Does anyone know if American 738 pilots stay with their aircraft throughout their trips, or do they switch planes at each airport?

For each flight, the pilots do not fly the same aircraft.

"or do they switch planes at each airport?": Yes.

Thought so! It's different than how Southwest does it.

For each flight, the pilots do not fly the same aircraft.

"or do they switch planes at each airport?": Yes.

 

- not sure about American, but some airlines ( like alaska) the pilot will fly the same plane on each leg.

Ex: sea-sfo-mmx. Same plane, same pilots.

 

i would imagine AAL would do the same on some flights (like ord-dca and then the return leg).

It all depends on the schedule of the aircraft and the schedule of the crew. A lot of major airlines use a system to allow for preferential bids. The airline will schedule which aircraft are needed to fly each flight and the computer puts the crews on the aircraft based on seniority and what the crews want to fly.

- not sure about American, but some airlines ( like alaska) the pilot will fly the same plane on each leg.

Ex: sea-sfo-mmx. Same plane, same pilots.

 

i would imagine AAL would do the same on some flights (like ord-dca and then the return leg).

Are you sure ?

Are you sure ?

Naw, we (AS) swap waaaay too often. You're lucky if you keep the same plane 3 legs in a row. You're more likely to sway at your base than to keep the plane. You'll even switch from the same type -800 to -800, -400 to -400.

 

I think the only person in the industry right now who doesn't swap are the SWA "D" flight attendants - the extra flight attendant stays with the plane and everyone else moves around.

Hmm alright. I ask because AAL seems to keep the same airframe for just one pairing throughout the day (ORD-DFW, DFW-ORD, ORD-DFW again, for example). That can get boring pretty quick for a pilot.