Tolpin

I saw a similar thread on this topic that was a few years old. However, I'm curious what others think today...
Which one of these two companies would you rather be at the bottom of the list? DAL has more retirements coming up and the opportunity for international growth, but I feel that SWA has a great opportunity to grow further into South America and soon Canada. Realizing retirements are much more certain than growth, where would you hitch your wagon??

Aquaticus

DAL and international growth is not with a DAL pilot behind the wheel. Codeshare, alliance, ... NAI. SWA is looking at a long upgrade and a lucrative but boring career doing 3-4 legs a day domestic. South America is the next darling to every airline out there (from LCC to legacy) and there isn't the traffic for everyone.

flyguy81

Depends where you live and what you want to do. If you want to spend 30+ hrs in a hotel in a foreign city then DAL is probably for you.

If you want to spend no more than 4 days on the road and don't mind not flying legs longer than 6 hrs then SWA might be for you.

Long upgrade at SWA wasn't a consideration for me. I'll make very good money as a FO living in base. Don't really have a desire to spend 11 days on the road crossing the pond multiple times.

e6bpilot

As others have said above, it just depends on what you want to do.
One thing I know for sure, DL has a lot more retirements on the horizon than SWA. That means you don't have to depend on the management fairy to come and grow the airline for you to upgrade.
You will work your butt off at SWA to make the same coin you can make at DL sitting on your rear end.
If you really can't decide, take a look at the domiciles and where you would live or commute to. Often, that is the key to happiness in a pilots life. A miserable commute can make this job, well, miserable.

Trail Blazer

SWA is the more stable carrier due to the fact that they mainly operate under an isolated blanket within the US. Some look at a single fleet type as boring or a negative but as far as profits and getting a paycheck it's ideal. The cost savings and synergies that come with an all B737 fleet are staggering for SWA. Look no further than Southwest's profits, history, and balance sheet, it's a cash cow!

Delta is a solid carrier and is finally making strong profits, however, their international routes are shrinking with no end in sight. They do have a high number of upcoming retirements to soften the blow of a shrinking international system. Delta has reduced their debt and is certainly financially healthier than they have ever been. However, they have far too many fleet types which will hurt them bad in a down turn and some uncertainty in management with a new CEO at the helm.

Both airlines are solid but I will say from my large sample size that the guys I know at SWA are definitely happier and complain far less than the guys I know at Delta.

I don't have a dog in this fight, both are good companies.

FirstClass

Make a posting over the in the SW forum and ask this question ie "if you got the call at Delta, would you leave SW and why"

full of luv

Not to try and sway your opinion, but for every argument you make, the opposite can be said. Yes, DAL has multiple fleet types, but that's because they serve multiple types of markets. SWA will realize this if/when they want to really serve Central/South America that often the belly cargo makes the difference between profit and loss, and not much room for belly cargo on a 737. So your "staggering" savings can also be a hinderance. Granted Boeing has figured out a way to have the 737 type cover everything from an RJ to 757, but still limited by overall design and performance.

I know many happy Delta pilots as well, in fact I know many FO's that made over $250K last year that could bid Captain if they wanted, yet still complain over beers about the lack of a contract. As they say in the Navy, "A *****in sailor is actually a happy sailor", it's what they do.

Lastly, the notion that there is a "shrinking" international system is quite overstated on APC by posters. DAL has additional 330's and 350's enroute and mgmt has been rumored to be waiting for more gently used 777's to hit the market at depressed prices.

Pilots will complain that they don't have over a 100 777's flying to destinations wherever, and then if they do, you'll have pilots posting about how horrid international flying is.

IMHO this decision is best decided by where you want to live and if it's a base for a particular carrier then that nearly trumps all else.

Packrat

DAL. But, then I prefer heavy international flying. However, my kids are grown and gone, so that may be a heavy duty consideration for a young guy. Even so, you can stay domestic at DAL.

WhatNow

Delta's international routes are not shrinking. Where did you come up with that? The block hours flown both domestic and international are available online. Delta has 55 aircraft A330 or larger coming in the next 4 years with 9 planned retirements.

WhatNow

Over the years I have known lots of domestic only pilots. Everyone who tried international found out they loved it and none went back to domestic. The 7ER bid package in NYC gives a pilot a choice of flying domestic or international. Many of the domestic trips are very good. International trips are the preference of nearly everyone. Nothing like sitting in Rome watching the sun set over the city drinking a toast to those poor SOB's in Jackson MS on a 10 hour layover!
The real benefit of what Delta or UAL or AMR has is choice. There are really 3 different jobs. Domestic, widebody domestic and international. Get burned out of one and you simply switch. It's like a breath of fresh air and a whole new job.