You’re asking to throw out the single most important factor. That’s like asking which steakhouse is the best if you take out how good the steak is and rate it only on the sides and salad.

Had CJOs from multiple companies, including DAL, UA, and that cargo outfit in Memphis. Picked DAL because I live in base.

Now if you aren’t tied to a location or desire a specific spot and are truly apathetic, here’s .02:

Financials: hard to say post covid, but prior to it, both companies were profitable. Delta was doing better overall which showed in our profit sharing. (Post mergers, we’ve always made more money and distributed more profit sharing than UA)

Growth: UA just placed a massive order of planes, but look to AA to see how that works out sometimes. Having brand new jets that no one wants to ride on isn’t ideal. Delta tends to look for “the deal” (see 717s, initial 220 order, our recent 737/350 buy, etc). I see both companies expanding at similar rates long term, and hiring will be robust at both. UA will probably be a bit ahead short term due to them being in a better position for the recovery (what’s an SIL?).

Retirements: DAL will average 500 a year until 2030, while UA will be closer to 600 per year. However, Delta also had almost 2,000 pilots take an early retirement. If I were just getting on with a company, the movement at Delta is going to be incredible with all the positions we still need to backfill. UA movement will also be swift, but I think we have the edge if you were just getting hired.

Culture: Unless you can find someone that spent a considerable amount of time at both, this is all personal opinion. Like any job, you’ll find people you really enjoy working with, and others you’d rather not.

Contract: Similar contracts. They have some better perks like more meals, extra pay for middle seat DHs, etc., but their reserve rules leave something to be desired, comparatively. We get more profit sharing than UA. Both unions are in contract negotiations, and will most certainly have nearly identical contracts again.

Equipment: UA has more WB aircraft, and DAL will never surpass them. If your desire is to be a WB A as soon as possible and nothing else, you’ll get their faster at UA. Starting equipment for UA is usually 737/320 to EWR and SFO, Delta is usually 220/737/320/7ER to NYC.

Training: Atlanta vs Denver. Delta still pays a “training pay” of $5K a month until you finish IOE. UA pays year one pay to start. Delta recently announced that new hires won’t have to pay for their initial qual hotel anymore (something UA has done for awhile). Both training programs will be similar, as it’s AQP.

BL, I don’t think you could go wrong with either choice. I’m happy I went with DAL, but I’d imagine I’d be happy at UA as well. I have friends their that say the same.