Alaska Bid

[Old School 737]

Anyone that has been here awhile care to give a new guy there 2 cents worth on this new bid. Is the newhire numbers of 21 in 07 and 58 in 08 the VP gave in his e-mail correct? It seems low to me given the retirements comming up.

 

[ferlo]

Welcome to the airline of ever diminishing and lowered expectaitions.

 

[av8instyle]

Yeah, pretty bad.
Net of 55 Captains. Latee figgen daa.
Barely replaces retirement.
Still on track for 10 years to captain.
I guess it's better than being unemployed.

 

[av8instyle]

But I do hear that new hires will be captains in 5 years. Good luck with that.
Vision 2010 is alive and well.

 

[ferlo]

Yeah, and the seniority list will double in 5 years. Hmm, in the next two years they'll hire 78, I guess that means we'll go from hiring 39 a year to 450 a year for the last 3 years. Does Forrest really belive this Horsesh*t or has he just joined the ranks of the Pathologically arrogant, lying A-holes that are the Alaska Managment team?

 

[QXpeon]

Those bid numbers suck. I was looking at trying to get on at AS because I want to stay in the NW. But now, I find myself thinking twice. Reserve for 5+ years? I think not.

What's the word AS guys? Is it worth it anymore?

 

[Ih8AFYesmen]

Hell NO!

 

[Flip Conroy]

What's the word AS guys? Is it worth it anymore?

That's what they will ask you in the interview. If you answer like the guy above, then you can expect to stay at Horizon.

 

[Flip Conroy]

What I believe is we have the same 5 or 6 Alaska pilots that bitch and moan about everything doing what they do best.

Anyone wanting any REAL information about any airline should go talk to the pilots out on the line instead of listening to the malcontents that cry on message boards.

 

[QXpeon]

So the Kasher award didn't even phase you huh?

 

[Q4_4_QX]

Anyone wanting any REAL information about any airline should go talk to the pilots out on the line instead of listening to the malcontents that cry on message boards.

Kind of like you Flip Cornhole:crying: ... I'm in an AS jumpseat at least 1-2 times a week and 80% of them have the same story.

"Go anywhere but here"

 

[Old School 737]

The other thing about the bid is that the 200's are going away? I don't see that happening on time. I flew the new 400 freighter the other night and we had the vender rep doing the cargo mods onboard and he said that the combi aircraft is going to have FAA paperwork certification issues. The freighter was delayed and I would not be supprised if the combi's are as well as nobody has ever done one before and when you are the first it usually takes longer than expected. The new one was nice though. Once they get the bugs worked out it should be fun to fly.

 

[Ih8AFYesmen]

okay, I've had enough!

As few have stated on this message board, this website has turned into a "bash one another" forum by a few jackasses... you know who you are ("FlipC"). It's understood that everyone has an opinion but no need for sarcasm and ridicule. FlipC, I've noticed that you like to get on the soap box and sound sooooo righteous. Do you know WTF you are really talkin' about? Unless you know the facts, keep your cake hole shut and fingers off of the keyboard. Layoff of the coolaid before you depelete the world supply.

I do fly the line at Alaska and life here is not so pretty at the moment; it hasn't been since May '05. To put salt on the wound, management here continues to violate the contract and lie to us on a daily basis.

So to reiterate my answer to the question whether to come here or not... HELL NO!

 

[sf340flyer]

the grass is always greener on the other side.

Do you think AK is the only company violating contracts right now? Everyone else is, but that doesn't make it right. Is AK a great place to work? that is the question. I left a "decent" regional, and yes I think the current AK is better. The line guys lost ALOT 14 months ago. It's not the same airline. I don't drink the kool-aid, and I think things are going to change for the better with the next contract.

What are your choices now? UPS, I know a few guys that hate it there, FEDEX well that would be good but there are still negatives and the interview is a beatch. Jetblue, no thanks I think they have some rough seas ahead. SWA, I don't think they are the golden child everyone makes them out to be. Yet again these are my thoughts. You need to make a decision on what is best for you.

Are there things that would make AK better? YES, but what/where is the perfect airline. It's all a personal choice.


I have been asked if I was going to try and leave AK, when I ask the question back they all seem like they want to stay. I think everyone is just running their mouths.

 

[Flip Conroy]

That's my point. Everyone bitches about where they work, and advises everyone else to "not come here". But then they go "there" and everyone is bitching about the same things. And their management is lying to them, also.

It's the same story everywhere. And on Flightinfo, only the malcontents and the ones pissed off enough to REALLY bitch take the time to post.

