Originally Posted by flyguy81

I’m nearly the same age. A couple years senior. Live in base. Won’t commute. Won’t move. So my choices are SWA, UAL, and F9. No interest in F9 and don’t want to start at the bottom of UAL. According to the myseniority site I’ll retire at SWA at #80 so I’m staying put.

IMO you missed the big wave at DL. You’d still have a good career there, but you’re not gonna crack the top 2-3,000. Prob upgrade quicker though if you choose the 717/220. Pays good, good contract, good management. Best of the big 3.

AA’s only real draw is the seniority suck. Their financials are worse than UAL, and DL. Contract is worse. Management is worse. You’ll get senior quick but that’s the only attraction I can see, unless you live in a AA base.

UAL is turning things around. Not the dumpster fire it used to be. Upgrade is around the 3 year mark if you don’t mind SFO or EWR. Contract and pay pretty close to DL. I’d prob go here if I was looking to move on.

Got a few friends at FDX. They love it. I hate AM’s and redeyes. But boxes don’t complain and cargo is pretty stable. Took a hit with Amazon but they’re not going anywhere. Get paid well and have a pension.

Knew a guy who would’ve been #1 at SWA and quit to go to DL. Lived in LA and we didn’t have a base there yet. Was uncertain about the contract (pre-2016) so left for what he thought was better. He still loves it so that’s what matters.

As far as I’m concerned the Max issue is a temporary setback. Contract 2020 could be a long fight....or not. If they’re smart, they’d agree to SWAPA’s rewrite before DL/UA/AA lock in their new CBA’s (which are likely to have big pay/retirement improvements).

In the end it’s nobody’s choice but yours and your family’s. And like Zap said, you don’t have a choice to make if you don’t apply.