Leave Alaska for Delta?

[ACAFool]

With around 3 years of seniority at Alaska I am considering trying to make this leap. Am I crazy to be considering this? I believe that going forward Delta is going to be a much better career overall than Alaska. Of course Alaska could be bought by Delta, NWA, Cal, etc at any point and I would have thrown away a little seniority to make any leap. But I would like the opportunity to fly international that Alaska does not offer and will not likely ever offer as long as they are Alaska (which may not be all that long). I am not married to any Alaska base. I can move anywhere so that is not a concern. Also I am still in my late 30's. Apps are in at Delta and UPS? Any thoughts on this? Thanks for any input!

 

[General Lee]

With around 3 years of seniority at Alaska I am considering trying to make this leap. Am I crazy to be considering this? I believe that going forward Delta is going to be a much better career overall than Alaska. Of course Alaska could be bought by Delta, NWA, Cal, etc at any point and I would have thrown away a little seniority to make any leap. But I would like the opportunity to fly international that Alaska does not offer and will not likely ever offer as long as they are Alaska (which may not be all that long). I am not married to any Alaska base. I can move anywhere so that is not a concern. Apps are in at Delta and UPS? Any thoughts on this? Thanks for any input!

Give it a shot. It would be awhile before you interviewed at got a class date, so hopefully by that time the merger mania picture will be a little clearer. You have nothing to lose by trying to get an interview and seeing what happens. Growth is on the picture currently for Delta, with a lot of INTL flying to be had. This could be curbed a bit if we merge or acquire someone, but that won't be clear until we see what happens. The Gov't may turn down all merger attempts. Good luck to you.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Green Banana]

Go dude, you are senior to me! I got called by UAL and NWA in the last month and could not do it. DAL is another story, but not that great of a tail.

 

[GuppyPuppy]

Good luck to you.

If you aren't happy at Alaska, I know several people who'd like to take your place!

Give it a shot. An interview with Delta is not only a chance for them to learn more about you, but for you to learn about them. If after the interview you still want to work there, then go for it. You can always turn them down if they offer you the job.

GP

 

[Deadalus]

With around 3 years of seniority at Alaska I am considering trying to make this leap. Am I crazy to be considering this? I believe that going forward Delta is going to be a much better career overall than Alaska. Of course Alaska could be bought by Delta, NWA, Cal, etc at any point and I would have thrown away a little seniority to make any leap. But I would like the opportunity to fly international that Alaska does not offer and will not likely ever offer as long as they are Alaska (which may not be all that long). I am not married to any Alaska base. I can move anywhere so that is not a concern. Also I am still in my late 30's. Apps are in at Delta and UPS? Any thoughts on this? Thanks for any input!

I don't believe it. Alaska still hasn't called me for an interview and they're hiring people that really don't want to work there. AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH! If we merge with Northwest and Alaska pilots are trying to get on here while I'm trying to swim against the current I'm going to die laughing. Why not, they've already hired people I interviewed and hired at my old commuter.
Seriously good luck with you're choice. The General's right, by the time you have to make the choice the merger should be done or undone. Meanwhile you're at a good place.

 

[jke406]

I don't believe it. Alaska still hasn't called me for an interview and they're hiring people that really don't want to work there. AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!

most guys I know at Alaska are at what they thought would be their dream job, thinking they'd never need or want to work anywhere else. The fact that that ACA is considering leaving behind three years of seniority may tell you something about the airline Alaska's becoming...

 

[gt1900]

I know a lot of guys who left places like Alaska, SWA, AAI,and others for their dream jobs at a major prior to 9/11, only to get left on the streets after furlough. I think we could be heading into a very rough road for the airlines if fuel stays where it is. Throw on some mergers and it could be a he11 of a ride. The only thing that will protect you is seniority and fuel hedging. Right now you have both at Alaska. If I were you, Id stay put and try to enjoy it as much as possible. However, if you get a call from UPS, run as fast as you can. The cargo carriers are the only ones with any sort of stability. With all the merger rumors, the expensive fuel, and the uncertanty in the industry. I think youd be crazy to jump ship right now. For the most part, Alaska has been pretty stable, they didn't even furlough after 9/11.

 

[jke406]

Seniority will not help if (when) Alaska is bought out.

 

[Networ-King]

First off....

You don't even have an interview let alone a job offer... get the interview, get the offer, THEN start to worry about it.... other wise the only thing that could be said about you wanting to work with a pilot group that eats their junior members is this......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBmzWP-yBA0

Good luck.... hope your crystal ball isn't broken....

Net

 

[Mamma]

Seniority will not help if (when) Alaska is bought out.

Blah Blah Blah.

 

[GuppyWN]

The grass is always greener my friend.

General. What's the junior Intl Captain at Big D in terms of years on property?

Gup

 

[michael707767]

The grass is always greener my friend.

General. What's the junior Intl Captain at Big D in terms of years on property?

do you count furlough time as years on property?

The junior captain on the last bid was a late July 2000 hire for a NYC 88 captain. Junior Intl captain would be a Dec 91 hire. I would expect both to go junior to that on the next bid.

