Originally Posted by
CactusCooler
Be me, have about 31ish years till 65. Am I a fool for entertaining the idea of leaving a good job to wear a hat?
At SWA for just over a year now, sitting a couple % from the bottom. Live in a domicile but can’t hold it due to no hiring till 2026 at the earliest (max7 depending), have ~1h commute. Will retire ~10% if there’s 0 growth. Overall, I don’t have a lot of complaints, will make fat stacks of dollar bills, easily max out the 401k, vacation and scheduling swap are nice. Though 30 years of 73 3 leg days 13-15 days a month isn’t a highlight.
Have a CJO at delta, expected spring class date maybe, who knows. Don’t live in base but would be willing to move to ATL (okay Chattanooga or Athens), maybe SLC or SEA. Seniority calculator says 16-18% with no growth if I started today. Main appeal is the possibility of different types of flying/planes, WB international (as b, wouldn’t make A), and that delta is actually making money.
Is the 15 years to upgrade if hired in 2025 true?
My main concerns at SW is the current inability to generate a profit, being controlled by some wall street leeches, and ending 2025 with fewer 73s than 2024. I’m sure elliott would let me go so they can buy a bigger yacht.
Thoughts?
Make the jump.
31 is still very young.
DL is poised for growth, especially intl. growth as their domestic side is established. They don’t publicize flashy future plans.. approx. retiring 3% a year with 2-3% growth behind it at 1,000/pilots a yr for “foreseeable” future.
Thats 5-6% movement a year. Widget Sen is amazing but also assuming 0 growth (which could very well occur or shrink).
Work with what you know. WN will never operate WB nor grow to the degree at majors will, in fact LLC system is deteriorating.
Is 10% system seniority the same as 10% system at DL? Only you can answer.
Latest -rumor- from LCP meeting I’ve heard is DL is hungry for another WB order & likes the idea of leveraging a 787 deal with Boeing debacle for cheaper, again a rumor.
P.S. you will be WBA at some point hired at 31 yr old, that 15 yr upgrade has 0 logic behind it for NB