Economic Downturn: Atlas Air vs. Southern Air
 

Due to COVID-19, I am looking for a job. I don't want to apply to Atlas or Southern, but here we are.

With a judge ruling that Atlas and Southern have to merge seniority lists this year, who do I apply to (or does it matter)? Which would be better for potentially upgrading in the short term (at least as things stand today; I get that everything is fluid/dynamic and will probably slow down).

Thanks in advance.

My understanding is that you apply to Atlas and then you are given a choice if there is one. Otherwise you are offered a class for whatever fleet is available. Quick upgrades are over! However, quick furloughs might be available once an integrated seniority list is produced and the world struggles to recover from this pandemic.

To paraphrase boeingdvr: If you don’t believe me come on over.

Most people I have talked to think that all pilots hired since the acquisition of Southern by AAWW, will be integrated by DOH, so it won't matter if you go Atlas or Southern.
My suggestion for priority (this is also the order of salary) :
A 747
S 777
A 767
S 737
I don't recommend the S737, because the pay is so bad, but it is better than getting $0, like the MIA Air/TSA/Compass pilots will be getting.

Atlas 747 does a lot of charter flying, and you may do a good amount of pax flying. The schedules and days at home depend on your base.

Southern 777 flies to a small number of cities over and over. They are adding 777s when they can get enough crew to add.

Atlas 767 depends on your base. If you live in CVG and are based there, (and be senior enough?) you can bid reserve, and never fly/be home every day. 767 also has pax flying, to a lot of it to "interesting" destinations, due to a lot of mil pax charter. The 767 has a lot of domestic flying, and there is a freight hub in TPE for inter-Asia flying.

Southern 737...don't know much about it, except that you may fly for DHL or Amazon. I don't think they do any charter.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me. Note: I am on the 747.

Does Atlas do the 17/13 schedule like Southern or is is spread throughout the month?

Not to be the guy to say search the forums. But this question as been answered numerous times. If you missed every time it probably means you haven’t done your due diligence in researching the job. I implore you to read thru the threads. Learn the good, the bad and the ugly about this place. Don’t just look for a couple answers that might make it palatable for you and learn the ugly later on.
Such as, given the global pandemic, if you get sick and die on the road how is Atlas going to treat your family. People want to believe the good in people but the current CEO has a really troubling history in this regard. Look no further than the Frank O’Donnell case.

This is 747:
I have been mostly based in JFK/ORD. My normal schedule is between 6-16 days. I have had a lot of trips from 3-5 days long. I just did a 14 day trip. 14 days off now, then work to the end of the month...about a 9 day trip. Typical.

If you live in ANC/LAX and are based there, you may be home some days during your work pattern. If you live in MIA, you can be home a lot.

Flying for Atlas is like flying for a number of different organizations, because it depends on the airframe/base as to what your schedules will be, how much you will fly, and how much you will be home.

Yeah buddy... it’s all one big happy family. But hey, we are getting 150% to fly to Western Europe now. That’s still below Ups / Fed at their normal rate.

The 747 and 777 is awful. You’re married to the Jet. Think Deadliest Catch crab boat.

If you would like your sanity and a little normalcy 767 for life!

FYI- don’t plan on a 6 year upgrade. We have nearly 1k FO’s, we need a whole lotta jets before you can update your tinder profile.

Any insight for ONT 767? Would it be similar to CVG if I bid reserve and live in ONT?