Multiple Airlines

[Darby Crash]

I'm looking for input. I'm sure I'll get lots of great advice so here goes. I'm currently an Eagle Captain via a furlough from American. Eagle is my fifth airline I've worked for. Life is pretty good. I've been very fortunate. I have no complaints, I am able to drive to work and sit at home on reserve. I have about 1000 pilots to be recalled at AA before I get recalled. Realistically it could easily be 5-10 years before that happens, if ever. Here's my question: should I ride it out at Eagle and hope AA doesn't furlough more pilots and wait for recall, or should I try to get on at AirTran, JetBlue, FDX, UPS etc. and start over again. I know there are a lot of variables. I'm just looking for opinions. Thanks.

 

[white E]

Hmmm...interesting....IN my opinion, there isn't a right answer right now. I don't even think that SWA is the right answer. Abviously there are better ones than others. I personally wouldn't jump ship to AWA, Air Tran, etc. I might consider Fed Ex, UPS, but I honestly think that one chioce isn't better than another. This is also my opinion at age 32. I have a long time somewhere hopefully and I am leaning toward Fed Ex, Ups gig. What I want is security, retirement, location. For me those are the reasons why I choose my dream job. I want to get on somewhere where the check of the moth club is alive and kicking. I have a feeling that future companies are going to eliminate the A plan.

-W-

 

[Rhoid]

Not all will be eliminating the A plan. FedEx and UPS will have them for a long time. Frankly those are the only two airlines really worth getting on with for a stable career. Even SWA isn't immune to high fuel prices. If they weren't hedged highly they too would be losing money like the rest of the pax carriers. FedEx and UPS use a fuel surcharge of 8.5 and 9.5% to pass on the cost of fuel. One of those two carriers is were you will find me shortly. The rest of you enjoy wishing for the good ole days of the pax heyday. They aint coming back!

 

[Formula 1]

I'm looking for input. I'm sure I'll get lots of great advice so here goes. I'm currently an Eagle Captain via a furlough from American. Eagle is my fifth airline I've worked for. Life is pretty good. I've been very fortunate. I have no complaints, I am able to drive to work and sit at home on reserve. I have about 1000 pilots to be recalled at AA before I get recalled. Realistically it could easily be 5-10 years before that happens, if ever. Here's my question: should I ride it out at Eagle and hope AA doesn't furlough more pilots and wait for recall, or should I try to get on at AirTran, JetBlue, FDX, UPS etc. and start over again. I know there are a lot of variables. I'm just looking for opinions. Thanks.

Hey Crash,

If you realistically think it could take you 5-10 years before you get recalled, and you would be starting at the bottom again; I think you could have 5-10 years of senority at another major by then. You could be a senior FO or a Junior Captain within that time, instead of starting over as a junior FO at American. My understanding is that you don't give up your American senority until you turn down your recall notice. You can always make up your mind then. My question would be to you is that, dose your time furloughed count towards senority? I mean if you had 3 years of service and you were furloughed for 5 years and get recalled, do you come back as an 8 year employee for pay and benefit purposes? I think you would, but you could be at the top you your payscale as an FO if it takes you 10 years to get recalled, while you could be at the top or near the top of an FO payscale somewhere else with great senority.

I wish you all the best my friend.

F1

 

[210FR8DOG]

what to do..

without knowing many details of your situation, here is some general advice for what it's worth. Stay where you are. If you are able to be at home on reserve that is worth a lot. Especially if you have ANY kind of home life at all, wife/girlfriend, kids, etc. There are some words in a song somewhere that basically go like this: when you're lying on your deathbed getting ready to go, will you look back on your life and say, "I wish I had worked more and made more money" or will you say, "I wish I had spent more time with my family" Almost all would say the latter. All in all, not a bad "problem" to have. Good luck.

 

[Herk Bubba]

mar 1st

You interviewed Mar 1st at UPS.

If they give you the job - leave AMR forever and don't look back... FWIW.

 

[AA717driver]

You don't have to give up your AA seniority until you have bypassed and they come back up from the bottom of the list to you. That will be a LONG time.

If you get on anywhere and are there 5 years, you will be making more than you would at AA. Top MD80 FO pay (12 year) is $103/hr. With a 75 hour month, you are at $100k/year. FO at SWA/FEX/UPS should be doing that on 5 year pay. At AirTran or JB, you should be in the left seat and at least making that much (the 190 at JB will be close with overtime).

But it is a crap shoot. Just about eveything you mentioned would be better than Eagle, I believe. Just another opinon...TC

 

[terrehautesux]

Not all will be eliminating the A plan. FedEx and UPS will have them for a long time. Frankly those are the only two airlines really worth getting on with for a stable career. Even SWA isn't immune to high fuel prices. If they weren't hedged highly they too would be losing money like the rest of the pax carriers. FedEx and UPS use a fuel surcharge of 8.5 and 9.5% to pass on the cost of fuel. One of those two carriers is were you will find me shortly. The rest of you enjoy wishing for the good ole days of the pax heyday. They aint coming back!

Good choice Rhoid, you got away from the bashing at the airtran post. Welcome back from the hospital.