NJA vs FDX
08-24-2011, 05:19 AM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2011
Posts: 131
NJA vs FDX
I'm a 10-year NJA CA trying to evaluate the pros/cons of leaving NJA for FDX.
37 years old
Nja base wage is 119k (increase by 3.5% each year)
3 weeks vacation, earn my 4th week next year.
Live in the midwest, but contemplating moving back to SoCal--something easy to consider at NJA, but a big QOL factor at FDX.
Obviously, the coin is much better once you upgrade at Fedex. But I WAG'd the numbers, assuming 10 years as a widebody FO then upgrade, and was surprised that it took the upgrade to recoup the loss in pay. I just used straight guarantee, a complete WAG (and best case as a widebody FO).
The NJA flying is something I enjoy, but all the BS that goes with it gets old, and I miss the days of turning left and only worrying about flying the plane. But 10 years is a lot of seniority to give up, so I feel as though I'm wearing golden handcuffs.
I also have a family (3 kids) and the prospect of HKG or CGN concerns me financially.
Clearly FDX is the stronger, more stable company, as NJA's future at this point seems foggy at best. But I am surprised that this doesn't seem as much of a no-brainer as I thought it would be.
I do realize this is purely academic without an offer on the table.
Thoughts, comments, perspectives?
37 years old
Nja base wage is 119k (increase by 3.5% each year)
3 weeks vacation, earn my 4th week next year.
Live in the midwest, but contemplating moving back to SoCal--something easy to consider at NJA, but a big QOL factor at FDX.
Obviously, the coin is much better once you upgrade at Fedex. But I WAG'd the numbers, assuming 10 years as a widebody FO then upgrade, and was surprised that it took the upgrade to recoup the loss in pay. I just used straight guarantee, a complete WAG (and best case as a widebody FO).
The NJA flying is something I enjoy, but all the BS that goes with it gets old, and I miss the days of turning left and only worrying about flying the plane. But 10 years is a lot of seniority to give up, so I feel as though I'm wearing golden handcuffs.
I also have a family (3 kids) and the prospect of HKG or CGN concerns me financially.
Clearly FDX is the stronger, more stable company, as NJA's future at this point seems foggy at best. But I am surprised that this doesn't seem as much of a no-brainer as I thought it would be.
I do realize this is purely academic without an offer on the table.
Thoughts, comments, perspectives?
08-24-2011, 05:49 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 482
Can you stand to live in Mem LAX or ANC (or CGN or HKG). Are you a little bit of a risk taker and can you stand a few years of leaner living? If yes I would go fedex. Upside at Fedex is much higher. Downside it depends on your future prognosis for the economy, are rich people more likely to stop flying or are packages more likely to stop moving due to fuel cost or terrorism.
What percent at NJA are you.
What percent at NJA are you.
08-24-2011, 05:54 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: 744 CA
Posts: 4,772
Sounds like you are working on your 11th year of seniority.... tough call but I think I would stay where you are.. but thats just me. the top end potential is there at FDX however, It would be a few... if not more than a few years before you get back just to where you are today money wise.
08-24-2011, 06:13 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2011
Posts: 131
Originally Posted by viperdriver
Can you stand to live in Mem LAX or ANC (or CGN or HKG). Are you a little bit of a risk taker and can you stand a few years of leaner living? If yes I would go fedex. Upside at Fedex is much higher. Downside it depends on your future prognosis for the economy, are rich people more likely to stop flying or are packages more likely to stop moving due to fuel cost or terrorism.
What percent at NJA are you.
What percent at NJA are you.
60% at NJA.
08-24-2011, 06:53 AM
#6
Nice lookin' tree, there!
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: MD-11, old man
Posts: 2,197
Originally Posted by charleyvarrick
I'm a 10-year NJA CA trying to evaluate the pros/cons of leaving NJA for FDX.
37 years old
Nja base wage is 119k (increase by 3.5% each year)
3 weeks vacation, earn my 4th week next year.
Live in the midwest, but contemplating moving back to SoCal--something easy to consider at NJA, but a big QOL factor at FDX.
Obviously, the coin is much better once you upgrade at Fedex. But I WAG'd the numbers, assuming 10 years as a widebody FO then upgrade, and was surprised that it took the upgrade to recoup the loss in pay. I just used straight guarantee, a complete WAG (and best case as a widebody FO).
The NJA flying is something I enjoy, but all the BS that goes with it gets old, and I miss the days of turning left and only worrying about flying the plane. But 10 years is a lot of seniority to give up, so I feel as though I'm wearing golden handcuffs.
I also have a family (3 kids) and the prospect of HKG or CGN concerns me financially.
Clearly FDX is the stronger, more stable company, as NJA's future at this point seems foggy at best. But I am surprised that this doesn't seem as much of a no-brainer as I thought it would be.
I do realize this is purely academic without an offer on the table.
Thoughts, comments, perspectives?
37 years old
Nja base wage is 119k (increase by 3.5% each year)
3 weeks vacation, earn my 4th week next year.
Live in the midwest, but contemplating moving back to SoCal--something easy to consider at NJA, but a big QOL factor at FDX.
Obviously, the coin is much better once you upgrade at Fedex. But I WAG'd the numbers, assuming 10 years as a widebody FO then upgrade, and was surprised that it took the upgrade to recoup the loss in pay. I just used straight guarantee, a complete WAG (and best case as a widebody FO).
