Airline Pilot Central Forums - Leaving One Major for another: Need advice

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First World Problems.

They're a b!tch.

Option 1. Without a doubt.

You are keeping a job that you have until you have a firm commitment at a second employer that you'd actually prefer. This may be rare in the aviation world, but it is common in virtually all other industries. You have no requirement to quit simply because you are window shopping, and likewise, no requirement to stay when you'd prefer to be somewhere else. If United wants to keep all of its new hires on the property and prevent them from defecting to other carriers, then let them offer pay, benefits and career security to entice you.

Neither airline is going to do you any favors if you try to be "Mr. Nice Guy" and bow out of training before everything is finalized. If something happened in that interim period they would both leave you out in the cold.

I had a very similar situation many years ago. I was at United on the line on probation. I also wanted to be at Delta (although at the time, united was the 900 lb gorilla, best contract, fastest growth, fastest progression, etc).

I interviewed at DAL, I remember one of the interview questions was "have you ever been interviewed and not hired by an airline?" My answer was "no." Then the guy says "so you haven't interviewed at United?" And my response was "I work at United." Next question "how soon can you be in class at Delta?"

I took a leave of absence from United while I was in new hire class with dal and for most of probation. Finally, I resigned from united. I haven't ever looked back. It is a good problem to have.

From a career standpoint, you won't make a mistake from one to the other. However, for me and maybe me only, the cultural change made all the difference, but that is hard to quantify.

Definitely stay with United until you are in class at Delta. No brainer.

You have a job with United. You have a promise from Delta. That says everything.

If you live in NJ stay with UA.
If you live on L.I. switch to DL.

If you live in S. CT. it's a toss up.
If you live in NW CT stick with UA.

It's all about the Hudson... Like guys said, it's a first world problem.

The one thing I would caution is: don't let your attention sway. The quickest way to lose that promised class date at Delta is to fail at United.

You won't be doing yourself, your training partners or your instructor any favors if you have an "I'm just biding my time until my Delta class starts" attitude.

Not saying you have that, a professional pilot will put everything into training, but I have seen it at my current job. Those tend to get found out rather quickly.

Congrats!

Quote:

Originally Posted by csucbrown (Post 1890270)

Good god I wish I was in your predicament right now.

No crap. I can't even a call to save my life.

Option 1.
Neither airline cares about you as a person. It's not a relationship. It's a business. Treat it as such.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PotatoChip (Post 1890474)

Option 1.
Neither airline cares about you as a person. It's not a relationship. It's a business. Treat it as such.

If only every pilot realized this, we'd all be in better shape. Congratulations OP x 2. Your answer is clear.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scambo1 (Post 1890298)

And people say NOW is an unprecedented hiring boom. We've been here before.

GF

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akpic1 (Post 1890240)

What would you do, If you just started training with one Major (Legacy) and are awaiting a class date from another Major (Legacy). Both offer junior basses in your hometown (the first one farther away than the later Legacy from your home) however your first choice of Legacy is the later, which hasn't offered a class date but is expected to in 1.5 months.

Options:
1) Would you continue new hire training at your current Legacy until a class dates is offered at the one you want to be at.
2) Would you resign asap and just wait it out without a job until the Legacy of choice calls for a class date.

I know there are no guarantees unless you are in class with an employee #, hence I would prefer to stay at my current new legacy as I await a firm class date from the legacy of choice. Don't know how I would handle the thanks but no thanks.

If anyone has experienced such an event, please share what you did or if you can please PM me.

Any additional comments appreciated.

Thanks!

When DAL sends the PRIA forms to UAL, you will likely be called in to talk to someone ... Then your choice will be made for you. Just hope that DAL gives you a class date soon thereafter, as I would guess UAL will give you a ticket home that day and wish you well.