Alaska ANYONE

[mach none]

must be contract time again.

 

[flythere]

I just received the phone call today for a second interview!

How long did it take to get that second call??

 

[Going2Baja]

Writing the Auto-Biography

For those of you that got the second phase, what type of auto-biography did you write? Were they all done in the 1st person (I...I...I...) or did any of you go the route of 3rd person (Bob...Mr. Smith...He...) I've always disliked writing about myself saying "I" over and over. Feel free to PM with answers.

Thanks - Baja.


BTW - Flythere, I hear they call for the 2nd phase a few days after phase one. Good luck!

 

[ClearRight]

Call for the second interview took a little over a week.

My bio was in first person.

 

[ScubaGirl]

2nd call

I interviewed last Tuesday and they said they'd call me by today (Thursday) to let me know if I would be doing round 2. Unfortunately I got the, "thank for applying and you are eligible to reapply within a year" call today.

 

[Baze]

Very sorry to hear that ScubaGirl! Hang in there...

 

[Going2Baja]

Bummer Scubagirl - Sorry to hear it! Was their choice a suprise to you or did you feel that you did good?

Baja.

 

[Stearmandriver]

Hey USFlyer... any word? They've kept you hanging for a while now!

 

[ScubaGirl]

Baja,
I didn't feel like I did my best. I thought there was a small chance I'd get interview #2. But, it was really my first interview. I was handed my regional job since I interned there before I applied as a pilot. I also only had 820 PIC when they called me for this interview. So whatever. I was surprised they even called me. I don't know one person that works there, no silver bullet, and never went to a job fair. I just applied online and got a call shortly after.

 

[Going2Baja]

SG - Thanks for the reply. Hang in there and keep at it. Sounds like you have the right attitude, just keep re-applying.

Baja.

 

[akairman702]

This may be a little off topic, but are there any other Alaska guys out there who would like to get off the "On Appraoch" newsletter mailing list? I understand the company's need to serve the cool aide ~ my main complaint is that it's so poorly written (how about a few more overused, technical terms Ben?) and fricking DULL.

How about some information on hiring, growth, etc.? I think most of us by now understand the Supply/Demand relationship between available flying and hiring. And I can think of one or two more useful things to pass along to the pilots than the nit-noid organizational structure of Admin. Or what a great job the crew schedulers do. (Doesn't it go without saying?).

Engage me, Alaska. It's a contract year for God sakes.

 

[av8instyle]

This may be a little off topic, but are there any other Alaska guys out there who would like to get off the "On Appraoch" newsletter mailing list? I understand the company's need to serve the cool aide ~ my main complaint is that it's so poorly written (how about a few more overused, technical terms Ben?) and fricking DULL.

How about some information on hiring, growth, etc.? I think most of us by now understand the Supply/Demand relationship between available flying and hiring. And I can think of one or two more useful things to pass along to the pilots than the nit-noid organizational structure of Admin. Or what a great job the crew schedulers do. (Doesn't it go without saying?).

Engage me, Alaska. It's a contract year for God sakes.

AMEN!
What a waste of 7 seconds of skimming. I could have skimmed Maxim for the third time and been more satisfied.

 

[US Flyer]

Is no news good news?????

Hey USFlyer... any word? They've kept you hanging for a while now!

No word- I'll call next week to try and get a final answer. Still cautiously optimistic.

The daily drama of waiting for the phone to ring is making me think I'll be a good candidate for Maalox by the time this is over!

 

[AK737FO]

Double Amen

I agree with you fellas - Ben's news letter has got to be the worst thing ever put on paper. It takes 30 seconds to skim, it tells you absolutely nothing of any value, and it is printed on paper - so we are actually spending money (just part of what -30% will buy you) on it!

I wonder how long Ben will be here? He is independently wealthy and does not need this job. Going to work at Alaska was sort of a hobby thing for him - until he went from F/O to V/P. That's got to be a nice pay bump!

