Alaska Airlines Poolies?

[ferlo]

Any of you guys/gals out there?
Any idea when you go to training?

 

[mach none]

I know two in the pool. No word on classes.

 

[Rhino]

in the pool...

I've been in the pool since December 2002. Five of us hired that month. I've heard numbers around 35-40 in the "hired" pool. They've told me to expect something in the fall, MAYBE. Now it looks like perhaps first of the year with all the re-training of the MD-to-737 guys, and 737-to-MD guys. I've heard that the company is gaining a couple new a/c in 2004 and with 27 retirements in 2004 it appears those of us in the pool will be utilized somewhere in the year. Hopefully sooner than later.

I think I'm number 3 in the pool, so that puts me, and those hired in December and January, into the first class... but who really knows?

 

[SeaSlam]

swimming laps...

I interviewed in January and got the good news from Bonnie in early February. The last I heard was the "class in the fall" rumor but that was before the LAX MD-80 shift happened. I know one of the other two I interviewed with was offered a position also (the third was not). I haven't called anyone because I'm still an activated Reservist. Another Alaska pilot in my squadron also seems to think fall might be a best case scenario due to the training surge the MD-80 issue has caused.

 

[ratherfish]

I'm here. I had a January interview. I have no class date info. beyond "sometime in the fall".

 

[AK737FO]

Consider this....

Another thing to consider is the impact of the Vision 2010 plan. The company wants ALPA to sell out the future, and create in effect a permanent B scale. They want all new hires to have a 6% matching 401K and no A-plan (Pension). Old hands can keep their A-plan pension and 3% matching 401K.
Probably won't see any hiring until all this is figured out.

 

[dogg]

Just talked to a friend that spoke with Paul Majer at OBAP.. Paul said that there is no new hiring planned until 2005.....Sounds like anyone holding out for a job at Alaska better hop in to the SouthWest pool or risk drowning..... what a drag and everyone said that they were doing so well.... sirah, sirah

 

[ratherfish]

Dogg,

Say it ain't so. I've about worn the knees out of my dark interview suit. I was hoping I would be retiring it to weddings and funerals.

 

[AlbieF15]

One idea floated by a smart UAL pilot I know is that AK wants some bodies ready for training in case UAL goes Chapter 7...

If UAL survives...no rush for bodies. In not...then the survivers do the vulture act on the carrion, and AK is eyeing more west coast stuff. They'll need some pilots ready...

Just coffee talk...but threw it out for discussion.

 

[LearLove]

Along with what Albie said, I tend to think America West is getting its fangs ready in ref. to UAL also. It looks the same way on the east coast in ref. to CAL and Delta (mostly with Comair) in their attack on US Air. Hope its not so and everyone comes out on the other side.

 

[GoABX]

I know the financials on UAL are still shakey, but their press releases put a positive spin on the news. Can someone recap how they have been doing in the last month or two.

If they did go out, it would have an immediate and dramatic impact. If we thought the airlines were a two class system (majors vs commuters) the loss of United would definitley cause a 2 class society. . . the Haves & Have Nots. Some places would grow like crazy and another 8500 would be looking for a job. One herd of planes would be flying to the desert, while another was flying out.

 

[mach none]

Just talked to a friend that spoke with Paul Majer at OBAP.. Paul said that there is no new hiring planned until 2005.....Sounds like anyone holding out for a job at Alaska better hop in to the SouthWest pool or risk drowning..... what a drag and everyone said that they were doing so well.... sirah, sirah

Of course Paul is going to say no hiring. That is what the people above him have told him to say.

Remember, they are trying to convince us to take pay, retirement and work rule concessions right now. When all this settles. My guess is, we will start hiring again. We retire 27 pilots in o4 and then the guys really start leaving in droves.

I would even venture a guess that we will announce some sort of aircraft order when the "Vision 2010" is solidified.

 

[TnkrPlt]

What is the general consensus among the Alaska pilots . . do you think future pilots will lose retirement benefits? Is that something they are willing to give up?

 

[ferlo]

Fresh from Pilot Recruitment,


"Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we will have a class this calendar year. Optimistically, a new hire class will not occur until the beginning of 2004..."

This was written in a letter sent to a poolie friend of mine. My guess is that with the 106 training events caused by the new bid, the training dept. doesn't have the resources to train new hires too.

 

[Rhino]

form letter

I received the same letter. There was only one sentence that has me concerned.

"The method of pulling pilot applicants out of the pool will be determined once we have details about the new hire classes."

Does this sound like a "competative pool"?

I hope this means they don't know how many of us will be in each new hire class, and when those dates will be.

Oh well, looks like several more months of government cheese...

 

[FL510GV]

I'm either 4 or 5 of the December 5. I'll wait as long as it takes...

Best news I've seen is from AK737FO - the retirement numbers. Thanks.

 

[sf340flyer]

I emailed Bonnie for an address change, and she replied that AK is going to a new online system in Oct. Could this be in prep for hiring/interviews?

Waiting for the phone to ring.........

 

[ALASKAN AVIATOR]

So.....

Alaska is a MAJOR now huh? None and I mean NONE of you jokers wanted to work for Alaska 3 years ago, and if you did you only saw it as a stepping stone for United or Delta, etc. Yeah, I said it. Get out of the way and out of the pool for those of us who really want to make a career there someday!!