Reality check

learhawkerbe400 said:
And people will complain everywhere. That’s human nature.
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Yep. I remember when I was a fresh college grad making $12 an hour as an A&P. We had a couple mainline Continental pilots who would come hang out in the FBO sometimes and it was nonstop “Work Work Work Work union Work Work Work the company Work Work Work Work and I voted NO!!!” We also had a CFI making $20/flight hour who had been a pilot for ATA. He was on his honeymoon in Ireland and showed up to ride home when he found out about it...
 
This is My Screen Name said:
It's mostly like this - all the stuff we bitch about at the regional, when I commute back and forth on mainline they bitch about the same exact things. Also, learned the hard way - never ask an West pilot what they think of 'Merican haha. Most Airways guys are super cool and laid back but again lots of complaining...

When I was commuting on Southern Jets I rarely heard anything negative.

Just my first person perspective in my limited experience. Southern Jets just seems to me a lot better run joint.

I don't think the flow will be as valuable a few years from now.

Lots of good food for thought. Haven't made any moves yet, other than going to an interview.
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Bro, this is every airline. Literally every airline that exists. I've had captains who hold 20 days off a month and make $300,000 a year ask me why in the world I came to work at JuicyJuiceAir, because in their mind it's the worst job that's ever existed. They all think I should have stayed at my regional because a regional has to be better than JuicyJuiceAir.

They're out of their minds.
 
jtrain609 said:
Bro, this is every airline. Literally every airline that exists. I've had captains who hold 20 days off a month and make $300,000 a year ask me why in the world I came to work at JuicyJuiceAir, because in their mind it's the worst job that's ever existed. They all think I should have stayed at my regional because a regional has to be better than JuicyJuiceAir.

They're out of their minds.
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Autothrust Blue said:
A buddy of mine from the bad old days at MQ, where we had flow rights, was hired at AA long after surrendering them, so it isn’t insurmountable.
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I know someone as well, although they went to a major not another regional, but that was not my point.
 
Haha there's some funny stuff here and some good advice too.

Really appreciate the feedback. Just really frustrated with current situation, future want looking too bright either at this point.

Yes, happiness is worth more than money to me.

Practicality and logic say staying put makes the most sense which I never dismissed... I needed to mentally go through this thought process though for peace of mind.

I've even considered corporate or cargo for the record.
 
This is My Screen Name said:
Haha there's some funny stuff here and some good advice too.

Really appreciate the feedback. Just really frustrated with current situation, future want looking too bright either at this point.

Yes, happiness is worth more than money to me.

Practicality and logic say staying put makes the most sense which I never dismissed... I needed to mentally go through this thought process though for peace of mind.

I've even considered corporate or cargo for the record.
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Stay put and do not come to Endeavor. You’ll be that much closer to a flow. The DGI requires 18 months as a captain and your degree, placing you that much further away from a legacy job.
 
This is My Screen Name said:
Haha there's some funny stuff here and some good advice too.

Really appreciate the feedback. Just really frustrated with current situation, future want looking too bright either at this point.

Yes, happiness is worth more than money to me.

Practicality and logic say staying put makes the most sense which I never dismissed... I needed to mentally go through this thought process though for peace of mind.

I've even considered corporate or cargo for the record.
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Keep in mind that the airline you come back to after 20 months is unlikely to be the same airline you left, and in this current climate it will most likely be for the better. The flip side of that coin is if we experience an economic correction in the next two years you're gonna seriously miss your old seniority number if the airlines contract. You've got an almost 2 year break from the suck coming up, don't give up your seniority number just because you're frustrated today. Moving to another carrier from American Airlines is going to be a lot easier than moving from a regional.
 
Cherokee_Cruiser said:
What's wrong with AA? I'd give up my 260k CA job at the 5th biggest carrier to start at the bottom of AA, but that's just me. AA has hired the least so far and retire about 8,300 pilots in the next 10 yrs out of an active ~ 14,800.
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Well, alright then, I'll play devil's advocate..

Tell me what is so good about AA that you would give up your seniority number.

Sincerely, not goofing around - how is all y'all perspective so different from what I've had mainline guys tell me in person, time and time again for the past year and a half that I've been riding jump twice a week to work. How many of y'all are at AA? What is your perspective based on?
 
This is My Screen Name said:
Well, alright then, I'll play devil's advocate..

Tell me what is so good about AA that you would give up your seniority number.

Sincerely, not goofing around - how is all y'all perspective so different from what I've had mainline guys tell me in person, time and time again for the past year and a half that I've been riding jump twice a week to work. How many of y'all are at AA? What is your perspective based on?
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Mainline, is mainline is mainline.

Some are fantastic and other are just okay. But the fact still remains, that they're mainline! Yeah it would be AWESOME to be at Delta. But if I interviewed at AA, and they were the first to call. Guess what, I'm starting a career at AA.

Every operation comes with both good and bad. I'd suspect their new contract is going to be equal or on par with United or Delta, or maybe better. And if you move up to mainline, you'll probably retire a millionaire.

Not really seeing any major drawbacks, to working there, except for their god ugly livery. Except the tail. I do love the flag on the tail.
 
This is My Screen Name said:
I guess that's my real question - is it really being dishonest to answer the questions they ask, show up for INDOC and drop the pending orders?

I know that sounds like I'm trying to justify bad behavior and maybe it is in the sense that while I don't intend to be misleading I also got to do what's best for myself - the whole if you died the job ad would be in the paper before your obituary was routine.

(as previously stated my gut agrees with what has been said - so posing this question as a more philosophical one...)
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Get a seniority number, drop mil leave and don't for one single second feel bad about it or pat yourself on the back about a higher road.

In 2018 employers can and will get rid of you with zero regard for your loyalty or how many puppies you rescued regardless of baby boomer mantra you'll hear that is no longer reality. Now you have USERRA on your side. Use it.

Feel free to PM me of need be.
 
This is My Screen Name said:
Well, alright then, I'll play devil's advocate..

Tell me what is so good about AA that you would give up your seniority number.

Sincerely, not goofing around - how is all y'all perspective so different from what I've had mainline guys tell me in person, time and time again for the past year and a half that I've been riding jump twice a week to work. How many of y'all are at AA? What is your perspective based on?
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My take?

The horror stories of AA are mostly from the archaic history of 4 different airlines merged in. TW/AA/US/AWA. That’s a hot mess with many ticked off guys in the post 9/11 world, lost pensions, etc. I get it, they had it tough. But if you’re starting at AA now especially at a young age, it’s gonna be a good career.

Yes, I’ve heard their scheduling rules can use an improvement, better min day (true min day), etc. Not use old school MAC type computer programs, etc.


My big draws to AA:

*Great base variety (esp for the northeast, there’s 4 bases alone! BOS, NYC, PHL, DC). 2 of those bases for me are driving distance, the other 2 can be trains or planes.

*Most retirement movement the next 10 years. Some years 900+ mandatory retirements per year. 8,300 gone in 10 years. If you start now, you’d be 43% overall in just 10 years. Let that sink in. Also in years 11-20, more retirements of about 4,400. So 12,600+ gone in 20 yrs.

Also AA has hired the least guys of the big 3, and of the newhires, MANY are the older types from Eagle flows and military. If you’re below 35, you can probably retire #300-400 at AA. Or top 100 if you’re in your 20s.

*Good business, IMO. I think AA will weather any storm. Certainly better than my west coast only legacy airline.
 
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