Basic questions about QOL at AA
#91
I'm thinking of moving to AAL and I'd like some input. I've got an interview scheduled later this week.
I'm currently a 737 FO for UAL and I was hired in August. I really love it here and I think the company is great BUT I live about 1.5hrs west of DFW and I never plan on moving. The idea of driving to work rather than commuting is more appealing every time I commute out here to our junior base in SFO.
I'd be giving up about 700 in seniority that I've already gained and I'll be somewhere around 60% in SFO next month already. I haven't had any problems commuting and I love the company but I'm envious of the idea of driving myself to work and being able to sit reserve from home instead of a crashpad. Being with AAL in DFW would give me a lot more flexibility...at least that's what I think.
I've talked to lots of folks I know and I've gotten the full spectrum of answers from "you're crazy to give up seniority and the UAL contract to go to AAL" all the way to "living where you work is a game-changer and you'll never regret it".
Anything you have would be helpful. Benefits differences, pass travel, future contract prospects, Quality of life, DFW seniority...anything.
So...what say you?
I'm currently a 737 FO for UAL and I was hired in August. I really love it here and I think the company is great BUT I live about 1.5hrs west of DFW and I never plan on moving. The idea of driving to work rather than commuting is more appealing every time I commute out here to our junior base in SFO.
I'd be giving up about 700 in seniority that I've already gained and I'll be somewhere around 60% in SFO next month already. I haven't had any problems commuting and I love the company but I'm envious of the idea of driving myself to work and being able to sit reserve from home instead of a crashpad. Being with AAL in DFW would give me a lot more flexibility...at least that's what I think.
I've talked to lots of folks I know and I've gotten the full spectrum of answers from "you're crazy to give up seniority and the UAL contract to go to AAL" all the way to "living where you work is a game-changer and you'll never regret it".
Anything you have would be helpful. Benefits differences, pass travel, future contract prospects, Quality of life, DFW seniority...anything.
So...what say you?
#92
I'm thinking of moving to AAL and I'd like some input. I've got an interview scheduled later this week.
I'm currently a 737 FO for UAL and I was hired in August. I really love it here and I think the company is great BUT I live about 1.5hrs west of DFW and I never plan on moving. The idea of driving to work rather than commuting is more appealing every time I commute out here to our junior base in SFO.
I'd be giving up about 700 in seniority that I've already gained and I'll be somewhere around 60% in SFO next month already. I haven't had any problems commuting and I love the company but I'm envious of the idea of driving myself to work and being able to sit reserve from home instead of a crashpad. Being with AAL in DFW would give me a lot more flexibility...at least that's what I think.
I've talked to lots of folks I know and I've gotten the full spectrum of answers from "you're crazy to give up seniority and the UAL contract to go to AAL" all the way to "living where you work is a game-changer and you'll never regret it".
Anything you have would be helpful. Benefits differences, pass travel, future contract prospects, Quality of life, DFW seniority...anything.
So...what say you?
I'm currently a 737 FO for UAL and I was hired in August. I really love it here and I think the company is great BUT I live about 1.5hrs west of DFW and I never plan on moving. The idea of driving to work rather than commuting is more appealing every time I commute out here to our junior base in SFO.
I'd be giving up about 700 in seniority that I've already gained and I'll be somewhere around 60% in SFO next month already. I haven't had any problems commuting and I love the company but I'm envious of the idea of driving myself to work and being able to sit reserve from home instead of a crashpad. Being with AAL in DFW would give me a lot more flexibility...at least that's what I think.
I've talked to lots of folks I know and I've gotten the full spectrum of answers from "you're crazy to give up seniority and the UAL contract to go to AAL" all the way to "living where you work is a game-changer and you'll never regret it".
Anything you have would be helpful. Benefits differences, pass travel, future contract prospects, Quality of life, DFW seniority...anything.
So...what say you?
I’m not too familiar with UAL pass travel. My family has used AA pass travel with a lot of success. I wish we at mainline had a priority over our wholly owned regionals, but I doubt that changes. You can book the jumpseat at 8pm central time 8 days prior to travel, and it’s 99% yours (fed, etc aside). First Come First Served. Don’t have to worry about some geriatric taking the jumpseat at the last minute… my UAL buddies would happily take AA’s jumpseat system.
In general, it seems AA’s reserve is better, if only for lack of that airport standby and global reserve BS.
