Cubaniks
Well-Known Member
Same here.
American September 2025
- Thread starter Puckgoalie
- Start date
Flagship_dxer
Penske Material
I would advise anyone looking at this job posting to take into account that you are going to be very junior for an extended period of time. Probably a decade or two.
If you are older than age 30, you are not ever going to hold a Pacific AM/PM line and might get a junior Europe or Latin AM/PM line after ten years.
In the 2026 dispatch schedule bid, you had to be in the top 85 out of 420 dispatchers to hold a Pacific AM/PM shift. Most of those 85 will probably be retired in five years or so but the 335 dispatchers that dont have the seniority right now for Pacific are largely younger than age 45.
Its not much better for holding Europe or Latin AM/PM lines.
The company added a ton of international qualifications for new dispatchers to pick up after covid hiring boom. It will be difficult to even get
moved to Europe from domestic to cover vacations and sick calls.
If you want to work international flying, go to Delta or United or be ready for a long stay on international midnights. Even those go somewhat senior here as well.
If you like domestic flying and midnight shifts with a regional workload, you will love working for us.
If you are older than age 30, you are not ever going to hold a Pacific AM/PM line and might get a junior Europe or Latin AM/PM line after ten years.
In the 2026 dispatch schedule bid, you had to be in the top 85 out of 420 dispatchers to hold a Pacific AM/PM shift. Most of those 85 will probably be retired in five years or so but the 335 dispatchers that dont have the seniority right now for Pacific are largely younger than age 45.
Its not much better for holding Europe or Latin AM/PM lines.
The company added a ton of international qualifications for new dispatchers to pick up after covid hiring boom. It will be difficult to even get
moved to Europe from domestic to cover vacations and sick calls.
If you want to work international flying, go to Delta or United or be ready for a long stay on international midnights. Even those go somewhat senior here as well.
If you like domestic flying and midnight shifts with a regional workload, you will love working for us.
I Like IKE
Well-Known Member
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NorthWoods
Well-Known Member
You must be a joy at parties - sheesh.
MountainsOrBeach
Well-Known Member
Now being told we are looking to hire 20-30 by end of the year, in 1-2 classes. Just waiting on official accountant approval. We anticipate 5% growth next year, so we want to be staffed for it by next summer.
Also heard Frontier is looking to use FKYs?
Also heard Frontier is looking to use FKYs?
flynryan692
Well-Known Member
Last I heard Frontier is close to going live with FPM, unless something has changed recently.
TAF_Master
Well-Known Member
True as that may be, I think very very few applicants would be in a position to pick and choose between AA/DL/UA over line bids. It's whoever gives the offer first.
pljenkins
Resident Knucklehead
That's an awful lot of words to say you hate your job and you forgot what it's like to be on the outside looking in. There are loads of folks out there that would give a kidney to just BE on the seniority list at AA, and like all majors there's gonna be attrition through retirements at the very minimum, plus the half dozen or so a year that do something stupid and get themselves canned and those that decide that Texas isn't for them (it is an acquired taste. Things here are....different). Will you be junior for a while? Maybe. Will you be junior for decades? I highly doubt it, unless everyone at the office is in their 30's or AA has found some way to keep guys alive and working at the desk into their 90's.
You can't move up if you don't move in.
MountainsOrBeach
Well-Known Member
At least FPM is made by the same people as FKYs and is very similar. It’s just older, more glitchy and cannot do as much as FKYs. But it is definitely similar in build, layout and how you have to plan things. It is a good starting point and training base for FKYs. Maybe, and this is a big maybe… AA would consider that in hiring people since they want FKYs experience so much.
UA uses FPM, wondering when or if United will jump on the FKYs train as well.
MountainsOrBeach
Well-Known Member
Just since I began, there has also been a small handful that have passed away. May they RIP…
Yes there are a ton of new hires that are in their 20s and 30s, but there’s still over 50% of the seniority that is middle aged and much older. Either way… You can either be Junior at AA for years to come making 6 figures and working 1750 hrs a year or less (with options for overtime if and when you choose) or you can stay at the regional or 135 making whatever it is you make. Working 2080 hours or more.
We’re so large with 540+ dispatchers, you don’t see the same people every day. I hardly ever see management, so you’re definitely not micromanaged like we were at the regionals. They trust us to do our job and don’t question every little decision we make. We have a great team and group of people. Is AA perfect? Maybe not, but it’s damn better and far less toxic than a lot of other places I have worked.
Btw, absolutely nothing wrong if you happen to love your regional or 135. There’s a lot to say about loving where you work and live as well. I would know, I’m not a big fan of DFW. So if you’re happy where you are then that’s most important and all you can ask for. I’m just saying a lot of people are not happy where they are, and personally I enjoy AA far better than I did my regional and some other previous employments.
manniax
Well-met in the Ka-tet
In my airline career so far I have lived many places, really liked a few and disliked others...but everything is a trade off. My last regional was in a nice area, low cost of living, but had brutal winters. I've also lived in PHX, which is a cool town with awesome winters and lots to do - but man, those summers are brutal. I would say in general it's best to get on with a major and commute if you want to live elsewhere, rather than stay at a regional making low pay and with less job security. Sure, there are some "career" regionals such as Skywest or Republic, but you can't count on that segment of the industry being stable, and many of the regionals that were once considered stable have since gone or are going out of business (such as Comair, ExpressJet, and most recently, Air Wisconsin.)
ManualDXer
Well-Known Member
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777DXER
Well-Known Member
Umm.. seniority isn't everything. Regardless of what shift you can hold or desk you work it's a far better quality of life working for AA. I come in to work knowing that I have an amazing job and make real money. I don't give an F about my shift or desk. I think you've forgotten what it's like to work understaffed, under paid and live paycheck to paycheck. Bottoms line is you will be junior forever... WHO CARES!!
I’ll be devils advocate and mention that the big 3 have opened very close together recently. Some people may get the choice to choose. If working midnights/being junior long term isn’t a want for them, they may want to choose another.
In short, although viewed negatively, I’m sure the statement has helped some applicants. Good luck to all.
In short, although viewed negatively, I’m sure the statement has helped some applicants. Good luck to all.
TAF_Master
Well-Known Member
Can't speak for everyone's hiring process, but the last time I got an offer from a major it was check yes or no within one day and no response would be interpreted as a no. They have lots of others on the list to move down to. So unless someone gets really lucky with calls coming in on the same day...they would have to decline the first one and roll the dice on the other one actually making an offer....
LaCorderaVoladora
Well-Known Member
I’m not sure anyone will be able to avoid being Junior long-term or getting midnights at any of the Big 3. The last few people I have known that have been hired at Delta over the last couple of years have been midnights for quite a while until they got more underneath them. I would say United might be your best bet since they are supposedly looking to hire at least 140+ dispatchers. But if any of them reduce their numbers they’re looking to hire, then you’re going to be at the bottom for a while. At this point, you just have to go in willing to take who offers and work overnights or whatever is needed.
manniax
Well-met in the Ka-tet
United has hired almost 200 dispatchers since the pandemic ended...just FYI.
It will take a while to get seniority no matter which major you get hired by, but the trade-off in better pay, more days off, etc. is very well worth it in my opinion.