Pylot

Taking into consideration the pay cutts, ramp terminations (Seattle) etc. Is Alaska really in that deep to where you don't see a reasonable/promising future for them in these next few years. I'll be beginning my flight training soon and it's been my goal to be with Alaska, even though it's a while away 'til I even become qualified I'm still concerned about my future. I spoke with an Alaska MadDog pilot the other day on the ramp here in Seattle and he said to have a backup plan because the Airline Industry really is no place to be right now. Kinda has me worried.

Any feedback on the Alaska Airline situation would be appreciated.

reep-a-cheep

I heard over the weekend that the ALPA MEC for Alaska said "no thanks" to the company for their recent contract offer of 20% paycuts and "significant productivity increases".

I guess that means 23 more months of low wages and the status quo in all other areas. There must have been some poor contract language in several areas of the offer for it not to make it to a pilot vote.

Perhaps with that settled (or not settled if the court case is still pending) the company may actually begin hiring again. One of these days...

ILStoMinimums

I sure you guys ar AS can get what you lost in the next contract.

bhndthecns

Does Alska do the hiring for Horizon, or are their HR dept's independent of each other?

reep-a-cheep

Horizon hires independently of Alaska. No official "flowthrough" agreement exists, but Alaska does interview many Horizon pilots.

BFICFI

Right now is probably a bad time to be asking AS pilots for info about getting on with the company. The wounds of the sudden and sharp arbitration decision are still too fresh. A lot of the AS pilots I run into every day (and most of the FO's who took the biggest cut) are grumbling about the situation they are in, but when you ask them if there is anything else they would rather do a large majority admit it's still a pretty good job.

I would agree with Mike737 and Alaska737 that, if given the choice a pilot should pursue FedEx or UPS rather than Alaska if pay and job security are your main prioriies. Freight is the only thing that is consistantly bringing in revenue right now. From what I've heard from a few of their pilots though is that the hours arent as good. Who knows at this stage, everyone always thinks the other guy has the better deal.

As far as hiring at Alaska goes, I haven't heard anything about future hiring (although I usually only get the official word once we've already HIRED somebody), but I know they are looking to hire instructors (type rating, line experience, SIM instruction experience, etc. preferred) and it seems like I see about a retireee per week.

I think the main thing to keep an eye on is the contract situation, even after the arbitration decision the company put out another proposal to ALPA. From what I hear most pilots dont like it (as one pilot said, it's the choice between a lot of pain now for a couple of years, or a little less pain dragged out over five years). Once it is decided one way or another, I would bet hiring will pick up again. So, who knows, but keep your eyes/ears open if it's still a place you want to go.

Good Luck!

SkyHigh

The Alaska web site has been changed to suggest hiring soon. Many have speculated that the pay scale is so low that regional pilots with any senority may pass on an opportunity to work there. It would take 3 to 5 years for a Dash Capt at Horizon to get back to their pay. I read Alaska Airlines annual report every year and it seems clear that management plans to keep pilot pay very low. I'll bet that the management at Frontier is trying to figure out how to cut their pilot pay as well. I want to fly for Alaska.