I find it very interesting that he is going to be on the company's negotiating committee. I have heard that the union does not really trust him after he fired Capt. Spero. I'll wager that Ben will only be here a few more years - he will try to hammer us in our next contract - he will loose of course - then his usefulness is over. He will take his V.P. retirement to add to his other millions and go play in geezerville. Our senior management has a good plan - they have a guy who was once "one of us" but is more than willing to die for the cause. Ben can destroy himself in the eyes of the pilots and he won't care one bit - he has his money with more to come - this management thing is just a fun way to end his career before he fades away. At his previous airline job, Ben showed his true colors when the going got really tough. There is a list "out there" that has Ben's names attached as someone who was once interested in being treated as "special". In other words, he didn't cross - he just made himself available if needed. Nuff said.

I know that we (the brother sitting next to you) will win a good contract. It is just going to be an interesting battle to get there - wading through the stuff from Ben and the others.

 

[SneakyJake]

geezerville, that's funny. Can I use that?

 

[BORAT]

Ben's little letter makes a great little sun shade... I have no clue what is going on in the company other than 765's logbook takes 20 minutes to read. Good luck to everyone applying and interviewing, soon you'll be "Livin the dream!". The dream might be a little better at other companies though!

 

[Going2Baja]

Good luck to everyone applying and interviewing, soon you'll be "Livin the dream!". The dream might be a little better at other companies though!

Why does this statement turn a little light bulb on in the back of my head? I think all carriers have their little problems that get worked out w/ time - or sometimes not. If you all get your 20-40% back will things turn around or you the same old people still be miserable?

Baja.

 

[ferlo]

Why does this statement turn a little light bulb on in the back of my head? I think all carriers have their little problems that get worked out w/ time - or sometimes not. If you all get your 20-40% back will things turn around or you the same old people still be miserable?

Baja.

When the knife gets pulled from our backs, things will probably improve. However, getting over the whole ordeal is kind of like trying to unexplode a bomb. Time will tell. I've said all along that the total destruction of morale here has less to do about the actual cash and more to do about the bill of goods we were sold when we chose to dedicate our professional lives here. If SWA Screwed their pilots as hard as Alaska did, you'd see a whole lot of dis-illusioned guys too. SWA is too smart to do that however. Billy boy and his gang of former navy rapists are too stupid to understand the concept of "IMPLICATIONS" and how that may translate to the travel experience of our customers starting May 07.

 

[US Flyer]

Several people that interviewed in the last few months that were not hired, were also never notified of the decision by H.R.

Company core values:
1) Alaska Spirit
2) Integrity
3) Caring
4) Resourcefulness
5) Professionalism

I guess that these values only need to be adhered to by the flight crews?

 

[Going2Baja]

When the knife gets pulled from our backs, things will probably improve. If SWA Screwed their pilots as hard as Alaska did, you'd see a whole lot of dis-illusioned guys too.

Please explain where/how/when the screwing took place. Was something sold to you that you all signed off on and it turned out not to be the case?

I know paycuts suck...but furloughes suck even harder. No flame bait here - just trying to get a feel for what happened.

Baja.

 

[tico]

Please explain where/how/when the screwing took place. Was something sold to you that you all signed off on and it turned out not to be the case?

I know paycuts suck...but furloughes suck even harder. No flame bait here - just trying to get a feel for what happened.

Baja.

In short.... A profitable airline with just under one billion dollars in the bank, a monoply on several large markets and a very dedicated work force began the systematic dismantling of their company. They fired their cabin cleaners, their rampers, their gse mechanics and a large number of their aircraft mechanics. They went to an arbitrator and convinced him that it was rational to reduce the wages and benefits of their pilots to the tune of 42,000.00 dollars a year each. They short staffed their csa's so badly that they managed to drive off all of the senior( read high paid and experienced) staff. In short there is no one left at Alaska that gives a rats azz about the company or it's success. The company is now divided between those of us who were able to watch the intentional destruction of lots of hard work and everyone that has come after.... So to answer your question. No a pay raise will not bring back what they had.... It is gone forever....They spent all of their good will with every single remaining work group......It may be a step beyond Mesa or ASA or Skywest or some corporate gig but it is only one step and if you choose to come to work here than treat it as such...just a step on the way to a real flying job.....And before you come back with how the other airlines have it worse...they are Bankrupt, and as such should be furloughing and taking large concessions...We are as profitable as Southwest etc....