Re: future contract, the union just sent out some negotiating updates and it sounds like the stuff AA lags in- scheduling, reassignments, recovery obligation, premium, hotels, deadheads, LTD, etc- will be at a minimum brought up to industry standard, and perhaps industry leading. The company is in panic mode over a CKA shortage and APA finally appears to want to utilize its leverage, and AA has agreed to fix the egregious stuff. We will see.
UAL has more widebodies, if that motivates you. It doesn’t have any widebodies out of DFW, though.
AA’s retirements are staggering, and you’re very much still at the front of the wave. UAL’s retirements aren’t as good, but are still amazing.
Once AA catches up on work rules, the biggest drawback will continue to be incompetent management. There’s no sugar coating it- AA management sucks. Then again, every airline is a management change away from success or train wreck. UAL was a dumpster fire under Smisek. Munoz comes in and changed the entire course of the company. Parker, Isom, et al can’t run this ship into the ground forever…. can they?
If you had 2+ years at UAL, I’d say stay… and move to a UAL domicile. Since you’re under that, go to AA… or FedEx.
#93
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,318
I'm thinking of moving to AAL and I'd like some input. I've got an interview scheduled later this week.
I'm currently a 737 FO for UAL and I was hired in August. I really love it here and I think the company is great BUT I live about 1.5hrs west of DFW and I never plan on moving. The idea of driving to work rather than commuting is more appealing every time I commute out here to our junior base in SFO.
I'd be giving up about 700 in seniority that I've already gained and I'll be somewhere around 60% in SFO next month already. I haven't had any problems commuting and I love the company but I'm envious of the idea of driving myself to work and being able to sit reserve from home instead of a crashpad. Being with AAL in DFW would give me a lot more flexibility...at least that's what I think.
I've talked to lots of folks I know and I've gotten the full spectrum of answers from "you're crazy to give up seniority and the UAL contract to go to AAL" all the way to "living where you work is a game-changer and you'll never regret it".
Anything you have would be helpful. Benefits differences, pass travel, future contract prospects, Quality of life, DFW seniority...anything.
So...what say you?
I'm currently a 737 FO for UAL and I was hired in August. I really love it here and I think the company is great BUT I live about 1.5hrs west of DFW and I never plan on moving. The idea of driving to work rather than commuting is more appealing every time I commute out here to our junior base in SFO.
I'd be giving up about 700 in seniority that I've already gained and I'll be somewhere around 60% in SFO next month already. I haven't had any problems commuting and I love the company but I'm envious of the idea of driving myself to work and being able to sit reserve from home instead of a crashpad. Being with AAL in DFW would give me a lot more flexibility...at least that's what I think.
I've talked to lots of folks I know and I've gotten the full spectrum of answers from "you're crazy to give up seniority and the UAL contract to go to AAL" all the way to "living where you work is a game-changer and you'll never regret it".
Anything you have would be helpful. Benefits differences, pass travel, future contract prospects, Quality of life, DFW seniority...anything.
So...what say you?
#94
#95
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2010
Position: HUD cripple.
Posts: 312
August hire? No brainer, go to AA, you can’t compare 700 under you to what you’ll have at AA, no way to know. DFW is rapidly becoming a JR base for NB CA’s. FO’s hold it within months. I had the opposite choice to make, but at the 1.5 year mark living in a UAL hub. I wasn’t for sure going to not move like you are. I chose to stay at AA, I’m fine with it, but with hindsight would have made a different decision. Honestly anything under 1 year, I would have bailed in a heart beat. Your situation, yeah AA. You live near our Mega base, and can easily sit SC reserve from home. I flew exactly zero hours last month on SC, though I did use some sick time.
I believe the other narrow body bases are probably about the same, but we average 30% reserve coverage, both ca's and fo's.
On the line holder side, for December in DFW (737) 41% of our pairings were 4 day trips, and just over 5% were 5 day's.
I didn't look at January yet, but my fo says it looks about the same.
#96
Banned
Joined APC: May 2017
Posts: 2,012
This.
If there's any constant to airline advice over time and space, it is drive to base. Even if you had perfect knowledge of life at AA and UAL today, who knows what it will be in 5 years. But AA isn't leaving DFW and neither are you. Go to American.
If there's any constant to airline advice over time and space, it is drive to base. Even if you had perfect knowledge of life at AA and UAL today, who knows what it will be in 5 years. But AA isn't leaving DFW and neither are you. Go to American.
#97
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2018
Position: 757/767
Posts: 537
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