Delta and UPS were always my first choices but they never called so I ended up at AA. I did keep my apps kind of up to date and just figured I would cross that bridge if they ever actually called. UPS finally did call and I just did the "Assessment" online. So now I am making sure I understand what I am getting myself into before I schedule an interview (assuming I passed the assessment).

I like AA. I really do. I think management is full of morons and I do question if they can run an airline but somehow we are the biggest which still blows my mind. Lots of good things at AA and I could see them kicking butt if they had someone else in charge. Lots of retirements. I am not working any holidays or weekends unless I choose to pick up a trip over a weekend but only if I choose to do it. Biggest downside is commuting. Leave the house 1.15 prior to flight departure, add in 1.5hr flight and I have wasted a minimum of 8-10hrs or more every sequence (trip) including to/from legs plus there are a lot of trips I cant do.

Delta did call this year and after much wrangling I decided to pass on an interview because it just didn't make much sense to start over with such a small time horizon till I retire. Plus I did drive to DTW from where I live and I forgot how long a 3.5hr drive is.

UPS: same 3.5 hr drive like Delta but no TSA, no Passengers, no FA's, no hassles. No recession issues to worry about. People just keep online shopping more and more. No upstart airlines. Park your car, get scanned, walk in. Pension: for 12 years of work, retiring as an FO would be @38K a year till I croak. Numerous ways to look at that money and to assign a value to it but I value tha@800K. 800K divided by 12 years of work at UPS: $66K per year in additional compensation on top of $192 an hour as a 2 yr FO. At UPS, $192 an hour plus the hidden pension money of 66K a year is right at 260K a year. So at 12 months at UPS I would be looking at making roughly 260K a year. Until I upgrade I would be at roughly 170K a year at AA. That's a difference of 90K a year.
Year 1: UPS-110K, AA: 170K.
Year 2: UPS-260K, AA: 170K
At AA, even if upgrade, I would be topped at 270K a year.

AA will get a new contract but at the rate things are moving with management I would see UPS getting another contract before us.

UPS wins the money race and the commute over AA.

I have great flexibility at AA so how bad will my schedule be at UPS is the question?

I have a 4 day trip next week that pays 21hrs and looks like this:
Leave my house at 345pm, commute to JFK, do a redeye on day 3 that lands day 4 at 730am in JFK, take a little nap, commute home (nap on plane), walking thru my door at home at around Noon. Might have to nap again but probably not.

That's door to door, Monday afternoon thru Thursday early afternoon for 21hrs of pay. I am not sure how that compares to UPS.

Thanks for any insight