PurpleToolBox

I'm asking for a friend. Since I've been employed by a major for over 8 years, I'm out of the loop.

If you had to rank the Regionals by who would be the best to work for and offered quickest upgrade and quickest chances to the majors, who would you put in your top five?

Is it best to work for a company that offers a flow through to a major, or a company that doesn't so you could apply and possibly get hired before someone who was stuck in the flow?

Thanks to all that reply.

Otterbox

You'll probably get every answer under the sun...

Piedmont
PSA
Envoy

Republic
Skywest

Depends on the background of the candidate- if someone has an application that is worthy of getting hired on by a legacy and just needs a place holder job they can go wherever. If they need to build their resume or like a decent backup plan that the flow offers then an AA Wholly Owned regional is worth consideration.

I posted that list taking into account the fastest upgrades at the Wholly Owneds and shortest reserve times. Piedmont also has the fastest flow by years currently Thanks to it being small and expanding. The downside is it's got one base for its jets and it's new hires to go to and for some people that's a big deal breaker.

The two non-WOs listed have newer equipment and I know folks who are happy at each.

The Flow offers a way into American Airlines. Realistically those in the flow can and do get hired OTS at AA but those are rare occurances but those who are hired OTS have applications that would make them competitive regardless. When 50-75% of AA new hires will be coming from their WO flow throughs and the remaining OTS slots going predominantly those with military backgrounds realistically pure civilian backgrounds have a much smaller chance of an OTS hire with AA than they do with United, Delta or SWA regardless of where they currently work. The flow through keeps the AA door open for folks while they apply everywhere else.

wiz5422

Most people can cross AA off their listing they don't work for a wholly owned. Flows take up a little over 50% of the new hires while the other 50%is made up of mostly military and family/higher up connections. Very few off the street hires that don't fit in the categories above are getting hired at AA.

I would put my order as;
1.Envoy (3 month upgrade)
2. PDT
3. PSA
4. Skywest
5. Endeavor

Again choose the one that gives you the best QOL, if you can live in base then that should be your first choice.

ACEssXfer

SAP.....Conversation over.

Edit: Unless you live on the west coast.

AceyCandler

If your buddy is a pilot with a messy training history and multiple skeletons in his closet, he can still get to a Legacy by working for an American Airlines Wholly Owned Carrier.

And because American is the only Legacy offering this in 2017, it is undoubtedly funneling in some great folks. But, this makes you wonder what kind of pilot group AA will have in 6-10 years.

ACEssXfer

Yes because AA WO acft are falling out of the sky right now......GMAFB.

StrykerB21

You should listen to the north ramp frequency in Charlotte sometime.

ACEssXfer

Unfortunately I listen to it nearly every day I'm working. I know you are just going to say "it's not the same" because that's what people on here do but the same nonsense goes on in every other ramp freq at every major airport I've flown into.

HEAR IT: Pilot, air traffic controller have terse exchange - NY Daily News

Green Needles

I wouldn't even rank Endeavor right now. We no real career progression, that's been taken off the negotiating table. We are most likely going to have a pay cut for anyone who credits less than 85 hours per month. Get on with an AA wholly owned, have a flow in your back pocket, but stay hungry and try to get on at another major in the process.

LUPilot

Since most threads are posting in favor of the AA WO flow, I'll present the other side.

Personally, I am not as convinced on the AA WOs. I like how with airlines such as Republic and Skywest, it is possible to get a feel for the company culture of each Legacy that they fly for. One trip may be AA, and the next may be Delta, United, or Alaskan if you're going with Skywest. I find value in getting to explore the ins and outs of each company before committing to one. Then, when it's time to go to a major, I can make an informed decision on which one I want to fly for. With the WO you fly for American, and then you're trapped in the AA system. If you decide to leave the AA system then you're going in more blind than you would be otherwise. Right now, I am still a student working on my flight training, and about 3-4 years from starting a class at a regional. Right now, I want to work for Delta (which may be why I'm not as in love with the flows), but I also realize that once I get to the airlines it won't be all glitz and glamour. I want my regional to let me experience the industry, and get a feel for where I want the rest of my career to go. If I realize I don't want to fly for Delta, then I have learned that lesson before I commit to working for them.

Also, I've heard horror stories of the flow working backwards. For instance an exceptional pilot in the regionals was going through training for his flow, but made a mistake. Then he couldn't move up to the major but couldn't go back down because everyone had already moved up in seniority, and ended up being out of a job.

Overall, any regional will get you to a major. It's a relatively short term phase of life. If the end goal is to make it a major, any of them will get the job done, it just depends what you want to get out of it. Also, I'd say it's important to weigh all of the posted QOL metrics.