Much like Slice said, if you go by internet buzz you’re getting a skewed picture. I browse here when off thinking my company/job (AA FO) sucks, then I go to work and it’s pretty darn good most days. Having said that, my observations of DAL are internet hearsay, so TIFWIW.

So you have the seniority issue, which drives virtually all other things. You should end up more senior at AA, but frankly the DAL experience seems to be front loaded significantly. By that I mean you will be paid more, quicker there by a significant margin, particularly if you want the quick upgrade. You want late career seniority? Maybe better to invest all that early extra money and retire earlier - I’d imagine that yields a much better schedule than top 10% at AA.

And, wrt AA, I am genuinely concerned with our ability to keep up with retirements. We seem to be trending lower on newhires four years into the hiring process (announced 900 for this year, now saying 700-750, but running an early pace of about 600). While current staffing seems ok, if they cannot manage to increase our training throughput very soon we will be forced to shrink due to retirements, negating that perceived advantage.

I would honestly think your best life would be facilitated by picking the one that has a very strong base in an area to which you’re willing to move and going (and moving) there (btw recent ORD news is concerning for AA). I have commuted for a few years on various occasions; was furloughed from USAir in 2001 and declined my 2007 recall because I valued family time and locale over career (yes, now I’m a 2014 hire at AA 2500 numbers junior to myself, so WTHDIK!? But I did see almost every one of my kids' award ceremonies, plays, games, etc. by not commuting and we had tons of help from and time with family by staying in DFW). But, if you really plan to commute for your entire career, then I would probably lean to Delta because their contract seems to be measurably better than ours and our union is lacking. I honestly don’t expect to be above them with our next contract.

Good luck, it’s a tough call. Either way you will have a great career!