 

[ferlo]

We're as profitable as SWA with 1/4 the aircraft and pilots. That's called "profit margin".

 

[AK737FO]

The other side of the coin.

I would disagree with Tico on a few items. There are about 10,000 employees at Alaska, with a little over 1500 pilots. Out of those 1500 there are guys who are way left and guys who are way right - we have guys who slogged through the jungles behind a sniper scope or an M60 and we have guys who wear pink polo's with their collar turned up. The company has tried very hard to have a diverse work group. I believe they have accomplished that - but I do not think that diversity means jack squat when it comes to a successful work group or company. Anyhow - to say something like this -

"In short there is no one left at Alaska that gives a rats azz about the company or it's success."

- could not be further from the truth. Yes there are those who don't care, but they are actually a minority who would like to think of themselves as the majority.

I would disagree with this statement as well-

"a pay raise will not bring back what they had.... It is gone forever...."

If the company were to give us Kasher plus - here you go boys - take it all! We are sorry for what we did to you back there, hope you can get your house, wife and kids back - just to salve the wound a bit more how bout a $50K signing bonus on top of that?
Guess what - everyone would forget in the blink of an eye what happened. Whores with short memorys - that's all we are. I don't care if you are a pilot at Alaska, a fireman in Nebraska, or a pipe fitter in Texas - if you put enough money on the table you will get a stable and loyal work force.

Granted - there will always be a few, a small group of unhappy people, who will complain about anything. Give them a Billion Bucks and they wouldn't be happy. Give them 25 days off a month and they wouldn't be happy. These folks are best just left alone to stew in their own juices. They choose to live life in such a manner.

We know that the company is going to come after the pension. I believe that will be their #1 priority. We know that they will try to keep wages down, but we also know that they realize our F/O's (future captains) are slowly starving to death. It has got to be fixed -they know that - and it will be.
UPS, FedEx and SWA - these are the only US airlines that I know of that pay significantly more that Alaska. Some of the numbers I have seen recently show that a career at UPS could be worth over a million dollars more than at Alaska. So - if that is your priority the decision on where to work is pretty easy. If you end up choosing to work here - then I say "Welcome Aboard".

 

[av8instyle]

Pay will make it better. I agree with AK737FO. If I got my paycheck back I would be 110% on board. I need money and time off. I'm a happy camper with those things. But right now I need money more than time off, thanks to the Kastration.

 

[BORAT]

It's true every company has got their own problems. What gets me is at one time I was proud to work for Alaska Airlines but that pride started to fade in 2000 following the preventable crash of flight 261. If someone (aka the Director of Flight Operations) had been doing his job everyone would still be with us today. When you look at managements doings since 2000, its hard to take pride in the company and the job.

 

[fly-n-fish]

Going to Baja,
Paycuts suck, yes. They suck even more when you have to sell your house, send your kids to a different school, your spouse leaves you, work a second job, etc. Yes, these things happen when furloughs happen. But Alaska FOs have experienced all of this here as a result of the cost cutting measures discussed by others here on the forum. At least in our part of the world pilots used to take some pride in saying that one was an "Alaska Airlines pilot." Given the environment we fly in, that meant something. The current cost cutting measures and other "kick 'em when they're down" antics by Alaska management have rendered item #1 in US Flyer's post irrellevent. Most are now just "pilots for Alaska Airlines." There is a significant difference between the two. Alaska spirit can be revived, but it's going to take some money and some time to do it. And I am not talking about money in exchange for additional draconian work rule concessions. Is Alaska management interested in addressing the issues necessary to fix the problems discussed here as we enter contract negotiations? I think not. The ONLY thing they care about is stock price. Just my 2 cents worth after many years on reserve here in Alaska's World.