And no....I don't fly for Alaska, so the Kasher award didn't phase me. If you Horizon guys are so down on Alaska, by all means, stay at Horizon. See how your new contract works out. Sit for 6+ years to get to that magic $60/hr Dash 8-200 Capt pay rate. And get one of those great 4, 5 or even 6 on and 2 off schedules. Heck, if you stay there until you reach the 10 or 12 year mark, you MAY even be able to hold a 4 on/ 3 off Capt line.

Yep. It's just gotta be better over there at Horizon, so maybe you shouldn't apply at Alaska.

Finally, to sf340flyer. You bet everyone is just running their mouths. That's all these bozos know how to do. Come on this board, the ALPA board and other boards (and it's the same handful of malcontents that are on all these boards) and bitch. If it were so bad, they'd get off their azzes and get another job. Wonder why they don't? That's not too hard to figure out, now is it?

 

[av8instyle]

That's my point. Everyone bitches about where they work, and advises everyone else to "not come here". But then they go "there" and everyone is bitching about the same things. And their management is lying to them, also.

It's the same story everywhere. And on Flightinfo, only the malcontents and the ones pissed off enough to REALLY bitch take the time to post.

And no....I don't fly for Alaska, so the Kasher award didn't phase me. If you Horizon guys are so down on Alaska, by all means, stay at Horizon. See how your new contract works out. Sit for 6+ years to get to that magic $60/hr Dash 8-200 Capt pay rate. And get one of those great 4, 5 or even 6 on and 2 off schedules. Heck, if you stay there until you reach the 10 or 12 year mark, you MAY even be able to hold a 4 on/ 3 off Capt line.

Yep. It's just gotta be better over there at Horizon, so maybe you shouldn't apply at Alaska.

Finally, to sf340flyer. You bet everyone is just running their mouths. That's all these bozos know how to do. Come on this board, the ALPA board and other boards (and it's the same handful of malcontents that are on all these boards) and bitch. If it were so bad, they'd get off their azzes and get another job. Wonder why they don't? That's not too hard to figure out, now is it?

There are many reasons obviously why people don't leave. And most of them are quite justifiable. The best reason: Right now the only US Pax carrier that is in better financial condition than Alaska is SWA. That's a pretty compelling reason to gripe about a 34% pay cut but still stay put. After the cut our captains still make 150+. And we'll get a pay raise. But make no mistake, this company, probably like others, is doing some pretty sketchy things with labor and it is making most guys fairly unhappy.
I guarantee you the Alaska people that post are not the only AK pilots that are unhappy, in fact they are the norm.
BTW, since the Kastration last May I know several guys that have quit, including a couple of captains. That didn't happen previous to the paycut.

 

[QXpeon]

Flip, if you love it so damn much why do you work there?

 

[av8instyle]

Flip, if you love it so dang much why do you work there?

Does he? I didn't get that from his posts.

 

[ferlo]

We had a 34 year old CAPTAIN quit two weeks ago. Tell me any other profitable major airline where that kind of thing happens. That is how bad things have gotten here. It's certainly not just the guys who lurk on this board. In fact, going to work is a tedious exercise in negetivity. I loath going and am elated to leave. It's nothing but days on end of endless bitching, in the crew rooms, in the jetways, in the cockpits, at dinner, over drinks, in the hotel van, waiting for the hotel van, on and on and on. I don't have the energy for all of this, it isn't worth it at all. I'm working my exit strategy and hopefully can join the ranks of the dozen or so guys who have already walked.

 

[Getter]

Where can a new hire expect to be based initially? How long before a new hire can hold a line? 10 years in the right seat??

I have a buddy coming in for an interview at AS and told him I'd post these questions. Any information would be really helpful. Thanks!

 

[shwing]

redirect

Try the thread Alaska Alaska Anyone Anyone Alaska there are several pages and trying to keep most alaska posts on that thread so you do not have to look at a hundred different threads.

Cheers

 

[Old School 737]

We had a 34 year old CAPTAIN quit two weeks ago. Tell me any other profitable major airline where that kind of thing happens. That is how bad things have gotten here. It's certainly not just the guys who lurk on this board. In fact, going to work is a tedious exercise in negetivity. I loath going and am elated to leave. It's nothing but days on end of endless bitching, in the crew rooms, in the jetways, in the cockpits, at dinner, over drinks, in the hotel van, waiting for the hotel van, on and on and on. I don't have the energy for all of this, it isn't worth it at all. I'm working my exit strategy and hopefully can join the ranks of the dozen or so guys who have already walked.

Where did he go?