Originally Posted by
CowBoyz47
Hi there, I’ve been at DL coming on a year & a half now with approx. 1,500 #’s beneath me living in base at 26 yr old.
Just got a call for the Hogan, but no CJO currently.
I like the plans over at UA for growth (the aircraft orders alone look like UA is poised to truly become 20k+ in the near future, DL or AA is nowhere near that #) & intl. presence, and the obvious seniority climb and would be interested in moving to Houston if I made the jump. If given a class date in late mid-late 25’, would it be crazy to jump ship?
Is NB Captain or WB FO in Houston obtainable within the first year or so? I’m looking at another 2 years for 350/330 FO at DL, or 2-3 years for NB Captain on 320/73N in base; and to be 50% up the list on yr 16. Would UA be much diff?
I’m happy living in base where I’m at but open to moving if I needed, would this be a viable scenario or crazy to give up where I’m at?
I feel very fortunate to be in this position, I am trying to provide ample details to paint an accurate picture. Thank you for any advice!!
My advice is as good as what you paid for it:
One thing I have seen over the last 20 years of flying at charter companies, private 91 jets, regional airlines and now at major airlines is planned aircraft deliveries are mostly just empty promises. I wouldn't leave living in base with more than 10% of the pilot group behind me for promises of new airplanes and growth at another airline. These promises can vanish overnight.
I think you need to keep in mind how bad things can get. This is going to make me sound so old but when I was your age I had to walk my resume into multiple flight schools to get them to hire me as a flight instructor. None of the majors were hiring. The job market was ugly. You have to keep in mind that things will get that bad again. Would you rather be in your safe position now and ride out the storm comfortably holding a line and living in base? Or on the street hoping to get your job back at the airline that just cancelled all the aircraft orders you were so excited about?
We are in the "winners curse" phase of the economic cycle. Everything is awesome. This won't last forever. It may be 2-3 years but things will change. Your move would mean maximum risk to your career and your earnings. Put away the max into your 401K, your ROTH IRA and you HSA. I promise you this money will absolutely be life changing in 30 years when you are 56. Think of what happens if you leave Delta and move to UA and are furloughed for this time. You lose out on so much retirement potential. Not to mention day to day pain of unemployment. Are you willing to risk all that? For what? Everyone is different and it is your choice to make but to me leaving a job at Delta for growth at another major seems like a massive risk for very little reward.