Originally Posted by
John Pennekamp
Given the choice which would you do?
NWA made 1.3 billion last year and plans to hire like crazy. With it's monopoly hubs, huge Asian presence, and shoestring budget, it will probably plod on until it merges with someone (Delta?) The DC-9s are going away, but huge attrition should make up for the airframe loss. All signs point to the Compass E-175s eventually being flown by mainline.
UAL: Undevoted management, huge labor trouble, losing money, moderate Asian presence, fierce competition in its largest hub. But great potential with the right management team. Great group of employees I fit in well with. Lots of great contacts. My hometown airline. Titanic watch, or hit rock bottom?
So what would you do? Please no "are you nuts, they both suck" comments, because we've already heard all of that here. If you had to choose one of the other, which would you choose and why?
Neutral, empirical observation: I'd go with UAL if presented with this choice. Why? I have buds at both, the NWA friends are extremely bitter to point that some looking to leave (one is a 9 Capt trying to get to UPS) and nothing positive to say. My UAL buds though bitter, seem more optimistic and most I know who were furloughed and hired at UPS won't return, but some don't completely exclude the possibility either. That it isn't completely out of the picture says volumes to me.
Fellow crewmembers have much input in enjoyment factor coming to work. You believe you fit in and it is a hometown airline, that pulls alot toward UAL.