Originally Posted by
kcdriver
Can you elaborate on "riskier career?" I have CJOs from UA and WN (30 y/o) and plan on moving to the DC area (live in-base for either). I am leaning toward WN primarily for the reason that I do not think UA's 500+ aircraft on order will be friendly to its balance sheet. If/when the next pandemic/worldwide calamity rolls around, I think that WN will be best insulated and prepared among the big 4 passenger airlines in the US. Is a single fleet type and lengthier upgrade worth the trade-off for perceived corporate stability? I don't know.
UA under Kirby is trying to grow, a lot. Both Domestically, and internationally There’s risk in that. SWA is content to grow domestically at ~2% a year, with the same aircraft.
UA has a history of hiring till furlough until recently, and SWA had a history of trying to not furlough until recently.
If you’re 30 now at UA there’s a chance you’ll be a 737 Captain in DC probably by the time you’re 35 and have taken a spin on the 320, 756 and 787 along the way. If you’re 30 now at SWA you might be a Captain around the time you turn 45 in BWI. You’ll have 15-17 days off the whole time until then and after flying 4 legs a day.
You’ve got a 35 year career… If you’re within driving distance to the DC area airports, I’d probably go to UA over SWA. 2/3 of the folks I know in similar position recently have. No one has regretted the one they picked though. Good problem to have.