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Cargo vs. a Regular major airline

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Cargo vs. a Regular major airline

Old 05-06-2007, 04:26 PM
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Default Cargo vs. a Regular major airline

Bear with me please I'm still a teen and I'm fairly new to the forums. What I want to know is whats the difference between a major airline like say Delta *First one I could think of* or something and FedEx? (besides the fact that one carries boxes and the other one people) Does one get paid more than the other generally? Are there any other differences, like is Cargo easier to get into than a Major airline?

Thanks for all the help
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Old 05-06-2007, 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by JimmyBoy20 View Post
Bear with me please I'm still a teen and I'm fairly new to the forums. What I want to know is whats the difference between a major airline like say Delta *First one I could think of* or something and FedEx? (besides the fact that one carries boxes and the other one people) Does one get paid more than the other generally? Are there any other differences, like is Cargo easier to get into than a Major airline?

Thanks for all the help
OK... FEDEX and UPS are "major airlines" and Part 121 (scheduled) airline operations under the FAA's definition. So, besides the fact that one carries boxes and the other passengers and (to a lesser degree) boxes, there is, on the face, no differece. As to who gets paid more, you can click the "airline profiles" link at the top of the page to check out the pay scales. Without checking each one myself, I'd bet my $33K first year pay at UPS that there isn't a passenger carrier in business that matches the pay and benefits (taken as a whole) at either FEDEX or UPS (particularly for someone being hired today through retirement).

As to which is easier to get into, that's purely a function of who's hiring and who's not when you're applying. Ten years ago, when everyone was healthy, the cargos had to work to lure guys away from Delta and United (in most cases). Today, it's arguable that the cargos' business plans are the most stable in the industry. I would also bet that if there were another 9/11-type incident, people would quit flying again for at least awhile (and disrupt the passanger carriers businesses somewhat). However, I doubt people would quit ordering cr@p online and wanting it delivered in a day or two, so UPS/FEDEX would likely carry on as usual.

There are, of course, differences between cargo and passanger operations. A lot of cargo flies at night, especially if you're junior. But junior guys at any airline will get the less desireable schedules, whether day or night. With postal contracts and international routes, there are day flights to be had at the cargos as well. I would think it largely depends on what you like. As they say, "boxes don't b!tch."
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Old 05-06-2007, 05:30 PM
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Buck92 - Actually I have been wondering something similar myself. When first hired at FedEx or UPS, is the schedule for the junior guys always night flying or do they alternate the schedule to recoup after an all nighter or two?
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Old 05-06-2007, 05:45 PM
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Originally Posted by blastboy View Post
Buck92 - Actually I have been wondering something similar myself. When first hired at FedEx or UPS, is the schedule for the junior guys always night flying or do they alternate the schedule to recoup after an all nighter or two?
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Old 05-06-2007, 06:08 PM
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Cargo is MUCH easier to get into than any "real" airline like Delta, American, or United. UPS and FedEx have hired over 1500 pilots since 2002, while the other majors have hired less than 100. CAL has been some, but otherwise...its been stagnant.

Also--getting on at FDX is pretty much a cake walk. Look up some threads on the FDX pool and interview process and you'll see they pretty much scoop up about anyone that applies. Ditto UPS... (sarcasm warning light on)
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Old 05-06-2007, 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by JimmyBoy20 View Post
Bear with me please I'm still a teen and I'm fairly new to the forums. What I want to know is whats the difference between a major airline like say Delta *First one I could think of* or something and FedEx? (besides the fact that one carries boxes and the other one people) Does one get paid more than the other generally? Are there any other differences, like is Cargo easier to get into than a Major airline?

Thanks for all the help
The main difference between passenger airlines and cargo airlines is the stability that the cargo airlines provide to their employees.

To my knowledge, FedEx has NEVER furloughed a pilot. That's quite an accomplishment in today's airline culture.

Originally Posted by blastboy
Buck92 - Actually I have been wondering something similar myself. When first hired at FedEx or UPS, is the schedule for the junior guys always night flying or do they alternate the schedule to recoup after an all nighter or two?
The schedule for a new hire is typically reserve, which means you are on call to go wherever and whenever the company wants you to. You have certain days of reserve duty, and certain days scheduled off.

At FedEx, you could do all day flying, all night flying, or a mixture of the two while on reserve, it just depends on what the company needs you to do.

Last edited by Fartknocker; 05-06-2007 at 09:50 PM. Reason: I felt like it
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Old 05-06-2007, 08:58 PM
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Jimmy, at a cargo airline you don't have to put up with annoying whiny passengers that want the world for a $40 coast to coast ticket and at a major passenger airline, you do.

That's my take on it.
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Old 05-06-2007, 09:18 PM
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"do they alternate the schedule to recoup after an all nighter or two?"

That would make night flying worse, to alternate back and forth. You're better off doing five nights in a row and having 9 off to recover. The first two nights are tough but towards the end of the week your body adjusts to it and it's not so bad.
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Old 05-07-2007, 06:19 AM
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People often ask, "will you, one of these days, have enough experience to fly passenger planes or are you not good enough?"
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Old 05-07-2007, 07:41 AM
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Originally Posted by Brown Cow View Post
People often ask, "will you, one of these days, have enough experience to fly passenger planes or are you not good enough?"
Usually its, "Do you think you'll ever fly for a commercial airline?" or "...a real airline?"
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