Pipelines, Flows, Career Decisions, etc.

What would you do?

  • Stay at current regional, with B6 likely in 2 years.

  • Start over at AA Regional with bonuses and flow agreement advertised at 6 years.

Results are only viewable after voting.
Zidac

Zidac

Well-Known Member
This is something I have been thinking about for a few months, and I'm looking for some opinions.
I'll get right to my situation...

I'm 31, 2 college degrees... (one from a 141 school, the other non-aviation related.) I'm a couple of months shy of 1500 TT.

I've been with a regional for 1 year and have a good chance at getting on with B6 in 2 years, through a pipeline program I am a part of.

Then again, a lateral move to an American wholly-owned carrier comes with bonuses and a (projected) flow to AA in ~ 6 years. I lose the B6 pathway if I go this route.

Getting out of the regional tier sooner would be great, but an AA flow is tempting, especially after flying with so many seemingly well-qualified CAs at my regional that can't seem to get a call. Thoughts? What would you do?
 
You still can go to B6 even if you are at a different regional. Is B6 your ultimate goal? If so, then stay put.
 
I had to make the lateral move for the AA flow. Ive had my airlineapps out for years with not even a peep. I also refuse to go spend my days off and money on job fairs... So for what its worth if your just another regular guy like me I highly recommend AA.
 
Don't start over

Look past the flow. Plenty a recruiter can advertise to you from what's reality. It was advertised as 5 years last year and now it's 6? But it's more in reality right now? What happens if the music stops/slows down. You want to be at the end of the pole at a new regional? No way....

If you can get to B6 in 2 years I would NOT go to a regional for potentially 6+ yrs. You could still potentially get to a legacy before that projected flow. Get your times and work on the resume. You have the degree too!

Just my 2 cents.
 
Flow up becomes flow down at the AA carriers.

This whole industry is cyclical. This will be a nice up cycle, but it will not last forever. Six years is way too long to wait in this current hiring environment. Get on with a major (preferably real major, not Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant) as soon as you can.

The last excellent hiring cycle was really only 1984-1989, a five year period. There were a couple of carriers hiring in 82/83, but things did not really pick up until 85.This hiring cycle really only started in 2015, figure it lasts until 2020 (max 2022) would be a good guess based on historical ability of US carriers to over hire and other economic factors to cause a need to pause hiring/furlough.

Would love to be proved wrong, but history is on my side.
 
typhoonpilot said:
Flow up becomes flow down at the AA carriers.

This whole industry is cyclical. This will be a nice up cycle, but it will not last forever. Six years is way too long to wait in this current hiring environment. Get on with a major (preferably real major, not Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant) as soon as you can.

The last excellent hiring cycle was really only 1984-1989, a five year period. There were a couple of carriers hiring in 82/83, but things did not really pick up until 85.This hiring cycle really only started in 2015, figure it lasts until 2020 (max 2022) would be a good guess based on historical ability of US carriers to over hire and other economic factors to cause a need to pause hiring/furlough.

Would love to be proved wrong, but history is on my side.
Click to expand...
how many mandatory retirements did they have in 1989
 
I also vote to stay put unless you're at Expressjet.

Flow is nice for the few that I works for and the AA one might be different, but I wouldn't put a lot of stock in flow or the gateway to Jetblue. You're still pretty low time, so work on networking and polishing your resume so that when the time comes you're ready. I dislike seeing people get so hellbent on a certain airline. Shotgun approach works best, apply everywhere and see who calls. If you get two offers, then make a decision. Otherwise career progression is just like non-reving where you take forward progress where it becomes available and figure out the rest later.

Math is on your side and you've gotten the hard parts out of the way. Just relax and enjoy the ride!
 
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