Originally Posted by
Handwrite4024
Dear community,
I understand if you groan at the mention of UAL vs. AAL once again, but this time, I'm specifically reaching out to pilots who've transitioned between these two companies.
I acknowledge that each person has unique preferences, needs, and weighs pros and cons differently. If you're eyeing Phoenix or Charlotte, American might be your best bet. Need a quick jump to the left seat with over 1,000 hours 121? United could be your go-to. For domestic commuting, AAL might offer the edge, where securing a jump seat and check-in time matter more than seniority. If international commutes or advancing to widebody FO rank quickly are your priorities, United might be the answer. Probably.
Yes, there's much more to consider, I understand. What I'm curious about is this: Did any of you regret switching from one airline to the other?
What assumptions about the grass being greener on the other side turned out false? Which aspects—be it procedures, benefits, or cultural elements—did you find displeasing after switching to what seemed like a better fit, causing you to miss your former employer? Especially in case ls where one left AAL for UAL?
Both companies offer enticing packages, lucrative career paths, and opportunities within training, flight ops, and the union.
Personally, I have nothing negative to say about either. But do any of you ever think: "Darn, I should've stuck with [company X]. If only I'd known ____________ [fill in the blank], I'd never have left."
Currently, I'm in the situation of recently having completed OE with AAL (my initial "Plan B") and facing an upcoming class date with my original "Plan A" company, United. While I enjoy my time at AAL, easier international commuting with United and the Star Alliance network (including Business Standby via MyID Travel, unavailable at AAL) beckons due to my family connections in another country.
Friends at AAL advise me to stay, citing valid points, while those at United urge me to join. However, their perspectives are limited to their respective companies, sometimes lacking understanding of their own union contracts and only possessing surface knowledge about the other.
Thanks for any insights!
I made exactly this move a few months ago. From AA to UA. No regrets. I knew both companies intimately already and there were zero surprises for me.
I was at AA for 1 year and 10 days before moving to UA. Gave up 2000 seniority numbers to do it.
Grass is greener in some regards but not others. As you mentioned there's a lot going into the weeds about what different people find better ot not. Ill try to keep to what youve asked for.
Each airline has a distinct character and personality. Its own culture. Some think its all the same but it is not. Its just that some aren't observant enough to notice.
United is much more detail oriented compared to AA. The operation and procedures are more detailed and in some cases overthiniking which is adorable in its own way. AA is a much more loose operation. As one senior captain put it at AA "it's very loose goosy here, isn't it?". UA SOPs are more structured. Not as structured as I think they should be, but I have a feeling that's about to change for the better.
The reserve system is hands down better at AA. Same with commuting policy. UA loses talent on a regular basis due to this alone. But if you plan on living in base, it's not an issue besides the fact that unlike AA which has no defined reserve callout time, UA is 2.5 hrs. At AA one guy had 32 missed assignments siitting reserve in DEN for LAX, each time they called him he said he'll be there in many hours later. 10 hours, 12 hours etc. It took 32 missed assignments before he was called into the CP office for a chat. HR manager at indoc told us the story. UA will be fast to pull the trigger on you. Probably fired after 2 MA.
It is almost impossible to get fired at AA. UA is much quicker.
AA is mostly a domestic airline with some international flying sprinkled in. UA is a proper international airline.
At AA 320 fleet has much better flying than 737. It's the opposite at UA. However with change of plans and 320 fleet growing at UA as a result of boeing 737 debacle, that's going to change to some extent.
At AA it's 5 years to hold widebody right seat, at UA its a year or less. Was immediate in initial class until just a little while ago.
Now the main cultural difference between the 2. AA pilot body is made up of several different airlines which after being merged into AA now make up the pilot group at AA. Legacy AA, TWA, USAIR, AMERICA WEST, and some smaller less notable outfits plus the newbies hired in the last 5 years. They all hate each other with a passion, except the newbies. Due to various issues. Seniority integration being just one of them. Each airline historically hires a typical personality and type of person. All these different hire types being mixed makes a very disjointed group. None of these groups I mentioned likes any of the others. Ive never seen and heard so much negativity about the company and the other pilot groups which make up this merged AA pilot group. Strength comes from unity and at AA these different groups are not united. They can't stand each other. UA pilots get a better deal because of their strength in unity. AA pilots don't. This was on public display during the recent negotiations. AA pilots got what they got on the coattails of UA pilots. I'd rather be at the source than downstream.
If you travel internationally on a regular basis then it's a no brainer that UA will be better. Having higher priority on your own airline wether JS or in the back makes a big difference. I traveled internationally on AA a few times while I was there. It was much more complicated having to connect and to be at the bottom of some other airline id90 list restricted to the very last row of economy. With UA I have own airline direct flight options on which I can have a hope of biz class.
I'll be happy to answer any more questions. Don't hesitate to hit me up.