 

[lumax]

The one item that is important to management is to make sure that we are no more than the 6th highest paid for similar equipment. I don't like to be pesimistic, but I am sure their openers will be some sort of pay cut since we are no longer #6 in pay. I believe we are somewhere behind SWA, AA, and maybe CAL. Why would they offer a pay raise? Stock is high, yields are high, loads are high, ontime performance is OK, therefore employees (pilots) must be happy and working hard. Why offer a pay raise?
We have to anchor down and be ready to fight this battle.

 

[tico]

I would disagree with Tico on a few items. There are about 10,000 employees at Alaska, with a little over 1500 pilots. Out of those 1500 there are guys who are way left and guys who are way right - we have guys who slogged through the jungles behind a sniper scope or an M60 and we have guys who wear pink polo's with their collar turned up. The company has tried very hard to have a diverse work group. I believe they have accomplished that - but I do not think that diversity means jack squat when it comes to a successful work group or company. Anyhow - to say something like this -

"In short there is no one left at Alaska that gives a rats azz about the company or it's success."

- could not be further from the truth. Yes there are those who don't care, but they are actually a minority who would like to think of themselves as the majority.

I would disagree with this statement as well-

"a pay raise will not bring back what they had.... It is gone forever...."

If the company were to give us Kasher plus - here you go boys - take it all! We are sorry for what we did to you back there, hope you can get your house, wife and kids back - just to salve the wound a bit more how bout a $50K signing bonus on top of that?
Guess what - everyone would forget in the blink of an eye what happened. Whores with short memorys - that's all we are. I don't care if you are a pilot at Alaska, a fireman in Nebraska, or a pipe fitter in Texas - if you put enough money on the table you will get a stable and loyal work force.

Granted - there will always be a few, a small group of unhappy people, who will complain about anything. Give them a Billion Bucks and they wouldn't be happy. Give them 25 days off a month and they wouldn't be happy. These folks are best just left alone to stew in their own juices. They choose to live life in such a manner.

We know that the company is going to come after the pension. I believe that will be their #1 priority. We know that they will try to keep wages down, but we also know that they realize our F/O's (future captains) are slowly starving to death. It has got to be fixed -they know that - and it will be.
UPS, FedEx and SWA - these are the only US airlines that I know of that pay significantly more that Alaska. Some of the numbers I have seen recently show that a career at UPS could be worth over a million dollars more than at Alaska. So - if that is your priority the decision on where to work is pretty easy. If you end up choosing to work here - then I say "Welcome Aboard".

Ah, it is my old friend AK from the real Alaska Airlines in Alaska. I would agree with your evaluation of the pilots that fly for your airline. And if I still flew there I would share your views but (by choice ) I have moved on to Seattle Airlines and I can assure you that I am not a vocal minority. You would only have to come work for us and you to would see it every day by everybody and by no means just the pilots. We are treated poorly and unfortunateley treat each other poorly as well. It is far worse today than it ever was immediately following arbitration. Getting a pay raise will quiet people down but it will never bring them back.......Imagine if you will how well the further pay reduction for captains and pay freeze for copilots attached to the blatant grab at retirement that will slither across the street as an opener will fly......anyway it is always good to argue these points with you. Just keep in mind that you work for a different airline than I do

 

[AKMD80GUY]

When SEA takes over scheduling in ANC and guys are Deadheading to SEA to cover trips for one day and then extended to five days, attitudes will change.

 

[lumax]

When SEA takes over scheduling in ANC and guys are Deadheading to SEA to cover trips for one day and then extended to five days, attitudes will change.

Wait a minute! You mean that is not normal?