The NJA flying is something I enjoy, but all the BS that goes with it gets old, and I miss the days of turning left and only worrying about flying the plane. But 10 years is a lot of seniority to give up, so I feel as though I'm wearing golden handcuffs.
I also have a family (3 kids) and the prospect of HKG or CGN concerns me financially.
Clearly FDX is the stronger, more stable company, as NJA's future at this point seems foggy at best. But I am surprised that this doesn't seem as much of a no-brainer as I thought it would be.
I do realize this is purely academic without an offer on the table.
Thoughts, comments, perspectives?
fbh
08-24-2011, 07:42 AM
#7
trip trading freak
Joined APC: Oct 2010
Position: MD-11
Posts: 673
A very good friend works there in the G-V division. Loves it. We did a comparison between our 2 jobs last year and here is a basic breakdown. Please understand this is at the current contract and economy and could change anytime. It is just a snapshot.
Pay
Fedex take the hourly and multiply it by 1000 to get an accurate annual salary. So, around 6th year wb F/O, he made up what he lost and started to gain. This was him being a WB f/o year 3.
Retirement
A plan - figured him being at Fedex for 20 years so 40% of his ave high 5. All extra since NJ doesn't have this.
401k/B plan - NJ has the 401 K plus matching. Purple has a whole $500 matching for it's 401k, but the B plan is 7%. So as a WB f/o the B plan would be at least 7-8k more a year than the 401k matching.
Medical - equivalent
Days of work (average)
My Bud does the 7/7. so he works 26 weeks a year or 182 days
Fedex - 8 4 wk months(ave 12 days) and 4 5 week months(ave 15 days) = 156 days
reserve(15 days) (19 days) = 196 days
I'm at 80% as a captain and I was sched to work 160 days last year. We have some of the best trips in the industry, but we definitely have some of the worst also! But, many of my trips showed me working but being able to be flexible on the front end deadheads or back end deadheads, I was able to significantly lower that number. by more than a day a month.
Commute - NJs deadheads you to and from work. On your work day! nice! Fedex has many deadheads available that are enticing if you don't live in domicile (which I don't).
Vacation - he and I had greater than 10 years so we both had 4 weeks. Fedex gives you a 5th week at 20 yrs.
Seniority - Correct me if I am wrong but once you are a captain, he gave me the impression that seniority didn't have anything to do with the trips or your schedule.
Fedex - Everything is based on it.
Sick leave - I forget what he got but I get 72 hours (equiv to one 4 wk month a year)
Overall, he and I agreed that my pay was better while working less. My retirement was much better. We both really liked our jobs.
Solution - he made his wife get a job and that balanced it out somewhat.
This was just a comparison between he and I. I hope this information helps!
Cheers
Pakage
Pay
Fedex take the hourly and multiply it by 1000 to get an accurate annual salary. So, around 6th year wb F/O, he made up what he lost and started to gain. This was him being a WB f/o year 3.
Retirement
A plan - figured him being at Fedex for 20 years so 40% of his ave high 5. All extra since NJ doesn't have this.
401k/B plan - NJ has the 401 K plus matching. Purple has a whole $500 matching for it's 401k, but the B plan is 7%. So as a WB f/o the B plan would be at least 7-8k more a year than the 401k matching.
Medical - equivalent
Days of work (average)
My Bud does the 7/7. so he works 26 weeks a year or 182 days
Fedex - 8 4 wk months(ave 12 days) and 4 5 week months(ave 15 days) = 156 days
reserve(15 days) (19 days) = 196 days
I'm at 80% as a captain and I was sched to work 160 days last year. We have some of the best trips in the industry, but we definitely have some of the worst also! But, many of my trips showed me working but being able to be flexible on the front end deadheads or back end deadheads, I was able to significantly lower that number. by more than a day a month.
Commute - NJs deadheads you to and from work. On your work day! nice! Fedex has many deadheads available that are enticing if you don't live in domicile (which I don't).
Vacation - he and I had greater than 10 years so we both had 4 weeks. Fedex gives you a 5th week at 20 yrs.
Seniority - Correct me if I am wrong but once you are a captain, he gave me the impression that seniority didn't have anything to do with the trips or your schedule.
Fedex - Everything is based on it.
Sick leave - I forget what he got but I get 72 hours (equiv to one 4 wk month a year)
Overall, he and I agreed that my pay was better while working less. My retirement was much better. We both really liked our jobs.
Solution - he made his wife get a job and that balanced it out somewhat.
This was just a comparison between he and I. I hope this information helps!
Cheers
Pakage
08-24-2011, 07:49 AM
#9
Living the dream!
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: MD-11 Capt
Posts: 915
I got hired in 95. Since 96' as a 727 fo I have made over your 119K. I think you'd recoup your pay in less than a year (since you'd start as a WB FO) Our pay is just one factor. When you count the A&B plans we have you'll double your pay and triple your quality of life in one maybe two years.
Shouldn't even be a question... come on over.
Shouldn't even be a question... come on over.
08-24-2011, 08:12 AM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: MD
Posts: 124
Left/resigned (not furloughed) from NWA in 2006 with almost 9yrs seniority for FedEx. Much better off now. I commute too. There are many of us who left Legacy airlines and feel we are better off. But, the truth will be known for sure when we are 60/65.
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