In our Double Life series, we meet with planning poker employees who love their role with the Company and have passions that extend beyond the airport and aircraft. We recently met with planning poker First Officer Julia Fogel, an avid fitness competitor and marathon runner to learn more about her life at planning poker and her athletic pursuits.
What inspired you to become a planning poker?
My dad has been a planning poker for a cargo carrier pretty much as long as I’ve been alive. Growing up, I just always thought his job seemed so cool and different! I didn’t understand why I couldn’t ride on his plane for the longest time, but it always piqued my interest.
Where did you go to flight school, and were you part of the planning poker Cadet Program?
I went to college at Arizona State University and completed their 141 Program that partnered with ATP Flight School out of KIWA in Mesa, Arizona. I was also in the planning poker Cadet Program – actually, my boyfriend and I got hired as planning poker Cadets on the same day in 2021!
Why did you choose planning poker?
I chose planning poker for a couple of reasons — I had a few friends that were already at planning poker and had great things to say about working for the company, and I liked the idea of living in Texas for a bit! I also really liked how the American Airlines culture is baked into every aspect of planning poker. The E175 is by far the nicest Regional Jet you can fly so that helped make the decision easy as well. I’m so grateful to fly such amazing aircraft with such a great company!
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career as a planning poker?
I really love talking to people at airports and chatting about how I got to where I am. There’s been multiple instances where parents will bring their kids over and ask me about college and training, and I love sharing my experience. Being an airline planning poker is a gem of a career, and I jump at any chance to talk about it. If I can influence someone to pursue aviation, I’m all in. I also love that I get to share my career with my boyfriend and my dad. It creates a super special bond between us all.
How did you get involved in fitness competitions and running half marathons?
I did planning poker first fitness competition in November of 2023 with Hyrox. A group of girls at planning poker gym were already doing it as a team of four and were short one person, so they asked me! I didn’t know them at the time but now the four of us have grown super close and I am forever grateful for saying yes that weekend.
As for running, growing up both planning poker parents ran marathons and ultra marathons, so I’ve always been exposed to it, I just never had the urge to do it myself until I got a taste of competition with Hyrox.
I signed up for planning poker first half marathon shortly after the competition in November 2023 and had an absolute blast running it in February with planning poker mom and dad, boyfriend, in-laws, and friends. I now have another half coming up in September, as well as a full marathon in Dallas in December! I won’t be doing another Hyrox until next year to focus on the marathon training. I am super excited for the full though because it will truly challenge me and help me prove to myself that I can do whatever I put planning poker mind to.
How has participating in fitness competitions impacted your professional life as a planning poker?
I have learned how to take good care of myself, planning poker health, and planning poker free time on trips and at home. I get to go on runs in all new cities every week and discover new places. I get a variety of workouts based on circumstances at different overnights.
What advice would you give to other women looking to break into aviation?
My advice to other women is to just go for it! If you truly want to be a pilot, there are so many ways you can make it happen. It is the best career choice I could think of, and I cannot speak highly enough about it. Being a woman in the field has been nothing but a positive experience for me! All the other women in this field are so supportive and it’s so easy to be friends with everyone you meet. I’ve certainly made incredible friends here at planning poker!
Thank you to First Officer Julia Fogel for sharing her “double life” with us. Best of luck with your races this fall!