Akamai

The overstaffing is a training bubble due to delayed 330F’s and 787’s which are now being delivered. We are now back to scheduling calling and offering 200% on days off cause they are short.

70% of our pilots live on Oahu, 10% live neighbor island, and the remaining 20% commute from the mainland. Although many of the mainland commuters now have paid tickets to and from their domicile in CVG.

I have heard a LOT of Alaska pilots are interested in a CVG domicile.

717’s are old and VERY efficient. 330-200’s are not very old and also VERY efficient. Clearly the 737 is a superior aircraft, but try harder.

I can hear the free range cattle from my house, HI produces quality beef.

Cruz5350

Theres nothing efficient about a 717 except for boarding and deplaning.

PineappleXpres

They are paid for and can handle the abuse. Although, not for much longer and their age is showing. If the deal doesn’t go through. There is no money to replace them in a hurry.

rickair7777

Not a lot but definitely some VX folks who are rooted in the east and would like a shorter commute. But that was a senior group all along, and many have retired early or moved on rather than transition to the 73. By the time SLI is done and any fences come down, those guys will probably be all or almost all retired.

Disappointment

That's not even remotely true. There are problably 100+ guys that commute from the east coast and have 12+ years of seniority. With the paid commutes they'd be glad to have an east coast adjacent base. Especially the LAX and SFO guys. VX hired young and there's only 40ish retirements a year.

GoodJet

Anyone who didn't buy a home before the pandemic is very interested in living somewhere they can afford to do so. All of our bases are extremely expensive housing wise. Speaking with a lot of jr FOs this is a big source of stress. Any base somewhere sort of affordable would be very popular.

AKCattleCarrier

It is possible we have a different definition of efficiency. I would argue over such short leg lengths (inter-island) actual fuel efficiency is less consequential. However, training costs, maintenance costs, and route inefficiencies associated with operating multiple fleet types that have overlapping capabilities lends itself to the argument that the 717 will likely be the first to go and quite quickly since that flying can easily be integrated into the current route structure.

There seems to be a notion that HA is going to get a cash infusion and then it will be business as usual for HA Pilots. I think this underestimates the nature of AAG. In fact we have a direct historical evidence of what AAG is willing to do to get their cost metrics in line with whatever spreadsheet they stare at. They will SAY a lot of things to prevent mass migration of pilots between fleets until they are ready for them to do so. But their actual actions are what matters, reality is they slashed and burned anything representing the VA route structure and obviously operating two fleet types that had overlapping capabilities was not part of their playbook. I don't believe the notion that "HA 321's have better leases" so this justifys their existence, but only time will actually tell and I hope I am wrong (I would very much like to fly a 321 someday). History has told us they are willing TO SAY whatever serves their CURRENT needs and their narratives are carefully crafted and adhered to by management types that communicate with the pilot group.

It seems clear that HA doesn't possess enough of any one fleet type to get to the efficiencies of scale required to justify the fleets costs. So unless your type provides a capability uniquely different from the 737. I would seriously consider the reality that it will go away. It is not that the 737 is supperior in any way, it is that AS has a lot of them and a lot of pilots and infrastructute that supports them. This creates efficiency.

Again I am catching a lot of quips on here about my position, which is totally fine, but I just want to reiterate that I don't want bad things for any pilot. I seriously hope I am wrong and this merger goes off without a hitch and everyone has fruitfull careers and if I am wrong I will gladly say so on this public forum. However, I don't think the variables point to that outcome. Especially for the current AS seniority list which is likely to get the short end of the SLI stick. I believe having a rational outlook of all the variables in front of us is key to making wise career/life decisions. I have witnessed first hand the hardship blindsided VA pilots endured as their lives were upended (much time at cruise now listening to former VA pilot stories). Possibly rational conversations about the variables at play can help mitigate some of that.

Yakattack

I'm definitely not one of them, but I have heard one or two people say this, generally in reference to not having to deal with FAs.

airb320

I have said it before and I’ll say it again… this Pilot shortage isn’t over by any means yet, the slowdown right now is a blip on the Radar, a year from now the machine will come roaring back and everyone will say, “didn’t see that coming”, “lots of Pilots jumping ship” etc. but guess what, it’s gonna happen and it’s not surprising at all!

On another note, about 8-9 months ago, there was a lot of talk on the Pilot calls about another base (mid-country?)or some help for commuters (home base?) and I remember them saying that we will have something worked out with ALPA by 2nd qtr next year (2024) however, it seems that since the attrition stopped, for now, it’s been pushed down the road (no more talk from either party!?) that folks, shows you how the company thinks!
Don’t get used to 5 fleet types, it won’t, nor should it tbh, last!
Oh and BTW, ZERO chance AS is leaving OneWorld!!!

Yakattack

No complaints here. Anything to speed up my upgrade in SEA. I would not complain about a cheaper domicile west of Denver (but not California) either, but I'm not holding my breath. It's no suprise to me that it's been back-burnered. Maybe if attrition picks up again then the domicle conversation will resume? I'd love PHX.

Anyway, I hope you're right.