 

[PHXFLYR]

I know a lot of guys who left places like Alaska, SWA, AAI,and others for their dream jobs at a major prior to 9/11, only to get left on the streets after furlough. I think we could be heading into a very rough road for the airlines if fuel stays where it is. Throw on some mergers and it could be a he11 of a ride. The only thing that will protect you is seniority and fuel hedging. Right now you have both at Alaska. If I were you, Id stay put and try to enjoy it as much as possible. However, if you get a call from UPS, run as fast as you can. The cargo carriers are the only ones with any sort of stability. With all the merger rumors, the expensive fuel, and the uncertanty in the industry. I think youd be crazy to jump ship right now. For the most part, Alaska has been pretty stable, they didn't even furlough after 9/11.

EXACTLY!! I got hired at America West March 1998, 18 new hires in my class. Half left to go to the proverbial "greener pastures" NW ,AA ,DL US (who knew ?? ) . Couldn't blame them at the time. Then the Sept 11th attacks occured. Out of those 9 classmates that left , only 1 remained working throughout the entire industry downturn that followed. Where did he go? UPS. Sure the rest of my former classmates got recalled over time, but with the decimation of their contracts, they aren't doing any better than they would have had they stayed at AWA.And they certainly wouldn't have been furloughed. Moral of the story. Unless you can go to a company that can pass its cost increases to the consumer,(ie Fed Ex UPS or Netjets) stay where you are and hang on to your senority. Delta is just as vulnerable as Alaska or any other airline for that matter. Especially with Ahab getting $100 a barrel for oil. Good luck.

PHXFLYR

 

[flythere]

GO, GO, GO!!!

I too will move up on the list!!

 

[Capi_Cafre']

It's always good to have options, but with the economy groaning on the $hitter and merger mania on the horizon three years anywhere could be worth its weight in gold in the very near future.

It's not beyond the realm of possibility that you could stay at Alaska and end up at Delta anyhow. Not the most likely scenario, but I'd put the money line on Alaska still being Alaska two years from now at around -200.

 

[tico]

With around 3 years of seniority at Alaska I am considering trying to make this leap. Am I crazy to be considering this? I believe that going forward Delta is going to be a much better career overall than Alaska.

For all those on the "outside looking in" trying to advise you on stay or go I would say this:
Alaska,s current mgmnt structure inherited an engine with incredible momentum in the late 90's....It is that momentum that has carried us to where we are today. It is that momentum that has carried us through the short-sighted, poorly thought out, dismantling of the "Last Great Airline".
We have not had a leader at the helm for years( by his own admission.) The signs of this are everywhere as we rapidly run out of momentum. The only thing holding us together is a wad of cash in the bank(like a billion dollars) For a little airline(100 airplanes, 1350 active pliots)that is a ton and that is why we can still hedge and get airplanes. But that money was put there a decade ago and we have languished.
So while the masters of spin( the one thing that we are really good at)convince the rest of the world that we are a happy family and everything is okay, the truth could not be futrher away.
Are these reasons to jump ship......probably not. but with nothing invested in terms of time, the guy has nothing to lose.....We are shrinking....with no growth plans at all....The boys claim we are finished hiring for the year with no plans for next....So delta might not be a bad gig...I would say odds favor Delta over the next ten years

 

[AWACoff]

After having been furloughed, I can truthfully say being the junior biach on RSV is better than being on the street. 3 years of seniority is nothing to sneeze at. On the other hand (Devil's advocate), sometimes gambling big results in big gains.



Sometimes. I'd stay.

 

[tico]

After having been furloughed, I can truthfully say being the junior biach on RSV is better than being on the street. 3 years of seniority is nothing to sneeze at. On the other hand (Devil's advocate), sometimes gambling big results in big gains.



Sometimes. I'd stay.

3 years of seniority at a zero growth/ shrinking airline means nothing.........

 

[Z_Pilot]

Just my $.02

Wait for the Merger mania dust to settle. Anything could happen...furloughs at Delta; or perhaps someone acquires Alaska, and there could be mass-hiring.

Or

Visa-Versa

You just never know.

ZP

 

[QCappy]

I say go for it. In fact, quit now and figure out the rest later. Nothing like risking it all for a big reward.

Oh....and I'd move up a number.

 

[airline#5]

After 3 furloughs I'll say this...

I got no F'ing clue

 

[av8instyle]

That's a pretty tough decision. It'd be easy if we had our old pay. But the current environment at AK is not friendly. At six years seniority I wouldn't be able to do it. At three years with minimal movement, crappy pay, and no ties to a domicile...I'd probably go. We're not getting a pay raise any time soon, we're not hiring much, we're not growing, and retirements have come to a screeching hault (thanks prater/bush/etc.). Delta has always been near the top of my personal list. I don't think you can make a decision like this based on merger rumors. According to the rumor mill Alaska should have already been bought out by every other major at least twice. Yet here we are, 76 years old, healthy balance sheet (despite our efforts to the contrary), and still my piddly paycheck says Alaska on it. If you have ambitions for widebody pay/trips, then I'd say go for it. Everyone has different goals. I have three kids at home so I prefer to be in ANC and do arctic stuff and be home every night. So I would be sacrificing a lot to do the same jump.