposed date gives me time to clear some business items and really focus on class. If the class moves up or forward is of no concern, nor is pay. My only concern is how this is perceived by the new employer. The current employer will be given 4 weeks notice.
Thanks to all for the advice and perspective! :)
Has anyone else taken this much time?

Emac
Pm sent
DW

Does any airline out there offer "snap back" anymore? This is new to me, but my regional is also ghetto.

I know a friend who had a class date at a major so he quit my regional. On the day of class, he found out class was cancelled. He didn't get called back for years! When I finally get the chance to finally move on, rest assured i will be giving 2 weeks notice (no more), and there will be overlap of at least a day so I can always have the option to g back to my previous employer.

Do the right thing. For your family. Give them minimum possible notice. FedEx just had folks with CJOs in a pool for over 3 years. UPS recently cancelled classes 2-3 weeks from class date. AA has a 6+month pool. All of these things were driven by unforeseen events.
Family first.

You already have the job, I doubt anyone will notice the gap now that the interview is over. If someone does ask it sounds like you have valid reasons to explain yourself.

The law already carves out certain exceptions for military personal. Why would an airline be allowed to have arbitrary discriminatory hiring practices based on the previous employer beyond that? Seems like employment discrimination. If a regional offers term leave it should be as valid as any mil term leave.

I was on active duty for 90 days after my start date at United thanks to terminal leave.

Min notice. Its what they would give you.



You have very little power as an employee, use what power you have over your schedule to guarantee the best outcome for your family.

If you can use vacation to get started someplace else, than do it.

I'd take the break only if being unemployed for a longer period of time is an acceptable option. Class dates do change, get delayed or cancelled.

Also, unless PRIA requirements have changed recently, you will have to account for any period of unemployment greater than 30 days.

How would it be any different than being in class while on terminal leave from the military? Technically employed with two employers simultaneously.

Bringing this topic back! What would be the best resignation date to notify current employer, one day before class date or a few days overlap?
Just to be protected, in case they cancel!

Two weeks notice is conventional… but I don’t know why. The company certainly can’t replace you any better with 14 days notice than with one.

I think resigning while on an outstation overnight is poor form, but if you give them adequate notice to cover your absence with short-call reserve, I don’t see why that’s a problem.

Worst form I have seen, a friend told me about. A relatively new engineer left his badge in his desk drawer at the end of the week. He walked out the door, never showed up again. He never answered his phone nor email.

I quit 3 days before an IOE flight to start in a class that had an opening at my career airline. We are just a number in the cog so do what you need to do. Ask people who had classes around the week or so after 9/11. If the quit a month prior they may have been without a job vs quitting last minute or week prior.


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I made mine the day I started class. I believe I said my resignation date is (insert United class start date) and the last day I would be available for company duty was the day prior. I was concerned about a class cancellation so I didn’t want to do it until the absolute last moment. Naturally I backed the notification up to two weeks and a day to be sure.


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For some reason reason I thought you couldn’t have employment at 2 airlines overlap?

You can get fired from your new airline if you have not resigned at your old airline. Just do the right thing.

Make your resignation effective the day of your new hire class.

What if you need a week or so to get yourself together and prepare for the new airline? Is it common for people to finish a 4 day, go home, and then leave for Indoc the next day?

There is no hard and fast rule about how much gap is allowable between employment. Some people like to take time off in between while others want to start right away. There is always a potential for overlap between jobs once your resignation has been submitted.

A lot of contracts require 2 weeks notice to get your vacation and other applicable payouts.

Attempting to time your resignation in case your class gets canceled is probably pointless. Most airlines won't let you cancel a resignation. Once it's sent, it's done.

Your mileage may vary.