Originally Posted by
jrydel
Currently at SW with a CJO at DL. Live in Denver, 28, will eventually be married with kids. I love Colorado, and I refuse to commute. If I took the DL job I’d move back to SoCal where my family is. I really value the QOL and flexibility that Southwest gives me, but I love the variety and options I would have at DL. Seniority wise, WN is astronomically better. I will be 25% at WN when I hit 50% at DL. I’ll spend the last 15ish years of my career in the top 10% at WN.
I think I’m feeling a lot of peer pressure to leave since nearly all my friends at WN have left in the last year for legacies. My family and SO support either job, I’ve talked to many people at both airlines, and I’m really not sure what to do. Am I an idiot to stay at Southwest with such an incredible job opportunity on the table?
I don't know how long you've been at SWA. Let's say one year.
Let's say you go to Delta. I don't know how long you're talking about to make it to 50% on the DL list, but for argument's sake, let's say 20 years. You'll be 48.
At Delta, in 20 years, if you start on the 737-800/700 fleet and upgrade in four years to captain on the 737-800/700 and then upgrade at 19 years to a 777, you'll have made a total of $6.8M under today's contract. Obviously, you'll get another contract or two by then, but it's the best info we have right now. DL's profit sharing has also been better than SWA's and their retirement is better than SWA's. That's not even mentioning their better work rules and disability and pass privileges and on and on.
At SWA, in 20 years, let's assume you'll upgrade 5.5 years from now (at the 6.5 year point). In twenty years, under today's contract, you'll have made a total of $4.87M. Yes, SWA will also get a new contract or two in the next twenty years. Who knows how they'll turn out? And, given current trajectory, who knows if SWA will still be around in 20 years?
That's a difference of $1.9M, not including the better retirement and PS at DL. I know state income taxes are higher in CA (I assume?) but probably nowhere near $1.9M more than you'd pay by staying in Colorado.
Also, what are the chances of SWA getting a new jet in the next twenty years? Maybe we'll just be starting to get whatever replaces the 737 at around 20 years from now, but I wouldn't necessarily count on it. If you stay at SWA, there's no end to the regional-style flying. There's no chance to switch to a different fleet if you get sick of it. You're only 28. It's extremely difficult for a guy your age to extrapolate out how mind-numbingly boring and exhausting, both mentally and physically, that may become as you age. I'm actually glad now that I've been at SWA for about 20 years that I didn't start here in my 20's. I was able to fly in the military and do some pretty cool stuff before this. I can't imagine if this kind of airline flying had been my entire flying career. Barf.
Just some thoughts off the top of my head.