Originally Posted by
Sputnik
Work for whoever hires you.
Delta pays more, has way more variety of flying--from wide body international to narrow body domestic, even some Alaska flying. I'm 99% (and too lazy to do the research to get to 100%) certain that the Jr SEA guy is a 2015 hire.
Alaska is a great company that does some really cool flying, goes to a lot of cool places, has lots of good folks, and a solid legacy.
If you want to live in NW, want as a good a guarantee as exists in this business that you'll never have to commute [far], it'd be hard not to go hard after Alaska. Delta is making a huge push in SEA, but who knows how long it'll last. Or how senior it'll get once things equalize.
Both companies are in good places financially, both hire great people, either would make a great home. I can't tell you how much is enough for you and your family (and holy heck has the pac NW gotten expensive), but with a mil retirement I suspect you'd do just fine at Alaska. I have trouble believing that the "culture" of either is much greater, you'd probably be happy at either. Look at outside factors that are important to you and yours.
Of course, until you get hired by both you really don't have much of a problem.
Good luck.
Objective and well said.
My schedule for Alaska has been to work for 15 days a month but only not be in my own bed for about 7 nights a month. As a military retiree, QOL was way more important to me than pay check, and living in ANC has been great for that.
Pay isn't bad, but that is okay--there is way more to life than money.
Having been stationed in the UK for 6 years, plus several TDYs to foreign lands, I have absolutely no desire to fly a big jet international. It would mean more days gone with less flying. But if you want that, for now, Alaska is not the place for you.