Worst Cargo Airlines to fly for (Pay,QOL,ETC)
05-22-2021, 03:19 AM
#186
New Hire
Joined APC: May 2021
Posts: 2
UPS vs FedEX
Originally Posted by freightretriever
You obviously don't work for UPS. The ONLY great thing about UPS is the paycheck (for now, we will see how long that lasts). Everything else completely sucks for anyone in the bottom 300 and anyone to be hired (if they ever hire again, still have 48 guys furloughed). QOL is by far the worse I've ever had. UPS=Misery if you are junior. Study the demographics of the group very carefully. You will be junior your entire career if we ever hire again. I'm sure some senior guy will chime in and say what a great place UPS is but be warned their experience will not be your experience. Again, paycheck - great for now. Everything else, not so much. And after a while the money isn't worth it either. Do yourself a favor and go fly for a real airline.
05-22-2021, 09:34 AM
#187
done, gone skiing
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Rocking chair
Posts: 1,601
This is a hard question to get a truly meaningful answer because any pilot who has worked at both carriers and could possibly share a POV that reflected time at both will have a (natural) bias against one (presumably the one they no longer work for). Someone who is married to a pilot at the other airline would be a better source as (again, a presumption) they would share experiences and could get a more balanced view from their spouse that would have less bias about the positives and negatives of their respective employer. IMHO, Fedex (the only one I've worked for) is a good shop with very good near to middle term prospects. Growth is good, projected to be good for a while, and if that's the number one issue for you, than you can't go wrong (unless you can, because nothing in the future is assured 
) Biggest negative, and has been as long as I can remember is pilot unity at the union/association level. Advancements in QOL level issues is at best frozen (still better than many, as best as I can tell) but no real solution to keep it from deterioration other than managements wish not to kick the hornets nest. Retirement, the gold standard until a couple years ago is rapidly becoming no better than industry standard and possibly falling behind. No consensus among the pilot group about the fix and the company will play that for all its worth. Others may disagree, my opinion only.
) Biggest negative, and has been as long as I can remember is pilot unity at the union/association level. Advancements in QOL level issues is at best frozen (still better than many, as best as I can tell) but no real solution to keep it from deterioration other than managements wish not to kick the hornets nest. Retirement, the gold standard until a couple years ago is rapidly becoming no better than industry standard and possibly falling behind. No consensus among the pilot group about the fix and the company will play that for all its worth. Others may disagree, my opinion only.
05-22-2021, 09:50 AM
#188
Occasional box hauler
Joined APC: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,676
Originally Posted by Frieghtjunkie
FedEx vs UPS, which best, in terms of QOL, Work culture, pay, etc
Work Culture: FedEx management has a significantly “friendlier” to pilots outlook compared to UPS currently. However, the IPA is probably the best/most unified pilot union out there.
Pay: Roughly equal. FedEx has a 75 B scale while everything at UPS pays the same. At UPS we are on a 2 year extension signed just as Covid hit, so our pay will continue to increase (4% this year & 3% next year), but FedEx will hopefully one up us soon.
Retirement: Depends on how long you will be with them.FedEx retirement is weighted more towards the pension right now. So the shorter your career the greater advantage to FedEx’s retirement plan. UPS is weighted more towards the B plan. Due to time value of money, the longer your career the more the advantages swing to UPS. Where the breakeven point is depends on what assumptions you use for investment returns.
Domiciles: Pure personal preference. FedEx has Cologne and Hong Kong domicile options while UPS domiciles are all stateside. Some people think that’s awesome, some don’t.
Long story short, if you currently hate your life, these companies won’t make you happy. If you know how to make the best of a situation, these companies offer a cornucopia of great opportunities.
05-22-2021, 01:48 PM
#189
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2014
Posts: 692
Originally Posted by tnkrdrvr
However, the IPA is probably the best/most unified pilot union out there.
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