Originally Posted by
Crom
My goal is to put the max amount of money into savings & retirement accounts for the next 20 years while living a comfortable life with some toys. Widebody flying does interest me, but it's not a deal breaker. I'd be happy in a 737 for the next 20 years so that's not a concern. I've seen plenty of overseas flying so that's also not a concern. Just wondering if I'm crazy thinking SWA might be the better option for me given my goals.
I don't blame anyone for thinking SWA might be a better option for them, I did so myself. Even though landing at UAL made me a permanent commuter, it has turned out far better for me than I realized at the time. The big difference between the two is that you will have many more options to choose from over here. I started out envisioning a quick upgrade to CA... and instead I loitered in NB FO until I was consistently making more money than a reserve WB FO and getting every day off I wanted to boot. In several recent months I was able to make more than a reserve NB CA without topping more than 60 hours of actual flight time a month. I could have made more if I was willing to work right up to FAR 117 limits. Now I'm off to WB and will be a LH out the gate. If long haul doesn't float my boat, I should be able to bid into NB CA and be a LH by then as well. I could have bid NB CA just prior to the pandemic. Seven years here now in a junior base, and the upgrade times are getting shorter as I type.
One huge, huge benefit at UAL vs. SWA is the pass travel benefit. I'm guessing at SWA if you pass travel with your family on a full flight you will consistently be split up around the cabin in middle seats. My big family gets split up too, but we usually get pairs together in Econ+. And since my wife is from Europe, we take advantage of UAL's network to see my inlaws every summer. Not only have we saved tens of thousands of dollars, but we swing Polaris seats about 50% of the time. That all may not matter squat to you, but it didn't matter to me either before I got hired because I didn't have a clue about it.
I happen to know a Nov 21 new hire on the 756, he made it into IAH on one of the Nov/Dec vacancies and started in IAH this month. Most guys don't get that lucky, but with all the growth plans you'd have a good shot at getting into IAH within six months (and maybe even out of Indoc like a few did last fall). It would be good for you to try commuting for a bit out the gate anyways, you may find it so disagreeable that you decide a quick upgrade is not your thing.
Most importantly, take the job where you get your first offer.