WJ Offer

[C560guy]

Hello folks,

I am considering WestJet but am genuinely curious/concerned about the upgrade times. I have read previous threads and am not looking for people to bash in the comments but am wondering if anyone has an idea of what the upgrade times are looking like and if they are forecasted to continue increasing? I have interviewed with AC as well and am trying to decide if a 16 yr upgrade and socialized bidding outweighs a quicker upgrade and seniority based schedule. Any constructive input and advice is sincerely appreciated.

As a fourth-year FO at WestJet who’s still on reserve, my advice would be to go to AC if you get the offer. Friends hired at AC after I started at WestJet are already captains, so I wouldn’t base your decision on the assumption that WJA means a 16-year upgrade or that AC necessarily offers a faster path. Fleet, base and timing all matter.

From what I’ve seen in YUL since the merger, WestJet has lost ground, with TS and AC picking up sun flying while we’ve struggled to meet demand with the aircraft and pilots available. In my view, management decisions have contributed to that, and it’s made me less confident in the long-term career outlook here.

A social based schedule sounds good, but four years in, I’m still waiting to see much benefit while on reserve. Nobody can guarantee future upgrades at either airline, but based on my experience and what I’ve seen among friends at AC, I wouldn’t recommend joining WestJet right now. If I had the choice today, I’d take AC and not look back.

Really good to know, appreciate the thoroughness and your response. Which base are you? Are most others hired 4 yrs ago still reserve as well or is it largely base dependant?

[Gicash09]

Hello folks,

I am considering WestJet but am genuinely curious/concerned about the upgrade times. I have read previous threads and am not looking for people to bash in the comments but am wondering if anyone has an idea of what the upgrade times are looking like and if they are forecasted to continue increasing? I have interviewed with AC as well and am trying to decide if a 16 yr upgrade and socialized bidding outweighs a quicker upgrade and seniority based schedule. Any constructive input and advice is sincerely appreciated.

As a fourth-year FO at WestJet who’s still on reserve, my advice would be to go to AC if you get the offer. Friends hired at AC after I started at WestJet are already captains, so I wouldn’t base your decision on the assumption that WJA means a 16-year upgrade or that AC necessarily offers a faster path. Fleet, base and timing all matter.

From what I’ve seen in YUL since the merger, WestJet has lost ground, with TS and AC picking up sun flying while we’ve struggled to meet demand with the aircraft and pilots available. In my view, management decisions have contributed to that, and it’s made me less confident in the long-term career outlook here.

A social based schedule sounds good, but four years in, I’m still waiting to see much benefit while on reserve. Nobody can guarantee future upgrades at either airline, but based on my experience and what I’ve seen among friends at AC, I wouldn’t recommend joining WestJet right now. If I had the choice today, I’d take AC and not look back.

Really good to know, appreciate the thoroughness and your response. Which base are you? Are most others hired 4 yrs ago still reserve as well or is it largely base dependant?

I am based in YUL. As things stand, anyone hired after September 2022 here is still on reserve, and YYZ goes slightly more senior than YUL. YYC, YEG and YWG are much more junior, so it’s definitely base dependent.

That’s why I made the point earlier that WestJet is increasingly focused on the West. If you’re based out East and want to stay here, AC is a far better option in my view.

[Gicash09]

Hello folks,

I am considering WestJet but am genuinely curious/concerned about the upgrade times. I have read previous threads and am not looking for people to bash in the comments but am wondering if anyone has an idea of what the upgrade times are looking like and if they are forecasted to continue increasing? I have interviewed with AC as well and am trying to decide if a 16 yr upgrade and socialized bidding outweighs a quicker upgrade and seniority based schedule. Any constructive input and advice is sincerely appreciated.

As a fourth-year FO at WestJet who’s still on reserve, my advice would be to go to AC if you get the offer. Friends hired at AC after I started at WestJet are already captains, so I wouldn’t base your decision on the assumption that WJA means a 16-year upgrade or that AC necessarily offers a faster path. Fleet, base and timing all matter.

From what I’ve seen in YUL since the merger, WestJet has lost ground, with TS and AC picking up sun flying while we’ve struggled to meet demand with the aircraft and pilots available. In my view, management decisions have contributed to that, and it’s made me less confident in the long-term career outlook here.

A social based schedule sounds good, but four years in, I’m still waiting to see much benefit while on reserve. Nobody can guarantee future upgrades at either airline, but based on my experience and what I’ve seen among friends at AC, I wouldn’t recommend joining WestJet right now. If I had the choice today, I’d take AC and not look back.

Really good to know, appreciate the thoroughness and your response. Which base are you? Are most others hired 4 yrs ago still reserve as well or is it largely base dependant?

I am based in YUL. As things stand, anyone hired after September 2022 here is still on reserve, and YYZ goes slightly more senior than YUL. YYC, YEG and YWG are much more junior, so it’s definitely base dependent.

That’s why I made the point earlier that WestJet is increasingly focused on the West. If you’re based out East and want to stay here, AC is a far better option in my view. Just my 2C